Stop Requested

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, recorded live at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026 in Chicago, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with John Walsh, Chief Commercial Officer, and Mike Ammann, Vice President of Transit Division at ABC Companies, to discuss the launch of COR Transit, a new American bus manufacturer. The conversation explores the challenges facing U.S. bus manufacturing, including limited competition, rising costs, long delivery times, and the need to give transit agencies more options.

John and Mike share their approach to designing a transit bus from the ground up, emphasizing reliability, safety, and ease of maintenance. They also discuss balancing standardization with customization, leveraging ABC Companies' existing parts and service network, and their plans for prototype development in 2027 and initial vehicle deliveries in 2028.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Ehren Bingaman, National Transit Practice Leader at Burgess & Niple, about leadership, organizational purpose, and defining what success looks like for a transit agency. Drawing on his experience in Indianapolis, Detroit, and Atlanta, Ehren shares lessons on building regional partnerships, navigating competing priorities, and turning ambitious transit plans into meaningful results.

The conversation explores why agencies need to understand what they want to accomplish before deciding how to measure success. Ehren challenges the industry's reliance on ridership as a primary performance metric, discusses the importance of using data to improve decision-making, and shares his perspectives on financial challenges, organizational leadership, and developing the next generation of transit professionals.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, recorded at APTA EXPO 2026, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with Walter Jenkins, CEO of TransitChat; Lizzie Speed, CEO of Greenlight Robotics; and Anthony Trasatti, CEO of Ontra Mobility, to discuss the new technologies and ideas they're bringing to public transportation.

The conversation explores improving communication and accountability within transit agencies, using AI to evaluate service planning scenarios, and developing collision avoidance technology to support bus operators and improve safety. The three CEOs also share what drew them into public transportation, the challenges they're working to solve, and how their innovations could help agencies operate more effectively.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Charles Frazier, CEO of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), about the challenges of rebuilding a transit agency after decades of underfunding while preparing for the future. Charles shares his journey through public transportation leadership, the personal experience that shaped his career, and why listening to employees, riders, and elected officials is essential to creating meaningful change.

The conversation explores CARTA's efforts to improve service reliability, modernize infrastructure, strengthen community relationships, and establish a long-term vision for transit in Chattanooga. Charles also discusses a $25 million federal grant supporting autonomous shuttles and workforce development, the importance of aligning transit planning with community growth, and why agencies must balance fixing today's problems with investing in tomorrow's opportunities.

In this bonus episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Alejandro Schmidt and Freddy Canales from DTPM, Santiago’s public transport authority, and Jose Mostajo from SONDA. Recorded in Spanish at APTA EXPO in Chicago, the conversation traces how Santiago’s transit system has changed since the difficult launch of Transantiago in 2007.

Alejandro and Freddy discuss cashless payments, monthly fare caps, and why many riders still prefer a physical fare card. They also talk about fare evasion and how better real-time information could make everyday trips easier.