Creating new funding models, the challenge of the EV transition, and stop negative self-talk

We have a jam-packed episode for you this week. We lead off with David S. Kim, formerly the Secretary of Transportation for the State of California, now Senior Vice President & Principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy at WSP. Paul and David talk about two of the most pressing issues facing public transit today: finding alternatives to gas taxes to fund transportation and the transition to EVs.

For decades federal and state/provincial taxes on gas and diesel have funded roads, bridges, and public transit. It's a good system for paying for critical infrastructure, but as we switch to EVs--therefore buying less and less fuel--that money will dry up. David and Paul talk about some of the pilots and models being tested to move to a "pay-as-you-drive" model for funding.

Paul and David then pivot to talking about the challenges facing the transition to EVs and the costs associated with the transition. Sure agencies have to buy new buses, but they also have to upgrade or build new facilities to support EVs and have to train a whole new workforce to drive and manage these high tech vehicles.

We also have the second leadership segment from Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott of TALLsmall Productions. This week Keith and Rebecca tell us how to defeat negative self-talk. It's more than just a nagging little voice that chides us, negative self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy and damage your work, your career, and your mental health. Keith and Rebecca give you real, practical tools to silence that negative voice and turn it into your inner cheerleader.

Elea Carey joins us this week to talk about how to communicate big projects--like the transition to EVs--by focusing on where the money has really come from and the benefits to the community.

Coming up next week we have the second CEO Roundtable recorded at the UITP Global Summit featuring Carla Purcell CEO of Yarra Trams, Jeremy Yap Deputy Chief Executive of LTA in Singapore, Paul Skoutelas, President of APTA, and Dorval Carter, President of CTA in Chicago.

This roundtable has a focus on public transport in Asia-Pacific and North America. While every region and agency is different--if you've seen one transit agency, you've seen one transit agency--many of the challenges in changing ridership patterns, workforce development, transition to zero emissions, and accessibility are universal.

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If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

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(00:00) David S. Kim - TALLsmall Part 2

(00:26) Interview with David S. Kim

(22:15) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey

(24:22) Continuing with Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott on stopping negative self talk

(38:30) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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