The DOT POD

If you've been on social media during a snowstorm or just before our morning commute, chances are DOT popped up in your feed. Sometimes those posts don't just pop...they explode.

Case in point, last month's major statewide snowstorm. Millions of people viewed an eight-foot tall snowbank, with one of our DOT employees standing next to it for scale...and boom, that picture went viral.

Jeremy Johnson is the DOT employee standing in that photo and Rick Hyde runs our social media and is the person behind what everyone sees on our social media channels; they join Josh and Anya on this episode of the DOT POD.

On this episode of the DOT POD, we are talking about something that New Yorkers see on many of our roadways - HELP Trucks. Those white trucks that seem to show up at exactly the right moment - when flat tires, spinouts, or dead batteries happen.

Recording from the Hudson Valley, Josh and Anya welcome in HELP Truck Operator Jerry Gamone, Manager for DOT's Traffic Management Center in Hawthorne, NY Lance Gorney, and New York State Police Trooper Mike Reilly to discuss the program.

The Livingston Avenue Bridge has been carrying trains across the Hudson River since the Civil War era. Now, more than 150 years later, it's being replaced to meet the needs of modern rail travel while also expanding pedestrian access with a design that respects its historic roots.

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Jeff Moryl, Director of DOT's Project Management Office, and Sue Torelli, Director of DOT's Rail Projects Group, to talk about the bridge's history, why it matters so much, and what it take to replace a critical rail crossing without stopping the trains and passengers that rely on it every day.

The New York State Department of Transportation is all about serving our communities and over the years we've expanded our focus to encompass a wide range of initiatives that listeners may not at first associate with transportation.

One area where our department has taken the lead on a nation level is in the fight against human trafficking.

In honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Josh and Anya welcomed in Jonathan Nicastro, Director of DOT's Office of Modal Safety and Security and Rich Lindemann, Roadside Inspection Manager to discuss how DOT is working closely with our partners in law enforcement and the trucking and bussing industries to address this crime and help raise awareness.

In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya visited one of DOT's Traffic Management Centers, or TMC's.

These 24/7 hubs are the eyes and ears of New York's roadway network. Inside, skilled operators track live camera feeds and analyze data so they can take quick action in case something serious happens like a crash, storm, or floods.

Joining the podcast are Senior Transportation Analyst Anthony Roach and System Operator 3 Elana Walchusky, both based out of the Utica Region.