In this Transit Unplugged Insider episode, Paul Comfort sits down with Executive Producer Julie Gates for a wide-ranging, behind-the-scenes conversation on what transit leaders should be paying attention to right now — and what’s coming next. This quarterly Insider edition slows the pace and zooms out, offering context from Washington, conference halls, boardrooms, and agency leadership conversations happening across North America.

Top Five Things Every Transit Leader Needs to Know

Paul breaks down the most pressing developments shaping transit today, including:

1. Recent FTA policy changes affecting grant eligibility and agency risk
2. Where transportation reauthorization stands as the 2026 deadline approaches
3. The current state of federal grant programs, including Low-No and Bus Facilities funding
4. How mega events like the FIFA World Cup and the LA 2028 Olympics are reshaping transit planning
5. What it will take for host cities — especially Los Angeles — to meet unprecedented operational demands
6. 
   

Hot Topics Across the Industry

From conversations with CEOs, policymakers, and system leaders, Paul and Julie explore:

1. Why Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) continues to dominate expansion conversations
2. What transit agencies can learn from Canada’s funding model and manufacturing shifts
3. The growing complexity of fleet strategy, propulsion choices, and market pressures

What’s Keeping Transit CEOs Up at Night

A candid look at the challenges agency leaders are navigating right now:

1. Passenger and operator safety in a high-visibility media environment
2. Rising concerns around cybersecurity and system resilience
3. The practical realities of AI adoption in transit operations

Behind the Scenes at Transit Unplugged

Julie and Paul share updates from across the Transit Unplugged universe, including:

1. A look at recent and upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episodes — from Italy to Montreal and beyond
2. What’s ahead for the Transit Unplugged podcast in the new year
3. Updates on sister shows including The Aviation Report and Parking Live
4. Expanding distribution across YouTube, cable, streaming platforms, and newsletters

Looking Ahead

The conversation closes with reflections on leadership, industry collaboration, and what the next chapter holds — including a preview of Paul’s upcoming personal development book (available for pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Factor-Personal-Treasure/dp/1636988857) and a look ahead to the major moments that will put transit on the global stage in the years to come....

Canada is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in new transit and passenger rail projects—but until now, there’s been no unified national standards framework to guide how those systems are designed and built.

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort sits down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic and Cross-Sector Programs at CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association), to explore how Canada is working to change that.

Ana-Maria shares how CSA Group—Canada’s national standards organization—is developing a four-part national code for transit and passenger rail systems, covering everything from urban transit and conventional rail to future high-speed rail projects. The goal: reduce risk, improve consistency, and bring greater predictability to some of the most complex infrastructure projects in the country.

The conversation explores:

• Why Canada lacks a unified transit and rail standards framework today
• How other regions (Europe, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.) approach rail standards
• The difference between voluntary standards and regulation—and how standards often become codified
• How CSA plans to integrate existing international standards while addressing major gaps
• What transit agencies, consultants, contractors, and governments can expect next
• How industry professionals can get involved in shaping the code
• A brief update on Canada’s emerging high-speed rail ambitions, including the Toronto–Québec City corridor

This is a rare look behind the scenes at how the “rules of the road” for transit systems are created—and why they matter long before the first train ever runs.

Host: Paul Comfort

Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Producer: Paul Comfort

Editor: Patrick Emile

Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin

Brand design: Tina Olagundoye

Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Follow us on social media:

/ transit-unplugged

https://x.com/transitunplug

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In this week’s episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Jay Fox, Executive Director of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) — one of the fastest-growing, highest-performing transit agencies in the United States and APTA’s 2025 Transit System of the Year.

Jay brings a remarkable background across FAA, FTA, Amtrak, and SEPTA — and now leads the agency serving one of the most dynamic, youthful, and transit-hungry regions in America.

Together, Paul and Jay dive into:

Preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics

Jay shares why UTA told the IOC: “We’re ready now.”

UTA’s rail, BRT corridors, FrontRunner upgrades, and multimodal network already form a complete backbone for Olympic mobility — with more enhancements on the way.

FrontRunner 2X: The Generational Rail Project

UTA is pushing to move from 25% to 50% double-tracking, enabling:

-15-minute peak service

-A new infill station

-A new maintenance facility

-Pathways to Sunday service

…all while ridership continues to soar.

A Multimodal System Built for Growth

UTA operates:

-131 miles of rail (commuter, light rail, streetcar)

-Three BRT lines (including OGX, electric and wildly successful)

-Extensive bus, microtransit, vanpool, and paratransit services

-A booming Ski Bus network that keeps the canyons moving

Transit ROI: The Utah Model

Jay breaks down the hard numbers on economic impact:

-$9.6B in economic output generated

-$377M in tax revenue returned

-79,000 jobs supported

-Ever $1 invested netted a $5.11 returned to the regional economy

All from an operating budget of roughly $480M.

Why UTA’s Riders Are Getting Younger

Jay explains how university partnerships, free-fare programs, and campus connectivity are transforming ridership patterns — and why student riders today become lifelong riders tomorrow.

Global Collaboration

UTA is working with LA Metro, LA28, and Milan/Cortina teams to prepare for back-to-back Olympic cycles (2026, 2028, 2034), exchanging insights on operations, vehicle staging, and major-event transport logistics.

This is one of the most wide-ranging, energizing episodes we’ve recorded — and a perfect companion to our upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode filmed on location in Utah.

Host: Paul Comfort

Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Producer: Paul Comfort

Editor: Patrick Emile

Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin

Brand design: Tina Olagundoye

Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Follow us on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/transit-unplugged/

https://x.com/transitunplug

https://www.threads.net/@transitunplugged

https://www.instagram.com/transitunplugged/

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to