TDA: On The Go Podcast

Wisconsin's airports are integral to the state's economy and generate significant economic impact for the communities where they are located and the regions they serve. Two Wisconsin aviation experts join TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson on the latest On The Go podcast to talk about Wisconsin aviation, the Wisconsin Airport Management Association (WAMA), and the upcoming Wisconsin Aviation Conference. Listen in as Rachel Engeler, assistant airport director at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport and President of WAMA, and Jim Schell, director at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and Vice President of WAMA, share their aviation insights and knowledge.

The recently signed 2023-25 state transportation budget includes some significant investments throughout the system. In this episode of the On The Go podcast, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson talks with Steve Baas, executive director of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, about what's in the 2023-25 transportation budget and what's next.

Last month, TDA held its Drive-in at the State Capitol in Madison. Approximately 75 TDA members, including representatives of business, industry, local government, transportation advocates and trade unions attended a morning seminar and then groups visited the Capitol to share legislative priorities with lawmakers and staff. In this episode of the podcast, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson speaks with a few of the attendees who share their thoughts on the importance of the Drive-In, and the state of transportation infrastructure in Wisconsin, overall.

Agriculture is big dollars and a key driver of Wisconsin's economy. It's no secret that the condition of the state's roads, bridges and culverts, and posted weight restrictions, impact whether the industry can safely and efficiently transport agricultural products to market. In this episode of the On The Go podcast, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson talks with Jason Mugnaini, executive director of governmental relations at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, to discuss agriculture, transportation, and a legislative proposal to create an agricultural road improvement program at WisDOT.

At the 2023 TDA Fly-in to Washington, DC, there was much focus on the discretionary grants in the federal infrastructure law and the need to bring a fair share of those dollars home to Wisconsin. In the latest On The Go podcast, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson speaks with Rob Krejci, the highway commissioner for St. Croix County, about these funding opportunities from a county's perspective.  Rob shares how a trio of Wisconsin counties — St. Croix, Dunn, and Eau Claire — partnered and successfully worked with the USDOT to obtain a $500,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) action plan grant. This plan will unlock future implementation grant opportunities. Rob hopes other counties and municipalities will benefit from what they learned during the application process.

Governor Tony Evers has submitted his 2023-25 State Budget. What's in it? Why does it matter, and what's next? TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson sits down with political communications consultant Brian Fraley, the President of Edge Messaging, to discuss items of interest to those concerned about Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure. They also explain how individuals can make an impact on the budget process. 

The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train returns with its approximately 170 free, in-person shows after being virtual in 2020 and 2021. The train will roll through Wisconsin from December 8th through the 10th. This holiday tradition dates back to 1999 and brings live, family-friendly music to large and small communities along the CP system. Each year, the Holiday Train raises money, food, and awareness to address the issue of food insecurity. CP makes a donation within each community where the Holiday Train stops and asks attendees to bring a cash or non-perishable food donation if they're able.   Andy Cummings, a spokesman for Canadian Pacific Railway, speaks with TDA's Debby Jackson on the latest On The Go podcast about the exciting return of the in-person CP Holiday Train and the holiday magic this train brings to the cities and towns along the route.

TDA was on the road in October holding a series of five regional transportation roundtables across the state. TDA and local partners hosted community leaders, legislators, and candidates in Eau Claire, Appleton, Richland Center, Pewaukee, and Wausau. Our goal was to reconnect and restart a conversation about transportation in Wisconsin after the pandemic. During our travels, we heard about regional accomplishments, opportunities, and challenges. In our latest On The Go Podcast, you will get a quick overview of the spirited discussions at these meetings.

The Mississippi River plays a major role in transporting Wisconsin's agricultural products and is directly tied to the state's economy. An effort is underway to form a new, federally-recognized statistical port district, known as the Northern Grain Belt Port Statistical Area. Bob Gollnik, senior planner at the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, and Chris Smith, chief operating officer at Riverside Global Solutions, speak with TDA's Debby Jackson on the latest On The Go podcast about the crucial role of the upper Mississippi River and the benefits of this statistical port area.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin was founded in 1983 to help increase the sale and consumption of Wisconsin milk and dairy products. Today, the farmer-owned, operated, and funded organization continues to support the state's dairy farmers by establishing new markets, funding research, and showcasing dairy's economic contribution to the state.  Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, talks with TDA's Debby Jackson about the state's dairy industry in the latest On The Go podcast.

The annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin competition highlights the state's vibrant manufacturing industry, showcases amazing Wisconsin products, and celebrates the men and women who make it all happen. Nick Novak, Vice President of Communications & Marketing at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, talks with TDA's Debby Jackson about this annual contest, encouraging us all to get involved at madeinwi.com. Other topics covered in this fast-paced segment include the condition of Wisconsin's economy and how manufacturing has changed.

The ACE (Aviation Careers Education) Program is back this summer, connecting Milwaukee public high school students with airport employers to open doors for these young people to pursue aviation-related careers and learn job skills. Harold Mester, director of public affairs and marketing at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, speaks with TDA's Debby Jackson about this successful 30-year-old summer internship program.

