The Stream by AASHTO podcast | Listen online for free

Available Episodes

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Electrified Roadway Testing in Indiana
This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.In this episode, George McCue with the Indiana DOT and Dr. Steven Pekarek from Purdue University are interviewed by Bernie Wagenblast regarding an electric vehicle charging project they are conducting under the auspices of the Joint Transportation Research Program. The project is testing a Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer or “DWPT” system, whereby transmitter coils underneath the road can send energy to an electric vehicle without ever having to plug it in – a power transfer system that is similar to wireless charger technology for smart phones.In West Lafayette, IN, the Indiana DOT and Purdue have successfully tested a quarter mile of highway on U.S. Route 231 and U.S. Route 52 equipped with over 80 transmitter coils that carried charge to the test vehicle.On the podcast, McCue and Pekarek discuss the multi-faceted aspects of the DWPT project, including the economic viability of the project’s technology, potential size limits of vehicles able to use the road, and working on public roadways that can see thousands of drivers daily. Both stress that this DWPT project could significantly expand the range of electric vehicles on U.S. highways.
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29:15
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29:15
Mountain Lion Conservation in California
In this episode, Dan Medeiros joins the Stream by AASHTO to discuss his work with the Conservation Fund – a 40-year-old firm that purchases land across the U.S. to preserve wildlife habitat – and its efforts in California to support the safety and growth of mountain lion populations and their habitats. Medeiros discusses how mountain lion conservation efforts interconnect with transportation infrastructure needs; especially how large barriers and quick-moving cars are two of the main culprits behind mountain lion deaths. He also points to specific examples, including the death of “54M” – a mountain lion tracked by that the Conservation Fund that was tragically killed by a vehicle when trying to cross a major highway.Medeiros also explains the importance of stakeholder input on large infrastructure projects that involve mountain lion populations, including state departments of transportation, local residents, and private organizations. He provides input on the importance of quality data collection, advocacy, and conversation when working with big stakes.This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.
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22:08
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22:08
How Scenic America Works to Preserve Landscapes Nationwide
The latest episode of the “Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Tziporah Feldman, policy and research director for Scenic America; a national nonprofit advocacy dedicated to preserving and enhancing the scenic character of America's communities and countryside.This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.Scenic America’s focus areas are reducing tree removal for billboard visibility purposes, as well as support for the Backcountry Byways Program, National Scenic Byways Program, and The America the Beautiful Act.In this episode, Feldman discusses the specific policy issues Scenic America addresses, such as the impact of undergrounding utility construction on parks and open spaces; billboards and sign control; and intersection of community planning and scenic byways. She also details her background in the environmental sector. After receiving a biology degree from the University of Cincinnati – all while helping rehabilitate birds of prey and releasing them back into the wild – Feldman went on to obtain a masters in ecology and evolutionary biology from Stony Brook University.
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25:49
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25:49
Stormwater Engineering and Erosion Control
This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.In this episode, Michael Perez – Brasfield & Gorrie associate professor at Auburn University – discusses the multi-dimensional world of stormwater management and the importance of creative and timely solutions to stormwater issues across the state of Alabama and the nation.We spend some time in this episode learning about the successes of the Stormwater Research Facility at Auburn University, such as creating a portable stormwater treatment device, writing new guidelines for design elements and installation techniques, and being a part of projects that restore the environment. Perez also discusses his time as a professor, and the reward of shaping students into young, successful professionals in the stormwater field. Finally, he discusses looking forward to what the future holds for his work and for Auburn’s Stormwater Research Facility, while providing advice for stormwater professionals across the nation.
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21:34
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21:34
Talking Safety & Reauthorization with Garrett Eucalitto
This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and it explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.In this podcast episode, Eucalitto delves into his family’s connection to the transportation industry, how his career path shifted from foreign relations to transportation policy, and why he’s made “centering safety” a key focal point not only for his AASHTO presidential emphasis areas but as the nucleus of his transportation career. He also discusses the critical importance of ongoing surface transportation funding reauthorization work by Congress and how that legislative effort impacts safety. He explains on the podcast that reauthorization “impacts everything we do” as state DOTs, especially in the safety arena. That’s why it is critical to ensure that the current reauthorization package maintains – if not expands – the current level of federal funding to fully support the nation’s transportation systems.Eucalitto is also AASHTO’s first openly gay president and discusses how this part of his identity has helped make him more empathetic about protecting people physically, mentally, and emotionally – especially in terms of fostering a level of comfort so people can live openly in the workplace. Finally, Eucalitto looks to the future as part of his podcast interview – examining the ways state DOTs are seeking to broaden their “non-traditional” partnerships, along with ways state DOTs are working to improve the exchange of information between one another for disaster response and other needs.
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24:07
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24:07