The DOT POD

For newer snowplow operators, this winter season wasn't just busy - it was an opportunity and a masterclass in maneuvering plows in whiteouts and adapting to rapidly changing conditions.

Josh and Anya traveled to Binghamton to sit down with one of DOT's newer snowplow operators, and one of their experienced instructors.

Equipment Operator Instructor Ryan Ashman and Highway Maintenance Worker Cody Randel joined the show to talk about what this winter taught them.

We're celebrating Women's History Month and we're doing it the best way we know how - by highlighting a leader who is not only shaping transportation in New York State, but also the world of women in transportation.

Josh and Anya are joined by Linda Lubey, the new Director of the Office of Traffic, Safety, and Mobility. Linda started her career when the transportation field was still mostly dominated by men. But she didn't just enter the field - she rose through it - and is now a leader among leaders.

When you think of the New York State Department of Transportation, you probably imagine projects, planning, or filling potholes and snowplowing. And while that's definitely part of the job, DOT employees don't just live and breathe transportation. They've got plenty of hobbies and passions outside of work.

In this episode, Josh and Anya welcome in a few of these employees to find out what skills and hobbies these public servants have. Find out more about Chief Data Officer Mike Rossi, author; DOT Maintenance Environmental Program Manager MaryEllen Papin, apiarist; and Assistant Commissioner for Operations Ken Bibbins, high school trap shooting coach.

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.