Have you tried an e-scooter?  In this episode of the On The Go podcast, Austin Marshburn, head of city and university partnerships at Bird, talks with TDA's Debby Jackson about how e-scooters are becoming an important part of the transportation mix in cities, including almost a dozen in Wisconsin, who uses them, and how the system works.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released preliminary traffic fatality numbers showing the U.S. reached a 16-year high in 2021. In this episode of the On The Go podcast, Nicholas Jarmusz, AAA Director of Public Affairs for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, joins TDA's Debby Jackson to discuss the upcoming summer travel season and what we can all do to make the roads safer for everyone.

TDA learns a lot by watching what is happening in other states. In this episode of the On The Go podcast, Margaret Donahoe, executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, joins TDA's Debby Jackson to discuss all things Minnesota transportation.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is all the news. We hear about the funding for roads, bridges, public transportation, and the transition to electric vehicles. But what about investment in ports and waterways? Adam Tindall-Schlicht, director of Port Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association president, joins TDA's Debby Jackson on the latest episode of the On The Go podcast to discuss Wisconsin ports and the opportunities provided by the recently passed infrastructure law.

Every year in Wisconsin, people die needlessly on or around railroad tracks. Many of these accidents occur where there are warning devices alerting drivers and pedestrians to the presence of trains. Sept 20-26 is Rail Safety Week in Wisconsin and throughout North America. Gary Koerner, state coordinator of Operation Lifesaver, joins TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson on this episode of the On The Go podcast.  The two discuss safety at railroad crossings, the dangers of trespassing on tracks, and upcoming Wisconsin events Operation Lifesaver has planned for Rail Safety Week.

Just about anywhere you go today, you will see help wanted signs. This labor shortage predates the pandemic, but the events of the last year (or so) certainly exacerbated the issue.   Dave Steele, executive director of the Regional Transit Leadership Council, joins TDA's Debby Jackson on the latest episode of the On The Go podcast. The two discuss the Council's plan to help workers fill in the "last mile" between public transit and jobs in the Milwaukee area, expanding the pool of possible employees and connecting people to jobs.

A significant part of the state's economy, tourism was one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic. But now, with the vaccine readily available, communities open for business, and pent-up travel demand, Wisconsinites are hitting the road this summer after more than a year of sticking close to home. In the latest episode of the TDA On The Go Podcast, Executive Director Debby Jackson speaks with Romy Snyder, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau, about the trends Snyder sees in the Dells and her optimism for the future of the industry.

AirVenture, described as the closest thing America has to a national airshow, returns to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh July 26 through August 1 after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In the latest episode of the On the Go Podcast, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson speaks with Dick Knapinski, director of communications for EAA, about this extraordinary event.

Bikes are booming! During the pandemic, sales of bikes skyrocketed, and the trend continues. Bike-share programs have also seen tremendous growth in many cities across the country, and Madison and Milwaukee bike-share systems thrive. As Bike Month comes to a close, Morgan Ramaker, Executive Director of BCycle, joins TDA's Debby Jackson to talk about the successful bike-share programs in Wisconsin and the role they can play in a community’s transportation system.

In the latest episode, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson sits down with Ellen Voie, President & CEO, Women in Trucking Association. The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.

Mark O’Connell, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, is also the current President of the Board of Directors of TDA. In this episode, Debby and Mark discuss how they both addressed the organizational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and they examine the short and long-term opportunities facing TDA.

It’s state budget time. In this episode, TDA’s Debby Jackson reviews the Governor’s budget address and speaks with Sean Stephenson of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, a veteran of several state budget sessions as a former capitol staffer and current director of government & member relations at WTBA. Stephenson breaks down the budget process and outlines what actions we may expect, and when we should expect them.

The I-94 East-West project in Milwaukee is not only vital to city and area residents, but it’s also crucial for the region and the entire state. In this episode, Debby speaks with Steve Baas, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and a member of I-94 East-West Econ Connect, a diverse coalition of community and business groups advocating for the improvement of this roadway. (I94econconnect.com)

With winter right around the corner, Eau Claire County Highway Commissioner Jon Johnson is the featured guest on the latest episode of the On the Go podcast. Johnson explains the logistics of snow removal and winter road maintenance and the challenges of managing through Wisconsin’s unpredictable winters and now a pandemic.

Chris Boucher, Winneconne Village President, joins Debby to talk about the new Winneconne bridge (WIS 116) over the Fox River. This project is among the 12 national finalists competing in America’s Transportation Awards for the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award. You can vote up to once a day at americastransportationawards.org until October 25. After you vote, show support for this great Wisconsin project and consider a road trip to Winneconne to check it out!

We could all use some good news these days, especially stories that give us a glimpse of life after the pandemic. We want to hear about investments in our communities and transportation projects moving forward to benefit us and the economy well beyond COVID-19. Dan Basile, Chief Operations Officer at Milwaukee County Transit System, joins TDA's Debby Jackson to talk about one such project in Milwaukee – East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

Have you tried to buy a bike recently? Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales of mid-range bikes have skyrocketed and they have become hard to find. Kirsten Finn, Executive Director of The Wisconsin Bike Fed joins Debby on this episode of TDA: On The Go to discuss how cycling has taken off during the pandemic and how the Fed fits into the overall transportation system in Wisconsin.

