The DOT POD

On this episode, hosts Josh Heller and Anya Kardos celebrate the first anniversary of The DOT POD, which launched just over a year ago, on November 16, 2023. They look back on the year that was, which included 27 different episodes that highlighted the people, projects, and initiatives that pushed the New York State DOT forward. Join Josh and Anya as they hop in the way-back-machine and revisit some of the many highlights from the first year of The DOT POD.

New York State agencies are hiring for thousands of critical positions open across the state. To help agencies fill these positions, the Department of Civil Service has developed the NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program. This program streamlines the appointment process to allow State agencies to hire diverse, qualified permanent employees quickly and without examinations. In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh Heller is joined by a special co-host, Bryan Viggiani, who previously worked with the DOT and is currently working with civil service. They welcome the New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez and the New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues. Josh, Bryan, and Commissioners Dominguez and Hogues discuss the NYHelps program and its major impact on hiring across the state, including right here at DOT. They also discuss other measures that the department is taking to help fill vacancies with the best possible candidates.

In this episode of The DOT POD, host Josh Heller finds himself in a bit of a “tight spot” as he and co-host Anya Kardos head to Alexandria Bay, New York, to get a first-hand look at the New York State Department of Transportation’s brand-new mobile Confined Space Training Trailer. Their journey offers a unique opportunity to delve into NYSDOT’s enhanced confined space training and how this new mobile training unit is affording real-world scenarios to department employees statewide who navigate the complexities of working in challenging spaces. Josh and Anya welcome guests Scott Cornell and Dean Yauger with NYSDOT’s Office of Safety and Health as they share the unique challenges and hazards that require specialized knowledge and skills to navigate spaces like manholes, catch basins, culverts, bridge compartments, and underground systems at our state rest areas to keep these structures and our entire network of roadways safe and running smoothly.

The DOT POD's hosts are back on the road, this time visiting Rome, NY to explore the innovative world of micro transit. In this episode, Josh and Anya sit down with guests Ross Farrell, Director of NYSDOT's Public Transportation Bureau, and Steve Koegel, Vice President of Communications and Business Planning for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro). They discuss Centro's achievements in on-demand transit, their user-friendly app, and how they, and NYSDOT, are leveraging funding to rethink transit for riders.

On this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya are once again on site at the Great New York State Fair talking about recruitment. The New York State Department of Transportation is constantly on the look out for the best and the brightest to join the DOT team, with openings throughout the entire Department. Joining the podcast are recruitment coordinator, Dan Patrignani, and motor equipment manager, Bill Chiro, to discuss the need for qualified employees, and how DOT, as well as the State of New York, is making it easier than ever to apply. For more information on working for DOT, click here. For a list of DOT job openings, click here.

On this special episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya travel to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of that tragic day. Listen in as they speak with two former DOT employees, Mukesh Desai and Craig Ruyle, who worked right around the corner from the Towers. They'll take us through the events of that day and the aftermath in the days that followed, and how the New York State Department of Transportation helped aid in the cleanup and recovery. They also welcome in the Chief Curator of the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Jan Ramirez, and talk about the importance, and the responsibility, of ensuring we never forget the events of that fateful day.

With the first day of school right around the corner, countless parents will be sending their children to school on those bright yellow school buses. But in order for that bus to be on the road, the New York State Department of Transportation makes sure that they pass one of the most rigorous inspections in the country. This episode of the DOT POD is on location at the Great New York State Fair where Josh and Anya sit down with the Director, Passenger Carrier Safety Bureau, Marc Berger, and Field Operations Manager, Jeff Corey, to talk about what goes in to ensuring your kids get to and from school safely every day.

One of the Great annual traditions in New York is the Great New York State Fair which is set to kick off at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. This year's event is primed to be another exciting affair with nearly a million people expected to walk through the turnstiles. But with so many people coming to experience this tremendous event, and many of them arriving by car, a great deal of coordination is necessary between the Fair and DOT to ensure a smooth season. Newly-appointed State Fair Director Julie LaFave recently sat down with co-hosts Josh Heller and Anya Kardos to talk about what’s new and Great at this year’s Fair as well as the coordination involved in putting on such a massive event, while NYSDOT’s Emergency Management Coordinator Amber Stevens spoke about the Department’s coordinating role in the Traffic Management Command Post and participation with partners in the Joint Operations Center at the Fair. 

When severe storms swept across the state recently, they left a path of destruction in their wake. The tornado damage left trees and power lines strewn across roads, and buildings and cars destroyed. But once the weather cleared, the New York State DOT got to work in clearing debris, fixing roads, restoring signals, and helping communities get back to a sense of normalcy. In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Assistant Commissioner of Operations Pat Barnes and Supervisor, Equipment Operator/Instructor, Chris Wade. They discuss the herculean effort of DOT employees who helped clean up the mess left from these terrible storms.

State workers, be they members of DOT, or any other agency, work hard every day to keep New York running smoothly. But these employees, just like any other, need someplace to turn for support. The Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, is designed to be there for all State employees, and on this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Nancy Nuding, and EAP Coordinator at NYSDOT's Main Office, and Kelsey Russell, EAP Regional Representative for the Capital Region. Listen in to find out more about EAP including all the services they provide and how to find your local EAP Coordinator. Listeners can also go to www.oer.ny.gov/eap or call 1-800-822-0244.

