Statewide Podcasts

TxDOT produces a weekly Statewide Podcast to keep you updated on the latest transportation news and issues. New podcast episodes are produced every Friday and are posted here and are also available on iTunes.

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Date Description Format
02/01/12 Andrade: Texas Business Opportunities Depend on Strong Transportation System - Few people have been as involved in transportation in the past few years as Hope Andrade, Texas Secretary of State. Prior to her appointment to that position, the Secretary was a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, including several months as its interim chairman. As she told me during our interview, that time on the commission helped shape her perspective on the role transportation plays in the vitality of the state. Meet the Secretary at the Seventh Annual Texas Transportation Forum, February 15-17 in San Antonio. For more information, or to register, log on to our web site, www.txdot.gov/ttf. Andrade: Texas Business Opportunities Depend on Strong Transportation System - Few people have been as involved in transportation in the past few years as Hope Andrade, Texas Secretary of State. Prior to her appointment to that position, the Secretary was a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, including several months as its interim chairman. As she told me during our interview, that time on the commission helped shape her perspective on the role transportation plays in the vitality of the state. Meet the Secretary at the Seventh Annual Texas Transportation Forum, February 15-17 in San Antonio. For more information, or to register, log on to our web site, <a href='http://www.txdot.gov/ttf'>www.txdot.gov/ttf.</a>
01/27/12 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: "Mitzel: For Canada, Ports To Plains is About Relationships" - From the 2011 Texas Transportation Forum: Most of the discussion surrounding international trade, particularly when it involves borders, makes reference to the U.S. - Mexican Border. But what about our Canadian neighbors to the north? The Ports to Plains Alliance, which is based in Lubbock, is an advocacy group focused on streamlining United States trade with both Canada and Mexico. For more on what the coalition means to Canada, I spoke with Len Mitzel, member of the legislative assembly for the Province of Alberta.
Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2011.		 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: 'Mitzel: For Canada, Ports To Plains is About Relationships' - From the 2011 Texas Transportation Forum: Most of the discussion surrounding international trade, particularly when it involves borders, makes reference to the U.S. - Mexican Border. But what about our Canadian neighbors to the north? The Ports to Plains Alliance, which is based in Lubbock, is an advocacy group focused on streamlining United States trade with both Canada and Mexico. For more on what the coalition means to Canada, I spoke with Len Mitzel, member of the legislative assembly for the Province of Alberta. <br>Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2011.
01/20/12 TxDOT's 'Safety: Mission Zero' program leads to record year - 2011 was a big year for the Texas Department of Transportation, and it was a small year as well. In the first full year of the department's "Safety: Mission Zero" plan, the department set record lows for incidents and accidents that caused employees and equipment to miss time on the job. It was also a year in which no TxDOT employee was killed on the job, something that is a very real possibility for many department employees. For more on these safety achievements, I spoke with Jerral Wyer, the director of TxDOT's Occupational Safety Division. TxDOT's 'Safety: Mission Zero' program leads to record year - 2011 was a big year for the Texas Department of Transportation, and it was a small year as well. In the first full year of the department's 'Safety: Mission Zero' plan, the department set record lows for incidents and accidents that caused employees and equipment to miss time on the job. It was also a year in which no TxDOT employee was killed on the job, something that is a very real possibility for many department employees. For more on these safety achievements, I spoke with Jerral Wyer, the director of TxDOT's Occupational Safety Division.
01/13/12 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: "Gephardt: Feds Need To Encourage Nationwide Mobility Projects" - From the 2009 Texas Transportation Forum: Former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt speaks about the possibilities for the latest economic stimulus package, and on the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization bill.
Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2009.		 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: 'Gephardt: Feds Need To Encourage Nationwide Mobility Projects' - From the 2009 Texas Transportation Forum: Former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt speaks about the possibilities for the latest economic stimulus package, and on the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization bill.<br>Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2009.
01/04/12 Fire and Ice: TxDOT and 2011, The Year That Was - From ice storms and wildfires that made national headlines to record numbers of projects sent to contract and construction and, oh yeah, a new executive director, the Texas Department of Transportation had a busy year in 2011. For a look back at the year that was, I spoke with TxDOTs Deputy Executive Director John Barton. Fire and Ice: TxDOT and 2011, The Year That Was - From ice storms and wildfires that made national headlines to record numbers of projects sent to contract and construction and, oh yeah, a new executive director, the Texas Department of Transportation had a busy year in 2011. For a look back at the year that was, I spoke with TxDOTs Deputy Executive Director John Barton.
