What’s the state of transit in Canada right now—and what’s next?

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Dave Reage, Chair of the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) and a longtime transit leader with deep experience in Halifax Transit. Dave shares a national view of Canada’s biggest transit priorities—from funding and financial stability to ridership shifts, workforce challenges, and the evolving role of technology and innovation.

Dave also reflects on Halifax’s unique transit story (including its historic harbor ferries) and explains why Canada’s post-pandemic demand patterns are rewriting the rules—creating new pressure to match service levels with changing rider behavior.

1. How Canadian transit governance differs from the U.S. model
2. Why operating funding is one of the biggest challenges facing agencies across Canada
3. What ridership recovery looks like now—and why off-peak and weekend travel is rising
4. The “new normal” for demand: Wednesday peaks, lighter Mondays and Fridays
5. The workforce crunch impacting reliability, operations, and service delivery
6. Why electrification matters, but shouldn’t distract from service fundamentals
7. What’s happening with hydrogen pilots and alternative propulsion strategies
8. How microtransit and on-demand service are filling service gaps
9. The growing federal emphasis on aligning transit investment with housing and land use

Dave Reage

Chair, Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)

Formerly with Halifax Transit (18 years), including nine years leading the agency

1. CUTA (Canadian Urban Transit Association)
2. Halifax, Nova Scotia
3. Montreal / Quebec City
4. Canadian Public Transit Fund
5. Transit-oriented development and housing integration

Host + Producer: Paul Comfort

Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Producer: Chris O'Keeffe

Editor: Patrick Emile

Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin

Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye

Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo, 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. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Modaxo disclaims all warranties and liability arising from the use of this material.

What does 2026 look like for small urban and rural transit agencies across America—and what happens when costs rise faster than funding can keep up?

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort is joined by Julie Brown, General Manager of Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) in southern Oregon, President of the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), and Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission.

Julie pulls back the curtain on the real, day-to-day pressures facing agencies like hers—from funding uncertainty at the state level to escalating labor and vehicle costs, rising insurance rates, and the growing cybersecurity risks that come with modern transit tech.

She also challenges the industry to move beyond ridership as the defining success metric, and instead tell a more human story about what transit actually makes possible: access to work, healthcare, independence, and quality of life—especially as the “silver tsunami” reshapes mobility needs nationwide.

Key topics include:

1. Why RVTD expanded from 10 routes to 16—and why they had to cut back to 6 routes
2. The real-world impact of layoffs and service reductions
3. The exploding cost of vehicle replacement (and what sustainability requirements mean on the ground)
4. Insurance increases hitting agencies and contractors alike
5. Cybersecurity threats tied to fare systems and onboard technology
6. What CTAA is tracking in Washington as reauthorization conversations continue
7. Why the future of transit must be measured in human outcomes, not just raw numbers

If you care about how transit actually survives—and evolves—outside of the biggest metro systems, this conversation is essential listening.

Host + Producer: Paul Comfort Executive Producer: Julie Gates Producer: Chris O'Keeffe Editor: Patrick Emile Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com 📩 Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter: https://transitunplugged.com/subscrib Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo, 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. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Modaxo disclaims all warranties and liability arising from the use of this material.

As Transit Unplugged kicks off 2026, host Paul Comfort sits down with Bennett Resnik, Senior Vice President in the Critical Infrastructure Group at Venn Strategies, for a wide-ranging conversation on the federal forces shaping public transportation in the year ahead.

This episode marks the first installment in a multi-part State of Transit series, offering listeners a clear, insider perspective from Washington, DC. Bennett brings deep experience from Capitol Hill to break down what transit leaders should be paying attention to right now — and what’s coming next.

1. The upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization — what it is, why it matters, and realistic timelines for passage
2. How the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) changed transit funding — and why the next bill will likely look very different
3. The evolving federal stance on zero-emission buses, including battery electric, hydrogen, CNG, and hybrid fleets
4. How shifting policy priorities are influencing manufacturers, procurement decisions, and fleet strategies
5. The current and future impact of Buy America requirements, including costs, compliance, and domestic manufacturing
6. What ongoing federal budget negotiations and continuing resolutions mean for transit agencies in 2026
7. Why global events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup are increasingly shaping federal transportation planning

Throughout the conversation, Paul and Bennett connect federal policy decisions to on-the-ground realities for transit agencies — from capital planning and vehicle procurement to safety, reliability, and long-term investment.

Transit executives interested in diving deeper into these topics are invited to attend the ThinkTransit Executive Summit, taking place this March in Boston as part of the ThinkTransit Conference.

The Executive Summit brings together senior transit leaders for a candid, in-person, Chatham House Rules discussion on:

1. Safety, security, and fare evasion
2. Cybersecurity and AI in transit operations
3. Federal policy, funding, and the future of mobility

👉 Learn more and register here:

https://trapezegroup.com/thinktransit/executive-summit/

Host + Producer: Paul Comfort

Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Producer: Chris O'Keeffe

Editor: Patrick Emile

Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin

Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye

Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com

📩 Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter:

https://transitunplugged.com/subscribe

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo, its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to