On the heels of his February appointment, Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek sits down with Paul Comfort to break down a banner year for the MTA’s northern commuter powerhouse. From 98 percent on-time performance to new “Super-Express” trains that shave up to 50 minutes a day off the New Haven run, Justin walks through the big wins, bigger capital program, and the three metrics he believes define rail’s future in North America: reliability, frequency, and trip time.

• The 98% standard — how Metro-North elevated on-time performance across 230k daily trips
• Super-Express strategy — six AM/PM trains, revamped signaling, and a 90-minute New Haven–GCT target
• Grand Central Terminal as a “temple to transit”
• Their nearly $8 billion capital plan (2025-29) — dual-mode Siemens Chargers, battery-electric locos, signal renewals, ADA station upgrades, and the Grand Central artery
• Penn Station Access for Bronx riders and reverse-commute opportunities into Connecticut

• Metro-North Railroad — https://new.mta.info/agency/metro-north-railroad
• MTA Capital Program 2025-2029 overview https://future.mta.info/capitalplan/
• Transit Unplugged episode archive — https://transitunplugged.com

Like what you hear? Subscribe to Transit Unplugged on your favorite podcast app, or sign up for the newsletter at TransitUnplugged.com for weekly field notes from across the industry.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people.

Creator, Host & Producer — Paul Comfort

Executive Producer — Julie Gates

Producer & Newsletter Editor — Chris O’Keefe

Associate Producer — Cyndi Raskin

Podcast Intern — Desmond Gates

Special thanks to:

Brand Design — Tina Olagundoye

Social Media — Tatyana Mechkarova

Got a question or comment? Email us at info@transitunplugged.com

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to Modaxo and may contain information subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual-property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it

MV Transportation just hit a milestone few transit firms reach—its 50th anniversary.

To mark the occasion, host Paul Comfort interviews Harry Wilson, the firm’s Executive Chairman, about:

• A 50‑Year Origin Story —How Alex and Feysan Lodde's single van in San Francisco grew into the largest American‑owned transit contractor in North America.
• “The New MV” Culture —Why Wilson and COO Kevin Klika rebuilt training from scratch (six‑week GM bootcamp), added performance incentives, and created hundreds of employee‑shareholders.
• Contracting in 2025 —Cost pressure, fiscal cliffs, ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicles) transitions, AI pilots: why Wilson believes outsourcing will expand as agencies chase flexibility and innovation.
• AI on the Front Line —Predictive tools that have cut operator turnover nearly in half and the 30+ workstreams MV is piloting right now.
• Boardroom to Depot —Former FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez joins MV’s board; founder Feysan Lodde inducted into the APTA Hall of Fame.
• Looking Ahead —Why Wilson thinks the next 5–10 years will bring more change than the last 50—and how MV plans to help agencies navigate it.

• Resources & Links
• MV Transportation 50‑Year Timeline https://www.mvtransit.com/about-us/mv-story
• Transit Unplugged interview with Nuria Fernandez https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/nuria-fernandez-santa-clara-valley-transportation-authority/
• Subscribe to the newsletter at TransitUnplugged.com

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo

• Creator, Host, + Producer: Paul Comfort
• Executive Producer: Julie Gates
• Producer + Newsletter Editor: Chris O’Keeffe
• Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin
• Podcast Intern: Desmond Gates

Special thanks to:

Brand Design — Tina Olagundoye

Social Media — Tatyana Mechkarova

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to Modaxo and may contain information subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.

Last week, Mark Aesch and Alvin McBorrough unpacked a striking statistic: only 4 % of Americans ride transit, yet 84 % of people say they value it. This week we keep that conversation going with Rikesh Shah, former Chief Innovation Officer at Transport for London. Together with host Paul Comfort, Rikesh explores how customer‑focused metrics, open data, and smarter procurement can turn that 84 % of “transit supporters” into satisfied users—and why leadership has to set the stage for risk‑taking and co‑creation.

• From Volume to Value —Why ridership shouldn’t be the sole north‑star KPI, and how London’s open‑data program shifted travel behavior for the better.
• Customer‑First Metrics —Using design‑thinking and qualitative research to uncover the real pain points of diverse riders (and non‑riders).
• Making Cities a Test Bed —How transparent “problem statements” and outcome‑based procurement invite startups, scale‑ups, and tier‑ones to co‑create solutions.
• Smart Procurement 101 —Engage procurement early, signal future tenders, and use one streamlined process that covers pilot, scale‑up, and rollout.
• Leadership & Risk —What CEOs can do today to foster entrepreneurial cultures, align internal teams, and de‑risk innovation without overprescribing specs.
• Lessons from London —Congestion charging, Ultra‑Low Emission Zones, and open innovation under successive mayors—and what U.S. cities can adopt.
•  Podcast Credits

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo

• Creator, Host, + Producer: Paul Comfort
• Executive Producer: Julie Gates
• Producer + Newsletter Editor: Chris O’Keeffe
• Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin
• Podcast Intern: Desmond Gates

Special thanks to:

Brand Design — Tina Olagundoye

Social Media — Tatyana Mechkarova

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to Modaxo and may contain information subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.