Best Drunk Tank Podcasts (2024)

1
Why are drunk driving arrests down while alcohol-related crashes are on the rise? 21:27

2d ago21:27

21:27

Bridge Michigan reported this week on some troubling statistics in Michigan that show that police are not making as many arrests for drunk driving and crashes caused by impaired driving are on the rise. Among key findings: Drunk driving arrests in Michigan have dropped 28 percent since 2014, while fatal alcohol- and drug-related crashes have risen …

1
The people behind a most iconic international handshake 19:15

1h ago19:15

19:15

By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one from the United States, shaking hands to mark the completion of the deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with those iron workers, Jason Hugge…

1
Managing traffic during road construction; and what about the zipper merge? 23:08

1d ago23:08

23:08

As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about efforts engineers take to balance mobility and safety during active road work. Lindsey Renner, division administrator for Construction Field…

1
A veteran project manager highlights the value of engaging communities 35:08

1M ago35:08

35:08

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mohammed Alghurabi, a long-time MDOT senior project manager being honored this week by the Engineering Society of Detroit. Alghurabi is best known in recent years for his work in southwest Detroit communities to prepare for building the Gordie Howe International Bridge link…

1
New data finds Michigan drivers putting down their phones 28:27

2M ago28:27

28:27

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based firm that tracks data from drivers, participating voluntarily, to analyze statistics and driver behavior. McMahon last spoke on the podcast in November, a few months after Michigan Gov. Whitme…

1
How public transportation fuels economic development 21:21

2M ago21:21

21:21

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about legislation that would appropriate economic development funds for community-based programs, including public transportation. This week’s guest, Jared Fleisher, who leads government affairs and economic development for Rock (Dan Gilbert’s family of companies)…

1
Another successful launch of MDOT’s diversity recruitment program 21:04

3M ago21:04

21:04

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the past, present and future of MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP). The 10-week program allows students to work alongside other on-the-job training program participants, internal staff and external professionals who provide engineering, technical, in…

1
Could Michigan shift from fuel taxes to road user charges to fund roads? 27:07

3M ago27:07

27:07

As lawmakers in the Legislature continue negotiations for the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, one addition specific to transportation involves a $5 million appropriation for a pilot program to assess replacing traditional fuel taxes with a mileage-based road usage fee. This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features another conversati…

1
Reprise: Is it really cheaper to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank? 26:44

3M ago26:44

26:44

Note: This episode originally posted on Aug. 14, 2023. On this week’s podcast, Michael J. Coren, the Washington Post’s climate advice columnist, talks about his recent reporting (subscription) on the cost of filling a vehicle’s fuel tank versus charging an electric vehicle (EV) battery. The answer, he explains, is less straightforward than it seems…

1
How trails enhance our quality of life and boost the economy 25:14

3M ago25:14

25:14

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Julie Clark, chief executive officer at the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails. Clark talks about how she and her family made their way from North Carolina to Traverse City and embraced the northern Michigan outdoors. TART is among many organizations …

1
Slow but steady progress on legislation to protect road workers 32:33

4M ago32:33

32:33

Late last month, a Michigan Senate committee advanced legislation to enable the use of automated technology to enforce speeding laws on segments of roads under construction. Pennsylvania became the latest to join dozens of other states employing the technology, with positive results. This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast revisits the …

1
As construction season kicks off, a focus on protecting workers 26:11

4M ago26:11

26:11

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast focuses on National Work Zone Awareness Week. An event in Midland on Monday, April 15, will kick off the week with officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan State Police and several industry advocates and others. First, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist…

1
Determining which roads to fix 24:23

4M ago24:23

24:23

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features explanations about how Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials prioritize road projects. MDOT Chief Operations Officer Gregg Brunner talks about the factors that go into selection and how planners and engineers strictly adhere to asset management principles. …

1
How Complete Streets support mobility for all 23:28

5M ago23:28

23:28

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about revisiting the state’s Complete Streets policy, adopted by the State Transportation Commission in 2012. Amy Matisoff, whose duties include strategic alignment and outreach for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), explains why she’s spearheading …

1
Here’s how MDOT supports electric vehicle charging 20:52

5M ago20:52

20:52

You may have heard about the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funded in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at $1 billion a year for five years. Michigan was fortunate to receive $110 million of those funds. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Steve Minton, an innovative contracts …

1
Poll: Michiganders want taxes paid at the fuel pump to go to roads, but it’s not that simple 29:19

5M ago29:19

29:19

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a veteran Michigan pollster discusses a recent survey of active and likely November general election voters that shows an overwhelming number want the taxes they pay at the pump to fix roads and bridges. Michigan is among states with a sales tax on motor fuels. That tax, 6 percent, does not go…

1
Gov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all 24:37

5M ago24:37

24:37

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget include additional funds for MI Contracting Opportunity, a program that supports contractors and suppliers who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The $5 million recommendation represents a renewal of the item in the previous budget, with a $2 million increase. On this week’s…

