ModeShift

When people talk about economic opportunity, they usually focus on jobs, education, or housing.

But there’s another factor that shapes all of those things: how people move.

In season two of ModeShift, host Andrei Greenawalt explores how cities across the U.S. are rethinking transportation — not just as a way to get around, but as a driver of economic growth, safety, and access.

From congestion pricing and integrated transit systems to new technologies like AI, this season looks at the ideas reshaping how cities move — and what that means for opportunity.

Episodes are dropping soon. Subscribe to Modeshift anywhere you get your podcasts.

The average LA commuter spends five days a year stuck in traffic; pedestrian deaths are the highest they’ve been in 40 years in the U.S.; and the transportation sector is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in America. They’re all products of a system that has prioritized automobiles over people for decades. 
But ‘car free’ or ‘car light’ approaches to urban planning are taking hold in cities and neighborhoods around the world. From Amsterdam to Barcelona to Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates, officials are getting serious about redesigning their communities for car-free living. 
The concept sounds a bit radical. But it doesn’t mean getting rid of cars altogether. It’s about reimagining communities to shift the balance in favor of new transit options. 
In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore what transportation in the U.S. would look like if most of us didn't have to reach for our car keys every day.
Guests:
Ellen Dunham-Jones, director of the urban design program at Georgia Tech
Cornelia Dinca, founder of Sustainable Amsterdam
Peter Norton, associate professor of history at the University of Virginia
Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
Transit expert Jerome Horne

We’ve been sold on the idea that a car is the ultimate freedom. But that’s only true for people who can afford it. A system that relies on owning a personal car is not a system that provides freedom to everyone – it’s a system that disproportionately penalizes people of color, people with limited income, or people with disabilities.
So how do we build an affordable, reliable transit system that works for everyone?
In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany dig into the many ways we can incorporate equity into our transportation planning. They’ll cover a wide range of angles: land use, housing, transit choice, and anti-displacement. 
Guests:
Charles Brown, founder and CEO of Equitable Cities
Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
Chad Ballentine, VP of demand response and innovative mobility at Capital Metro
Transit expert Jerome Horne
Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Rapid deployment of new technologies have given consumers more mobility options – but have also caused conflicts with regulators and local planners. 
But that paradigm is shifting. Conflict is turning into collaboration. TransitTech companies are now working more closely with cities and transit agencies in order to make better use of new mobility models.
Collaboration is at the core of TransitTech. The TransitTech sector alone could represent $450 billion in investment opportunities to improve or overhaul public transportation systems. Under this emerging framework, what are the technology areas that offer the most promise?
In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany unpack how TransitTech is reshaping the way transportation agencies plan and adapt – and what it means for riders and the future of mobility in America.
Guests:
Angela Wynes, transit manager for High Point, North Carolina 
Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
Gabe Klein, partner at Cityfi.
Aaron Bielenberg, partner at McKinsey & Company
Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Rural transit needs help. According to analysis from the National Transit Database, 87 percent of the least-productive bus networks are located in rural counties with populations lower than 50,000 residents. 
These “transit deserts” in rural areas have major social, economic, and health consequences. How can technology and better planning solve the problem?
In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore the rural transit divide. Across the country, small towns and cities are coming up with new solutions to old mobility problems – making rural transit smarter, more accessible, and more affordable.
Guests: 
Valdosta, Georgia Mayor Scott Matheson
Scott Bogren, executive director at Community Transportation for America
Caroline Rodriguez, executive director of High Valley Transit
Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.