Transit Resources

What happens when an economics student looking to make some extra money accidentally discovers a lifelong passion for transit research? In this episode, hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with Dr. Victoria Perk, Transit Research Program Director at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida, to explore her remarkable three-decade journey from reluctant graduate student to Florida's leading expert on National Transit Database (NTD) reporting and training. Dr. Perk shares the story of how a simple job opportunity at CUTR in the early 1990s—back when NTD data was collected via phone calls and handwritten forms—evolved into a career dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and practical transit applications. As the principal investigator for Florida's longest-running NTD support contract with FDOT, she reveals the critical role accurate data plays in transit funding formulas and why her viewer access to agency NTD accounts is so crucial (hint: don't remove her!). Beyond the numbers, this conversation dives deep into the human elements that drive Dr. Perk's work: her passion for understanding how people make transportation choices, her innovative approach to recruiting students through semester-long "interviews" disguised as economics classes, and her commitment to developing the next generation of transit professionals. She discusses current research on the economic impacts of public transportation, the challenges of measuring success in emerging microtransit services, and why "perfect is the enemy of good" when it comes to research publication.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Hayden Clarkin, known online as the Transit Guy. Hayden explains how consistently sharing clear, digestible takes on transit led to TransitCon, consulting work, and a career built in public. The conversation covers using initiative to create opportunities, developing a credible online voice, and why making complex systems understandable can translate into real influence inside the industry.

Boca Raton, Fla. — July 7, 2026 — ETA, the cloud-native, AI-powered transit technology provider known for delivering transit-grade onboard equipment coupled with the industry’s most comprehensive web-based software for campus transit operations, today announced it has been selected by Syracuse University to deploy a comprehensive fleet technology upgrade across its campus transit system.

The City of Yorktown operates a trolley service at the intersection of public transit and tourism. Visitors rely on the trolley to move between designated parking areas and Yorktown's historic waterfront district, making dependability and real-time communication essential, not optional.

In the premier episode of Stop Requested, Christian and Levi reflect on their experience at the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) conference, held from September 22-24 in West Palm Beach. They explore the value of networking with industry professionals, discovering the latest transit innovations, and celebrating outstanding achievements through industry awards. Listen in as they share key takeaways from conversations with vendors, including discussions on cybersecurity for transit agencies, and the importance of connecting with peers to drive the future of public transportation.

Transit ITS Data Exchange Specification (TIDES) is a remarkable GTFS extension that delves into the realm of historical transit operation data. This repository provides data schemas and tools to support the access, management, and improvement of historical transit operations data, including vehicle operations, passenger activity, fare collection, and other similar data. TIDES bridges the gap between the past and present, allowing transit agencies to store and exchange historical data in a structured and standardized format. This opens a world of possibilities for transit providers, researchers, and developers.

Digital advertising on vehicles is coming. It’s already been adopted heavily in Europe, and the United States is gradually warming to the idea. there is a strong case to be made that the technology can add a new, profitable revenue stream to any advertising agency, and that there is a public demand for such a system. Digital advertising (also known as infotainment) leverage onboard displays (typically LCD) or public address systems to provide riders with route updates, news, weather, sports, local events, and local advertising. Unlike the traditional printed advertising, digital advertising doesn’t have an inventory problem. A transit agency can sell multiple ads on to any screen. Digital advertising is being looked at as a way for agencies to enhance their offerings, improve reputation, build brand value, and of course, create a new revenue channel they can use to help cover operating costs and invest more proactively in their service.

David Carr, Director of Zero Emissions Bus Programs at CapMetro, shares how Austin’s transit agency is driving toward a fully zero-emission fleet. Hear about the rollout of battery-electric buses, the groundbreaking solar-powered charging infrastructure, and the real-world challenges of electrifying public transit-from workforce training to integrating new technologies. Get an inside look at one of the nation’s most ambitious sustainable transit transformations and what it means for the future of Austin’s mobility.

The e-paper solution has emerged in the transit space as a happy medium between the old-school LED signs and the colorful, yet expensive HD LCD screens.

<div class="flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&]:mt-5" dir="auto" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="6b007d4a-65b7-46cc-90a7-11fa6c68672d" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]"> <div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"> In this festive episode of <em>Stop Requested</em>, Levi and Christian explore the delightful tradition of transit buses taking center stage in holiday parades and celebrations. From historical roots in London and New York City to the behind-the-scenes efforts of transit agencies, they discuss how these rolling holiday displays strengthen community ties and promote public transit. They also share insights on planning holiday services, detours, and the logistical challenges of decorating and staffing these events. Celebrate the season with us and discover how transit agencies nationwide are spreading holiday cheer! </div> </div> </div> </div>

ETA Transit Systems has entered a partnership with Transdev to deploy intelligent transit technology across Texas State University's campus transit service, equipping the university's 49-bus fleet with a connected operations and rider-information platform.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with James Drake, Senior Manager of Service Planning at Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT). With over 20 years at one agency, James shares how transit service actually comes together, from data and analysis to the service riders experience every day. The conversation explores how planners think about networks instead of individual routes, how service changes are developed and implemented, and why balancing ridership and coverage isn’t as simple as it seems. James also discusses the role of data, the importance of observation and operator input, and how microtransit fits into a broader transit system.