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Stop Requested is a podcast hosted by Christian Londono and Levi McCollum, where they explore all things transit—from public transportation trends and innovations to the daily experiences of riders and transit professionals. Join them for insightful discussions, industry interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and successes shaping the future of mobility. Whether you're a transit enthusiast, professional, or curious commuter, Stop Requested is your stop for all things transit!
75 Episodes
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In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Cristian Londono talk with Frank Annicaro, CEO of the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). Frank shares his journey into transit, starting as a diesel mechanic and working his way through leadership roles at New York City Transit before stepping into the CEO role in New York’s Capital Region.
The conversation explores the transition from the largest bus system in North America to a high-performing regional agency, the importance of culture and workforce development, and how training and employee engagement are shaping CDTA’s future. Frank also discusses funding stability, mobility on demand, transit-oriented development, and how CDTA is positioning itself to support continued growth across the Capital Region.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Laura Koprowski, CEO of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA). Laura shares her path into the transit industry, from communications and government relations to leading a regional transit system serving communities across northwest Ohio.
The conversation covers leadership in public transportation, the importance of mentorship and professional development, and how passion for the work can shape a career in transit. Laura also discusses TARTA’s system redesign, expansion of microtransit service, and how data and technology are helping guide decisions as the agency works to improve mobility across the region.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Schneider St. Preux, General Superintendent of Bus Operations at Miami-Dade County DTPW. Schneider began his career as a bus operator and now oversees one of the largest bus fleets in the United States.
The conversation covers launching a fully electric BRT corridor from an operations perspective, training operators on new vehicle technology and double-sided boarding, bus rodeos, and Miami-Dade’s approach to electrification and safety innovation. Schneider also shares lessons from Leadership APTA and reflects on why frontline operators have one of the hardest jobs in transit.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Cristian Londono kick off a new series focused on Miami-Dade County with Linda Morris, Chief of Service Planning and Scheduling at Miami-Dade County. Linda oversees service planning across bus, rail, and Metromover in one of the most complex transit environments in the country.
The conversation covers launching Metro Express BRT, coordinating service across dozens of municipalities, modernizing scheduling tools, and improving reliability in a large and growing region. Linda also reflects on her experience at AC Transit, including managing major capacity projects and implementing double decker buses, and how those lessons shaped her approach to service planning in South Florida.
This week, Stop Requested replays our conversation with Megan Perrero, Editor-in-Chief of Mass Transit Magazine. Levi McCollum and Christian Londono revisit a discussion about how transit stories are reported and how coverage shapes agency credibility and rider understanding.
Megan reflects on how her experience as a daily Chicago rider informed her journalism, the role of trade publications in the industry, and why transparency and clear communication matter for public buy-in. The episode also covers sector trends, the 40 Under 40 program, and advice for new journalists.
If you missed it the first time, this episode offers a useful perspective on the connection between media, messaging, and public transit.
In this episode of Stop Requested, I sit down with Dr. Nick Ferenchak, an expert in pedestrian and bicyclist safety, to explore innovative strategies for designing safer streets. We delve into the concept of latent demand, discussing how many dangerous corridors go unreported in crash statistics, and the importance of proactive safety measures. Dr. Ferenchak highlights the benefits of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a transformative intervention, emphasizing its role in reducing serious injuries and fatalities. We also examine the intersection of land use, infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors, all of which play crucial roles in shaping pedestrian and cyclist safety. Tune in to discover how we can rethink urban design to promote safer, more equitable transit options for everyone.
In this follow-up episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono welcome back Carter Lavin, author of If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight. Carter reflects on the response to the book since its release and digs deeper into what effective transit advocacy really looks like in practice. The conversation covers inside and outside collaboration, common mistakes agencies make when engaging advocates, the importance of having a clear ask, and why advocacy is ultimately a team sport. It’s a practical discussion for transit professionals, advocates, and anyone trying to turn good ideas into real-world change.
Pick up a copy of Carter's book here: https://a.co/d/io7mqpv
In this episode of Stop Requested, Christian Londono and Levi McCollum talk with Nirit Glazer, co-founder and CEO of LookingBus, about one of the most persistent and overlooked problems in public transit: bus pass-ups. Nirit shares how real rider experiences, especially those of riders with disabilities, led her team to build technology that helps ensure buses stop when riders are waiting. The conversation explores reliability, accessibility, equity, and what it takes to introduce meaningful innovation inside complex transit systems, all with a focus on rebuilding rider trust and improving the everyday transit experience.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Hayden Clarkin, known online as the Transit Guy. Hayden explains how consistently sharing clear, digestible takes on transit led to TransitCon, consulting work, and a career built in public. The conversation covers using initiative to create opportunities, developing a credible online voice, and why making complex systems understandable can translate into real influence inside the industry.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with John Maglio, Founder and CEO of ETA Transit, about building transit technology and trust over the long term. John explains how disciplined growth, reliability, and focus shape effective CAD/AVL systems, and why trust is earned through follow-through rather than features. The conversation covers leadership and company culture, what separates vendors from true partners, how agencies can approach RFPs more clearly, and why long-term thinking leads to better outcomes for riders, agencies, and technology providers alike.
Join us for a reflective episode of Stop Requested, as we revisit our journey through 2025, our first full year as podcast hosts. Co-hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono delve into their favorite moments and standout guests, discussing over 40 captivating interviews that shaped the podcast.
