“Our Greatest Asset Is Our Employees” — Geisha Ester on Workforce Investment
How are you investing in your workforce?
This week’s podcast episode with Geisha Ester of the National Transit Institute breaks down how agencies can access no-cost, FTA-funded training to upskill staff, strengthen succession plans, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment. She’s the final guest of our immensely successful Fantastic February!
We’re also tracking major leadership movement at the FTA, new technology deployments across North America, and extending an invitation to join your peers for candid, executive-level conversations at the ThinkTransit Executive Summit.
If building and retaining a strong team is on your 2026 agenda, this issue is for you.
This Week on The Podcast
In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort talks with Geisha Ester, Executive Director of the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University, about why workforce development has become the industry’s most important investment — and how agencies and professionals can take advantage of it right now. NTI, funded by the Federal Transit Administration, delivers no-cost training for transit professionals across the United States, helping agencies upskill their teams, strengthen succession planning, and prepare for a rapidly changing mobility landscape.
ICYMI: Montreal Adventure
Dive into the vibrant heart of Montreal, Quebec, Canada! This episode is a whirlwind tour of the city’s legendary food, rich culture, and world-class public transit. From the iconic smoked meat sandwiches and poutine to the city’s famous bagels, viewers get a taste of Montreal’s culinary delights. Explore the city’s Olympic legacy, stroll through the underground RESO, and discover how Montreal’s integrated transit system connects millions of residents and visitors.
The News Minute
Curious about the latest headlines in the transit industry? Check out our Transit Unplugged News Minute with Julie Gates. She covers the biggest stories in the industry every week. Click to view, and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing. This week:
- Change at the top — Marc Molinaro steps down after just six months as Administrator at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
- 🇨🇦 Hitachi Rail announces a nearly $30M investment to build a new Canadian headquarters in Toronto. hashtag#HitachiRail
- 💳 Seattle’s Sound Transit and ORCA fare system roll out tap-to-pay, allowing riders to use credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets for easier access.
- 🚆 Calgary Transit begins installing automatic passenger counting sensors to improve service planning and better understand ridership demand.
- 🤖 In Atlanta, Glydways breaks ground on an autonomous, on-demand transit pilot using electric vehicles on dedicated guideways.
- 👕 And Amtrak leans into its cult following with limited-edition “trak suits” designed by students from the New York School of Design.
ICYMI: Research in Transportation
Recorded live at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, this special episode of Transit Unplugged tackles a big question: Does research actually improve public transportation?
Register: ThinkTransit Executive Summit
The transit landscape is shifting faster than ever, and it demands leadership that’s ready to move with it. That’s why the APTA AdWheel Award-Winning Executive Summit was created: to curate one day for executives like you to step out of the day-to-day and focus on big-picture conversations with your peers that shape the future of the industry.
Join fellow CEOs, GMs, and senior leaders from across North America for a full day of panels, leadership insights, and roundtable discussions focused on the real-world challenges facing transit today (and the strategies that are actually working).
Whether you’re navigating funding constraints, workforce transitions, zero-emission mandates, or digital modernization, this is where candid conversations happen. Peer-to-peer, executive-to-executive.
