New Episode of NYC DOT’s Curb Enthusiasm Podcast Features NACTO Executive Director Ryan Russo

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December 18, 2024
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New Episode of NYC DOT's Curb Enthusiasm Podcast Features NACTO Executive Director Ryan Russo

Russo Leads the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Previously Served as the Former First Permanent Director of Oakland DOT, and Is a Veteran of Major Transportation Agencies in New York City

Conversation Focuses on Building Bike Networks and Public Support, Equity in Project Distribution, and the Importance Meeting Community Needs

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the release of the fourth episode of the agency's Curb Enthusiasm podcast. The episode features Ryan Russo, executive director for the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). Russo's career in transportation includes serving as the first permanent director of Oakland DOT and nearly 14 years at NYC DOT. The conversation focuses on the role equity plays in planning, how streets serve different road users, the impact of public support and outreach on projects, the process of building bike networks in cities across the country, and much more.

"The Curb Enthusiasm podcast is about having a dialogue on the most consequential transportation and urban planning issues facing cities all over the world," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "As a veteran transportation leader with hands-on experience implementing innovative safety, pedestrian, cycling and transit projects, Ryan Russo brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into how cities throughout the United States can reimagine their streets to serve and build communities."

The Curb Enthusiasm podcast focuses on issues at the local, national, and international level and features guests who discuss the most consequential transportation work happening all over the globe.

This episode is co-hosted by Emily Weidenhof, assistant commissioner of Public Realm at NYC DOT, and Shawn Macias, director of the Bicycle Unit at NYC DOT.

Curb Enthusiasm is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, BuzzSprout and other major streaming platforms. More information is available at nyc.gov/CurbEnthusiasm.

About Ryan Russo

Ryan Russo has 25 years of experience in transportation and city planning, executing some of the most transformative transportation changes in the nation. He served in the administrations of New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, leading the agency's 500-person planning, engineering and operating divisions staff.

Russo worked on the innovative safety, pedestrian, cycling and transit projects including North America's first on-street parking-protected bike lanes, pedestrianizing Broadway at Times Square and operationalizing the nation's first Vision Zero action plans. Ryan oversaw the design and implementation of more than 600 miles of bike network enhancements including 70 miles of protected bicycle lanes and projects that reclaimed hundreds of acres of former road space for walking, transit and bike riding-taming some of the city's most dangerous roads and yielding the fewest fatalities in more than 100 years of record-keeping in New York City.

In 2017, he became the first permanent director of OakDOT, making the city a national model for incorporating equity into transportation planning, policy and programs. OakDOT's 'Slow Streets' initiative to repurpose neighborhood streets during the COVID-19 spurred cities around the country to designate roadway streets as shared spaces. OakDOT has been recognized for its community partnerships and creation of values-driven, evidence-based systems for allocating limited resources.

About Emily Weidenhof, Episode Co-Host

Emily Weidenhof is assistant commissioner of Public Realm at New York City DOT. Emily works closely with community organizations throughout the five boroughs to transform their streets as public space. For over a decade, she has focused on strengthening communities through the creation of plazas and shared streets and retooling the curb lane for innovative programming. She's also played an integral role in NYC DOT's Broadway Vision Plan, which employs a range of tools to reimagine the famed Manhattan corridor from Union Square to Columbus Circle, which now prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists. Emily has worked as an architect and urban designer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, including at the NYC Department of City Planning.

Emily received her bachelor's degree in architecture from Pennsylvania State University and her master's degree in architecture and urban design from Columbia University.

About Shawn Macias, Episode Co-Host

Shawn-Paul Macias (He/Him) is currently a director for the Bicycle Unit at NYC DOT. Shawn is an urban planner and designer, focused on transforming cityscapes to be more inclusive, sustainable, and accessible for all residents. He has been at the Department of Transportation for 11 years. Prior to working at NYC DOT, he worked in the private sector developing alternative mode masterplans.

Shawn's approach to urban planning is deeply rooted in the principle of equity. He believes that every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have equal access to well-designed public spaces and transportation options. Recognizing the vital role that physical activity plays in overall mental and physical well-being, he integrates the philosophy of movement into his work, promoting healthier lifestyles through thoughtful urban design. He is committed to creating safe and efficient mobility options that foster active transportation.

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