12/20/11 NTSB Chairman: "No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life" - On December 13, 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board, a federal agency dedicated to investigating transportation-related accidents, recommended a nationwide ban on personal electronic devices while driving. The recommendation was the result of an investigation of a fatal crash in Missouri where a pickup truck rear-ended an 18-wheel truck in a work zone, and was then rear-ended by a school bus, which in turn was hit by a second school bus. Two people died, 38 more were injured and during its investigation, the NTSB learned that the driver of the pickup who started the chain reaction had sent or received 11 texts in as many minutes leading up to the crash, including receiving one moments before impact. For more on the NTSB and its latest recommendation, I spoke with its chairman, Deborah Hersman. To find out more about this recommendation or about the NTSB, log on to their web site, www.ntsb.gov. NTSB Chairman: 'No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life' - On December 13, 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board, a federal agency dedicated to investigating transportation-related accidents, recommended a nationwide ban on personal electronic devices while driving. The recommendation was the result of an investigation of a fatal crash in Missouri where a pickup truck rear-ended an 18-wheel truck in a work zone, and was then rear-ended by a school bus, which in turn was hit by a second school bus. Two people died, 38 more were injured and during its investigation, the NTSB learned that the driver of the pickup who started the chain reaction had sent or received 11 texts in as many minutes leading up to the crash, including receiving one moments before impact. For more on the NTSB and its latest recommendation, I spoke with its chairman, Deborah Hersman. To find out more about this recommendation or about the NTSB, log on to their web site, www.ntsb.gov.
12/16/11 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: "Automaker: Electric Cars to be Built in U.S. by 2012" - From the 2010 Texas Transportation Forum: The recent economic crisis forced many Americans and many American companies to take a hard look in the mirror and make some difficult decisions. Few companies were faced with harder look than the group known as the "Big Three," American automakers Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. While these companies struggled, others, like the Nissan Motor Company, were looking past the crisis to determine what kinds of cars Americans would want to buy when credit became available again. For more on Nissan's insights, I spoke with Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning.
Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2010.		 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: 'Automaker: Electric Cars to be Built in U.S. by 2012' - From the 2010 Texas Transportation Forum: The recent economic crisis forced many Americans and many American companies to take a hard look in the mirror and make some difficult decisions. Few companies were faced with harder look than the group known as the 'Big Three,' American automakers Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. While these companies struggled, others, like the Nissan Motor Company, were looking past the crisis to determine what kinds of cars Americans would want to buy when credit became available again. For more on Nissan's insights, I spoke with Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning.<br>Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2010.
12/09/11 Talk To Us: MY 35 Survey Looks to Tailor Project Information to Motorists Needs - By now, just about every Texan knows that the I-35 corridor in Central Texas is the busiest in the state. It's also in the greatest need of expansion. In the coming years, the Texas Department of Transportation has plans to do more than $1 billion of work expanding I-35, particularly in the 100-mile stretch between the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Salado. But the projects aren't only about improving I-35, they're about improving communication as well. For more on that improvement, I spoke with Jim Dale, the I-35 Mobility Coordinator. To take the survey, log on to www.my35survey.org. Talk To Us: MY 35 Survey Looks to Tailor Project Information to Motorists Needs - By now, just about every Texan knows that the I-35 corridor in Central Texas is the busiest in the state. It's also in the greatest need of expansion. In the coming years, the Texas Department of Transportation has plans to do more than $1 billion of work expanding I-35, particularly in the 100-mile stretch between the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Salado. But the projects aren't only about improving I-35, they're about improving communication as well. For more on that improvement, I spoke with Jim Dale, the I-35 Mobility Coordinator. To take the survey, log on to www.my35survey.org.
12/02/11 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: "Cook: Media Only Wants to Hear the Bad News About Mexican Border" - From the 2011 annual Texas Transportation Forum: El Paso Mayor John Cook, who received a Texas Road Hand Award at this year's forum, was recognized by the department for his work in bringing a variety of transportation projects and improvements to El Paso. But, as the mayor told me, bringing transportation projects to El Paso can mean jobs on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.
Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2011.		 Best of the TxDOT Podcast: 'Cook: Media Only Wants to Hear the Bad News About Mexican Border' - From the 2011 annual Texas Transportation Forum: El Paso Mayor John Cook, who received a Texas Road Hand Award at this year's forum, was recognized by the department for his work in bringing a variety of transportation projects and improvements to El Paso. But, as the mayor told me, bringing transportation projects to El Paso can mean jobs on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.<br>Note: This episode was originally recorded in January 2011.
11/18/11 TxDOT Adds New Ferry Boat to Galveston-Bolivar Line - TxDOT's Galveston-Bolivar ferry system welcomed its newest boat earlier today, the John W. Johnson, a $24 million vessel named for the former Texas Transportation Commissioner. The new boat is the first to be added to the Galveston line in nearly 20 years. In operation since 1940, the Galvestion Ferry is one of two ferry lines the department operates free of charge. For more on the newest addition, I spoke with Bill Mallini, the Galveston Ferry Operations Manager. For more information on TxDOT's ferry operations, log on to the TxDOT website and search keyword "Ferry." TxDOT Adds New Ferry Boat to Galveston-Bolivar Line - TxDOT's Galveston-Bolivar ferry system welcomed its newest boat earlier today, the John W. Johnson, a $24 million vessel named for the former Texas Transportation Commissioner. The new boat is the first to be added to the Galveston line in nearly 20 years. In operation since 1940, the Galvestion Ferry is one of two ferry lines the department operates free of charge. For more on the newest addition, I spoke with Bill Mallini, the Galveston Ferry Operations Manager. For more information on TxDOT's ferry operations, log on to the TxDOT website and search keyword 'Ferry.'