1
Gordie Howe International Bridge team continues to invest in communities 36:12

6M ago36:12

36:12

This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with two people who participated in a Feb. 6 announcement by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) of an additional $2.6 million being invested in 13 community projects as part of construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB). First, Heathe…

1
Why the state is asking citizens how to fund transportation 21:15

6M ago21:15

21:15

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the road usage charge (RUC) survey conducted to gauge citizen’s thoughts on funding transportation infrastructure. Jean Ruestman, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Passenger Transportation, explains how the department sought and won a f…

1
Meet Garrett Dawe, MDOT’s new engineer of traffic and safety 20:48

6M ago20:48

20:48

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Garrett Dawe, who was recently named engineer of traffic and safety at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Dawe succeeds Mark Bott, who is retiring. Dawe talks about what he’s learned in a variety of positions at MDOT, including as a Transportat…

1
#122 - Cat Thief 1:31:35

7M ago1:31:35

1:31:35

your favorite basketball podcast is backBy Trash Delivery

1
Gearing up for a bomb cyclone on the Lake Michigan shore 21:36

7M ago21:36

21:36

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, MDOT’s coordinator for snow plowing and other maintenance on state routes in four west Michigan counties talks about preparations for heavy snow in the forecast for this weekend. Kurt Fritz, who coordinates maintenance on state trunkline (I, M and US routes) in Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Otta…

1
Meet Mike Hayes, chair of the STC 26:40

7M ago26:40

26:40

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Hayes, who was recently named chair of the Michigan State Transportation Commission (STC). Hayes, who has been active in community affairs in Midland for many years and served in the Michigan House of Representatives, has been a member of the STC since 2011. He talks a…

1
Insights from a top automotive industry reporter 33:27

8M ago33:27

33:27

This week on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Joann Muller, co-author of the Axios What’s Next newsletter, offers her thoughts on trends in the automotive industry, including electric vehicle (EV) sales and more. Three recent stories explored the rapidly changing landscape: How consumers are finding comfort in hybrid vehicles before ful…

1
Michigan’s first-in-the-nation EV charging roadway 31:34

8M ago31:34

31:34

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Stefan Tongur, vice president of business development in the United States for Israel-based Electreon, a developer and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. He first discussed the technology on the podcast shortly after the contract was announ…

1
Has the pandemic forever changed our walking habits? 18:56

9M ago18:56

18:56

Experts are trying to parse data that shows a dramatic decline in the number of trips Americans take on foot. Axios summarized findings from Streetlight Data, including a 36 percent drop in average daily walking trips in the contiguous U.S. between 2019 and 2022. On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Emily Adler, di…

1
Five months after enacting Michigan’s hands-free law, new data emerges 32:50

9M ago32:50

32:50

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a discussion about why distracted driving initially trended down in Michigan after the state's hands-free law took effect and why those numbers are not dropping as rapidly now. Ryan McMahon, senior vice president of strategy for Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based…

1
Senate committee takes up safety cameras to protect road workers 24:47

9M ago24:47

24:47

This week, the Michigan Senate’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard testimony on legislation that would allow for the use of safety cameras to monitor the speeds of vehicles driving through road construction projects. Pam Shadel Fischer, senior director of External Engagement at the Governors Highway Safety Association, returns to th…

1
Safety experts seek solutions to wrong-way drivers causing crashes 27:18

9M ago27:18

27:18

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people seeking to better understand the reasons for an uptick in wrong-way driving and to mitigate the risks. First, Gary Bubar, a traffic safety specialist for AAA Michigan, talks about the trend and his organization’s awareness and education efforts. He …

1
A Michigan State House fiscal analyst breaks down transportation funding 24:26

9M ago24:26

24:26

Understanding the intricacies of a state's transportation funding can be a daunting task. On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation, Bill Hamilton, a policy analyst in the Michigan House Fiscal Agency and transportation luminary, talks about his work. The discussion also includes an overview of Michigan's Transportation Fund (MT…

1
#121 - You're Not As Funny As I Am 1:43:07

10M ago1:43:07

1:43:07

this was recorded before oct 7th so that's why we don't talk about anything that's going on with all the shit that's going onBy Trash Delivery

1
How transportation improves economy, quality of life 24:43

10M ago24:43

24:43

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Shane Peck, communications and public involvement director and vice president at WSP, talks about a major study he co-authored examining the most effective way to explain the benefits of transportation. The research identified and tested a broad range of evidence-based themes and presented fiv…

1
Gov. Whitmer signs carpool lane bills for I-75 in Oakland County 24:06

10M ago24:06

24:06

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation enabling Michigan’s first high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on a segment of I-75 in Oakland County. This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with the project manager and an official with the American Association of State Highway …

1
Meet MDOT’s first director of new Office of Major Projects 22:52

10M ago22:52

22:52

Ryan Mitchell, recently named director of the newly established Office of Major Projects at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), joins the podcast. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) categorizes major projects as those with a price tag of $500 million or more. Mitchell helped establish and refine the alternative delivery and cri…

