Beating the heat and expanding transit in Phoenix!
Giddy up! We’ve hitched a ride on Valley Metro for a tour of Phoenix, Arizona–the fastest growing city in the U.S.! Join host Paul Comfort and the Transit Unplugged crew as they:
- Learn about Valley Metro from its CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller
- Take a tour of the car-free community of Culdesac with Ryan Johnson
- Sample amazing Mexican food at Tacos Chiwas
- Get a behind the scenes look at how Valley Metro operates
- Listen to great music at Copper Blues
- Check out the public art enlivening Valley Metro’s stations
- Learn how an old mall is becoming a new center for housing and community.
- Plus interviews with Scott Smith, former CEO of Valley Metro, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and more!
You can listen to the full interviews with Jessica Mefford-Miller, Ryan Johnson, Scott Smith, and Rep. Blumenauer on the website or check out this Phoenix playlist with all the interviews in one place:
Enjoy!
Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, Passionate About Moving the World’s People.
TV Host/Producer – Paul Comfort
Video Director, Camera, and Sound – Jaime Cuadra
Video Editing – Jaime Cuadra
Music – Jaime Cuadra
Graphic Design – Tina Olagundoye
Executive Producer – Julie Gates
Content – Tris Hussey
Social Media – Tatyana Mechkarova
00:00 Opening
00:48 Introduction with host Paul Comfort
01:34 Jessica Mefford-Miller, CEO of Valley Metro
02:34 About Valley Metro’s system of buses, streetcars, and light rail
03:04 Look at head at public transportation in 2024
04:03 Armando Hernadez co-owner of Tacos Chiwas and some local Mexican food
05:22 How do I get there? With Jessica Mefford-Miller going to Culdesac
05:44 On Valley Metro light rail
06:00 Culdesac Tempe, the first planned car-free community in the U.S.
06:08 Ryan Johnson, Co-founder and CEO of Culdesac on their vision for car-free communities
06:49 Taking a trip on a Google Waymo car with Valerie Neilson
07:23 IMPACT conference
07:48 What are great transit innovations in Phoenix?
08:33 Congressman Earl Blumenauer on streetcars
09:17 Scott Smith former mayor of Mesa and former CEO of Valley Metro
10:43 Behind the scenes at the Valley Metro Operations Control Center wirh Mike Pal, Valley Metro Chief Transportation Officer on mega events
12:03 Rob Rosenburg, Valley Metro Deputy Director, Rail Maintenance on beating the heat in Phoenix
12:40 Tempe Mayor Corey Woods on the Valley Metro streetcar system and expanind transit in the city
13:45 Ricardo Teiada, Valley Metro Lead Customer Experience Coordinator on providing stellar customer service for all riders
14:55 At Copper Blues and Ronny Winters
15:36 A walk in the desert with Paul
16:07 Valley Metro’s solar energy program
16:37 Tony Santana on the light rail expansion to meet the needs of the fasted growing city in the U.S.
17:34 Dianne Cripe on Valley Metro’s public art projects
18:24 Wrap up and credits