David Noyce, professor of civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory (TOPS Lab), joins Debby for a discussion about travel disruption in Wisconsin in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. To what extent has travel rebounded, and what can we expect in the near future?  Noyce also explains TOPS' mission of improving traffic operations and safety in Wisconsin and across the Midwest.

Public transit is another part of Wisconsin's critical infrastructure that has remained operational throughout the pandemic. In this episode, Debby Jackson talks with Ron McDonald, General Manager of Valley Transit in the Fox Valley. Jackson and McDonald talk about how Valley Transit has continued its operations, how the organization is safeguarding transit workers and passengers, and the role of public transportation in Wisconsin's recovery.

Emily Traiforos of Go Rail joins TDA's Debby Jackson to discuss the critical role of the railroad industry during the COVID-19 health emergency.

Debby Jackson of the TDA is joined by Abe Weber, director of the Appleton International Airport (ATW).  Abe also sits on the board of the Wisconsin Airport Management Association.   Debby and Abe discuss Wisconsin airport operations during "safer at home" orders.

We are continuing our series of podcasts dedicated to showing how our different areas of transportation are dealing with the Covid-19 related "Safer at home" orders. Today, Debby Jackson talks with Neal Kedzie, president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, about the critical role that trucks and truckers are playing right now.

On this episode of On The Go, Debby Jackson is joined by Dean Haen, director of the Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department and the President of the Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on Wisconsin's ports and waste disposal.

On this edition of the On The Go Podcast, Debby talks with La Crosse County Highway Commissioner Ron Chamberlain about the essential work being performed by highway crews around the state during "Safer At Home".

On TDA’s On the Go podcast, Executive Director Debby Jackson previews a series of conversations highlighting essential transportation workers across the state.

We are all in this together. Debby talks with Pat Goss of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association about the construction industry's efforts to help Wisconsin’s frontline health care workers.

The Ryder Cup is coming to Wisconsin later this year, but Gary D'Amato says the world's top players are not the only ones who will be traveling to our state to enjoy the challenges and beauty of our abundant golf courses. Wisconsin's pre-eminent golf journalist says Golf tourism is a huge business in Wisconsin, and that should only grow after the international publicity the Ryder Cup will bring.   Gary joins Debby Jackson on this edition of the TDA On The Go Podcast.

Wisconsin is the 5th largest state for growing and exporting Christmas trees and this coming weekend will be the busiest weekend for Wisconsinites who choose to cut and buy a real tree. Greg Hann, owner of Hann's Christmas Farm in Oregon, Wisconsin and president of the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association joins TDA's Debby Jackson to talk about how important the Christmas tree industry is to Wisconsin's economy.  He also has some tips for keeping your tree looking its best throughout the holiday season.

It's National Apprenticeship Week! In this episode of On the Go, Debby interviews Jessica Benson, a third-year carpenter's apprentice and Andrew Disch, Wisconsin Political Director for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. They discuss how apprenticeship opportunities help individual apprentices, participating employers and the Wisconsin economy as a whole.

Tom Bressner, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association joins Debby for this episode of the TDA: On The Go Podcast. Tom details how transportation infrastructure is a key element in his members' economic success.  He also discusses how his organization is training the next generation of leaders and he highlights future challenges they'll have to tackle in the years ahead.

Tracy Johnson, president and CEO of the Commercial Association of REALTORS® Wisconsin, is our featured guest. The trade association executive explains why commercial REALTORS® have a keen interest in infrastructure and transit issues and how infrastructure investments help propel her industry. Tracy and TDA's Debby Jackson also discuss bus rapid transit, the Milwaukee Street Car, real estate industry trends, and more in this fast-paced, informative episode.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has launched an innovative reform to save cost and time on local bridge projects in cooperation with Wisconsin’s county highway departments. In this episode, Dan Fedderly, executive director of the Wisconsin County Highway Association, joins Debby Jackson of TDA and explains the rationale and implementation of the low-risk bridge pilot program.

Nick Jarmusz is AAA's Director of Public Affairs for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. An expert on transportation in the Midwest, Jarmusz sits down with TDA's Debby Jackson to discuss the state of Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure and the results of a recent AAA poll which surveyed Wisconsinites' opinion on road quality and the transportation financing options.

Like everyone this time of year, we're talking potholes. But we're not just complaining, the ladies on this podcast are also explaining. Hear from Debbie Schwerman of the Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association and Jackie Spoor of the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association in our latest episode of On the Go.

In this episode, we hear from Governor Tony Evers and examine his transportation budget proposal.

In our pilot episode, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson reviews the Just Fix It campaign and previews the upcoming State Budget debate. We also look back to a 2017 interview with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wherein he comments on TDA efforts during the last budget battle and gives us a glimpse of what we may expect in the coming months.