From conversations about community involvement in public transit to innovative technologies like zero-emission solutions and the significance of mental health for frontline workers, we explore the evolving landscape of the transit industry.
As we set our sights on 2026, we share our goals for weekly episodes and exciting plans to record on transit vehicles. Tune in to celebrate the progress made and anticipate future insights in the world of transit.
This week on Stop Requested, we are revisiting a standout conversation from our archive with Ricky Angueira, Principal at Jarrett Walker & Associates. Hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono return to this episode to re-air their discussion on the ridership versus coverage framework that continues to shape how cities think about transit planning.
Originally recorded earlier in the show’s run, this conversation traces Ricky’s path from studying civil engineering in Puerto Rico to urban planning in Spain, and into leading full network redesigns in cities ranging from Miami to Des Moines. Ricky explains why successful transit planning starts with community values, not just data, and why there is no single right answer when designing a transit network.
Drawing on real examples from Knoxville, St. Pete, and Miami, Ricky shows how effective public engagement helps regions align around shared transit goals. The episode also explores microtransit as a coverage tool, the importance of scalable plans during budget constraints, and why transparent conversations with communities are essential to successful network redesigns.
If you missed this episode the first time or want a refresher on one of the most influential frameworks in modern transit planning, this re-release is worth another listen.
What does it actually take to plan ferry service in New York City? In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi and Christian talk with Nina Verzosa, Assistant Vice President of NYC Ferry at NYCEDC, about how ferry routes are designed, evaluated, and changed over time. Nina explains how ferry planning compares to buses and rail, how customer feedback shapes decisions, and what the recent systemwide NYC Ferry route changes were designed to accomplish.
In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Stephen Kuban, President and CEO of Kuban Transit Solutions, about how AI is actively changing the way transit agencies plan, decide, and operate. Stephen explains why AI is more than automation, how it supports better strategic thinking, and how agencies can use it to do more with limited resources while staying focused on outcomes.
Stephen also shares how he is working directly with transit agencies through hands-on AI workshops and advisory programs, helping leaders move from experimentation to real-world application. Listeners interested in learning more about his AI pilot program and upcoming engagements can visit:
https://kubantransit.com/ai-pilot
Dr. Liliane Finke, CEO of ExecuCoach 360, joins Christian and Levi to explore her 24-year journey in public transit and the lessons that shaped her approach to leadership, professional development, and organizational culture. They discuss how she rose from an entry-level marketing role to leading organizational development, why continuous learning matters at every stage of a career, and what it takes to drive meaningful change in regulated environments. Dr. Finke also reflects on her transition into executive coaching, the mindset shifts that unlock growth, and her guidance for anyone considering their next chapter inside or beyond public transit.
Levi and Christian sit down with Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, to trace his journey from growing up around transit in Pennsylvania to shaping some of the most talked about projects in Florida. Brad shares how early lessons on Virginia Railway Express, Charlotte’s multimodal expansion, and a leap to Des Moines prepared him to lead PSTA through the SunRunner BRT, the Clearwater multimodal hub, a full network redesign, and one of the nation’s largest zero emission bus fleets. He explains how ferries, mobility on demand, and paratransit innovation all fit into a tourism heavy region, and why investing in workforce development is central to PSTA’s culture of curiosity and innovation. Along the way, Brad offers candid advice on working with boards, navigating hurricanes and funding pressures, and saying yes to opportunities that can transform a career and a community.
Levi and Christian are joined by David Rishel, former Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s CATA and Principal of Delta Services Group, to unpack a career spent shaping accessible transit from the ground up. David recounts launching New Jersey Transit’s statewide ADA paratransit network in the early 1990s, what it took to forecast demand and build eligibility systems when the rules were brand new, and how those decisions still echo today.
The conversation dives into the real-world complexity of paratransit operations, the promise and pitfalls of co-mingling microtransit with ADA service, and why fixed-route accessibility and rider education must lead the way. David closes with a grounded look at where ADA mobility is headed next, including on-demand services, evolving software expectations, and the long-term impact of emerging technology.
Levi and Christian are joined by Shriram Ramaratnam, Vice President, Transit & Rail at WSP, to explore how Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties are piecing together a truly regional, multimodal transit network. Shriram shares what he’s learned from two decades of congestion modeling and BRT planning, why land use and sustainable funding are non-negotiables, and how agencies can think beyond fixed routes to serve the full door-to-door journey. They also dig into underrated technologies like real-time passenger information, the invisible challenges of maintenance and budgets, and Shriram’s advice for emerging planners learning to embrace incrementalism and compromise.
Levi and Christian sit down with Jorge Espinoza, Interim Scheduling Manager at Houston METRO and founder of the Cruzero trip-planning app, to talk about the power of information in transit. From building rider tools in Bolivia to optimizing schedules in Houston, Jorge shares how data, design, and empathy create better service for both riders and operators.
In this replay from last year, Christian and Levi reflect on the life and legacy of Clinton B. Forbes, marking one year since his passing. Now, two years later, we continue to honor and remember the profound impact he made on public transit and the people who worked alongside him.
Through personal stories and shared memories, they recall Clinton’s charisma, his unwavering dedication to customer service, and his transformative leadership—from ambitious initiatives like the Route Performance Maximization plan to his deep commitment to community service through United Way.
Join us once again in celebrating the enduring legacy of a leader, mentor, and friend whose influence continues to shape our industry and our lives.
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