Each year on the second Sunday in July in downtown Utica, NY, tens of thousands of runners converge for the annual Boilermaker Road Race. This 15k event is more party than race, as the entire community bands together to create a carnival atmosphere for runners and spectators alike. But to put an event like this on, so much of the work goes on behind the scenes, long before the opening gun. NYSDOT has been a major partner of the Boilermaker in making sure everything runs smoothly. From ensuring the roads are in good shape, the route is closed off to traffic, not to mention having a team of runners participating, DOT and the Boilermaker work hand in hand. On this episode, Josh and Anya talk with Mike Palowski, the Regional Director of Operations in Region 2, and Boilermaker Race Director Jim Stasaitis, to talk about all the work that is necessary to deliver one of the greatest road race environments in the country.

On this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya hit the road and travel to Mohawk Valley Community College to attend the Annual NYSATE Conference. NYSATE, which stands for the New York State Association of Transportation Engineers, held their annual conference in Utica, NY and The DOT POD was there. Brian Hoffman, NYSDOT Professional Engineer with Region 2's Design Group, and Bob Rice, Regional Manager for NYSDOT's Office of Planning and Program Management, as well as the President of NYSATE's Board of Directors, sit down to talk about the long and fruitful partnership between NYSDOT and NYSATE.

It's nearly pollinator week and at the New York State Department of Transportation, we are doing all that we can to help support the pollinators that are so essential to our everyday lives. On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya sit down with Principal Landscape Architect Peter Dunleavy and Maintenance Environmental Program Manager Mary Ellen Papin to talk about exactly why pollinators are so important, and what the DOT is doing to help.

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Janet Ho, the Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Integrated Modal Services. Janet talks about her role, as well as the winding path that brought her to the Department of Transportation.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and with the weather getting warmer, and the days getting longer, it is the perfect time to get out and get riding. With that in mind, Josh and Anya welcome to the DOT POD Karen Lorf, State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator with the Department of Transportation. Karen discusses active transportation, complete streets, and bicycle etiquette, all in an effort to ensure everyone on two wheels enjoys a fun and safe season.

In 2023, the New York State Department of Transportation experienced 214 work zone traffic intrusions. The majority of these crashes were caused by distracted driving, following too closely, unsafe lane change, or disregarding traffic warning signs. Workers' Memorial Day takes place on April 28 and is a chance to remember the many highway and transportation workers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the public. On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by two people who know just how dangerous these work zones can be when drivers don't do their part to keep the roads safe, Karen Torres and Cody Baker. Karen lost her father, Patrick Mapleson, to a distracted driver who entered his DOT work zone. She shares her family's story and how she transformed her grief into a mission as a safety advocate. Cody is with DOT's Main Office Employee Safety and Health Office and talks about our annual Workers Memorial event. We want to thank all of our dedicated and hard working DOT highway workers who put their own safety on the line so that we can get to our destinations safe. And we ask motorists to slow down, move over, and pay attention!

On this edition of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by the Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Performance, Deb Nelson. From her more than 30 years of experience at DOT, to her background in forestry, and her first job out in the wilds of Alaska, find out more about this integral member of the Department of Transportation.

On this special "Celestial Edition" of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya discuss the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse occurring across New York State on April 8, 2024. They are joined by the Director of Interagency Operations for the Governor, Jessica DeCerce, and DOT's Director of the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Bureau, Becky Gibson-Schott. While this will no doubt be an awe inspiring event, the likes of which won't be seen in New York State again until 2079, it is also a massive undertaking for agencies around the state to make sure everything runs smoothly. With hundreds of thousands of people set to stream into the path of totality, we talk about the preparation that has already occurred, and that continues to be ongoing, as we approach April 8. Whether you're an eclipse-chaser traveling from out of state, or the path of totality goes through your backyard, we offer some advice to make sure you get the most out of this incredible spectacle. To find out more about the eclipse, be sure to visit www.ilovenewyork.com/eclipse.

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode of the DOT POD features some of the inspiring women of the New York State Department of Transportation in their own voices. Listeners will hear from: Stephanie Winkelhake: Chief Engineer Nancy Kamel: Regional Transportation Maintenance Engineer, Long Island Deb Nelson: Director, Office of Policy, Planning & Performance Jennifer Hawkins: Program Engineer, Office of Transportation Maintenance Sondra Little: Director, Office of Diversity and Opportunity Sanjyot Vaidya: Regional Design Engineer, Western, NY Janet Ho: Assistant Commissioner for Finance & Integrated Modal Services Each of these women discuss their integral roles with DOT, as well as the struggles and challenges they overcame to get to where they are today.

In the heart of Rochester, directly adjacent to the iconic Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, lies the Roc City Skatepark. Since its opening in 2020, the skatepark has been a welcome space where skateboarders, rollerbladers, BMXers, and other progression-oriented sports enthusiasts come to embody the sport, sharpen their skills, and enjoy endless hours of outdoor recreation. The creation of the skatepark would not have been possible without numerous officials and community members and partners doing their part. At DOT, the Office of Right of Way, was integral in turning this idea into a reality. The DOT POD is joined by Thomas Finch and Jeremy Button who worked hand in hand with the City of Rochester to make this project the resounding success it has become.