What Changes When You Become CEO?

This week’s lesson in leadership comes from Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA)’s Frank Annicaro: the best solutions often come from the people closest to the work. All three of our stories this week involve leaders who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, from those spearheading ambitious rail projects to the people who build the actual trains. These episodes show us that the best leaders are the ones who use their experience as operators to develop a deeper understanding of their employees and riders.

PREMIER: Frank Annicaro

In this episode, Frank joins Paul Comfort to discuss what it’s really like to move from leading bus operations at one of the world’s largest transit agencies to running an entire organization. He shares how CDTA is building on a legacy of innovation while tackling today’s biggest challenges—from the post-pandemic fiscal cliff to workforce development, transit-oriented development, and expanding mobility options beyond traditional bus service. Frank also explains why the best solutions often come from the people closest to the work, and how his team balanced the budget while improving efficiency and protecting service.

ICYMI: How to Build a Train

Ever wondered how a modern passenger train actually gets built? In this special episode of Transit Unplugged TV, host Paul Comfort gets an unprecedented, all-access behind-the-scenes tour of Stadler’s train manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah — guided personally by Stadler US CEO Martin Ritter. From aluminum car shells and the welding shop to truck assembly, cable harnesses, and the private test track, this episode walks through every stage of building a train — including the commuter and transit cars Stadler has been building for Caltrain, MARTA, Metra, Trinity Metro, and Utah’s own UTA.

ICYMI: APTA Rail

The future of passenger rail is being built right now—and Transit Unplugged takes you inside one of the industry’s biggest events to see it firsthand. Recorded on location at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Rail Conference in Baltimore, this special video episode features exclusive conversations with the leaders driving some of North America’s most ambitious rail projects. From the Purple Line in Maryland and MARC Train’s growing commuter network to Honolulu’s fully automated Skyline system and California High-Speed Rail, this is a front-row seat to the ideas, investments, and innovations shaping the next generation of public transportation.