1
How police are using license plate readers to solve and thwart crimes 25:28

11M ago25:28

25:28

Early in 2022, the Detroit News reported that criminals had taken to the city's freeways to settle arguments with guns and avoid the city's network of high-definition surveillance cameras at gas stations and other locations. Michigan State Police reports show at least two shootings happened every month on Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county freeways i…

1
#120 - The Virtue of the Riddle 59:17

11M ago59:17

59:17

we get to the bottom of a lot of shit in this oneBy Trash Delivery

1
Veteran automotive analyst talks EVs, labor negotiations and more 25:15

11M ago25:15

25:15

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with John Peracchio, a veteran strategic consultant in the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) sector and automotive industry. Topics include: How concerns about what electric vehicles (EVs) mean to the future of work in the industry. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/13/11992603…

1
Managing floods when there’s nowhere for the water to go 27:21

11M ago27:21

27:21

Last week, before tornadoes devastated communities across Michigan, record rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems and tributaries in Wayne County. The highest total was nearly 7.4 inches reported at a station in Belleville, a 24-hour total nearly all of which fell during this event. The deluge also flooded the tunnels at Detroit Metro Airport and cl…

1
Exploring Michigan's transportation infrastructure with Jason Gutting, newly named director of MDOT Field Services 22:09

12M ago22:09

22:09

Jason Gutting joins the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast this week to talk about his new role as director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services. He talks about standards and specifications for paving materials and how MDOT engineers confer with counterparts from across the country; innovations in road building, winter maintenance and operations…

1
Is it really cheaper to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank? 25:33

12M ago25:33

25:33

On this week’s podcast, Michael J. Coren, the Washington Post’s climate advice columnist, talks about his recent reporting (subscription) on the cost of filling a vehicle’s fuel tank versus charging an electric vehicle (EV) battery. The answer, he explains, is less straightforward than it seems. He writes, “Just calculating the cost of gasoline ver…

1
What’s a mobility wallet and how does it fit with equity? 33:11

12M ago33:11

33:11

This week on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people committed to equity in transportation and access for all. First, Valerie Lefler, founder and executive director of Feonix - Mobility Rising (pronounced like "Phoenix"), talks about what inspires her work and this week’s launch of the Mobility Wallet Pilot Progra…

1
#119 - Deep State Drunk Tank 3: The Snyder Cut 3:44:46

1y ago3:44:46

3:44:46

Secret Dunk Tank EditionBy Trash Delivery

1
Celebrating 10 years of success in recruiting diversity at MDOT 35:13

1y ago35:13

35:13

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a reflection on 10 years of success in MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP). The 10-week program allows students to work alongside other on-the-job training program participants, internal staff and external professionals who provide engineering, technical, inspection, and…

1
Road user charges in Washington, e-bike battery fires and slower driving in Chicago 27:41

1y ago27:41

27:41

Regular Talking Michigan Transportation podcast contributor Lloyd Brown joins this week’s conversation to talk about a number of topics in the news. Brown is formerly the director of communications for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and now a Phoenix-based senior strategic communications consultant f…

1
Fatal crash numbers remain high; advocates say "safety cameras" could help 38:34

1y ago38:34

38:34

Bridge Michigan reported this week that fatal crash numbers remain high in post-pandemic Michigan, with safety advocates again citing risky driving behavior as the reason. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Bridge Michigan reporter Mike Wilkinson talks about his analysis of the data and what he found. In a second segment, Pamel…

1
Legislation advances to encourage ride sharing, reduce congestion 28:47

1y ago28:47

28:47

This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features a discussion about legislation, House Bill 4353, to allow for a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) component on newly built freeway lanes. This will be a first for Michigan. Mark Dubay is a senior project manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) working on modernization of I…

1
#118 - Your Small Dicked Son 1:54:28

1y ago1:54:28

1:54:28

a classic ep where we talk to each otherBy Trash Delivery

1
Why merging late on the highway makes sense…sometimes 19:00

1y ago19:00

19:00

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a topic that provokes strong feelings among everyone who drives: when to merge when a freeway lane is closed for construction. Tom Vanderbilt explained in his 2008 book, Traffic, there are two schools of thought: The first camp - let us name it after the bumper sticker that says…

1
#117 - Combination Family Dollar Dollar Tree 1:48:40

1y ago1:48:40

1:48:40

the audio is fucked up until 26:30 so feel free to skip until then if you don't mind missing Kevin say some wild shit about the Super Mario Bros MovieBy Trash Delivery

1
Cycling advocates mark a victory as Gov. Whitmer signs distracted driving bills 20:16

1y ago20:16

20:16

Last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that bans the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. The legislation had a number of advocates, none more so than the League of Michigan Bicyclists. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Matt Penniman, communications and advocacy director for the League, expl…

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