Doing More with Less with Sam Zhou

Why give buses their own lane, and what does that mean for everyone else on the road? On this episode of Spilling the T, MBTA Director of Transit Priority Alex Hallowell joins us to discuss how bus lanes can improve the way we move through our communities. We discuss plans for Blue Hill Avenue and the Lynnway, lessons learned from Columbus Avenue, concerns about traffic and parking, how community feedback shapes these projects, and much more. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

What will it take to meaningfully build a better T? On this episode of Spilling the T, transit advocate and former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, Jim Aloisi joins us to discuss what real progress requires. We discuss the best way to get people to mode shift, how to finally connect the Red and Blue Lines, new funding options for the T, why public transit is an essential part of a healthy society, and much more. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

Ever wondered how the T is planning for climate change? On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by two guests, Katherine Eshel and Caroline Bean, from the MBTA’s Climate Policy and Planning team. Kat and Caroline discuss the T’s two pronged approach to climate change in resilience and decarbonization. We’ll talk stats and data on the T’s environmental impact, how mode shifting to public transit helps decarbonize, why better service and decarbonization go hand in hand, and much more. Check out the Resilience Roadmap: https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2026-04/2026-04-29-resilience-roadmap.pdf Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Reggie Ramos, Executive Director of Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA). Reggie shares the story of how she got into advocacy from an early start as an outspoken 12 year old activist in the Philippines, to being the Under Secretary of Transportation for an entire country, to her current role at T4MA. Reggie has almost literally done it all, and her dedication to equitable transport remains unwavering. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Sam Zhou, Chief Engineer & Assistant General Manager of Engineering and Capital at the MBTA. Sam shares his innovative approach to streamlining projects at the T. He gives us the rundown on what “A new way of doing business at the T” really means, including how we’re saving money, delivering results more quickly, and making the T better for everyone. How do we “do more with less”? Find out on this episode of Spilling the T! Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Randy Clarke, General Manager and CEO of WMATA, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Randy recaps how he ended up leading WMATA, including stints at the MBTA and CapMetro. Randy also shares what WMATA’s plans for the future are and what the MBTA and WMATA can learn from each other to keep public transit moving in the right direction. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Holly Arnold, administrator for the 13th largest transit system in the US, the Maryland Transit Administration. Holly will chat with us about the MTA’s approach to navigating aging infrastructure, funding challenges, fare updates, and how the MTA is working with riders to look towards the future. If you’ve ever wondered how other public transit systems deal with the challenges of maintaining a system that moves tens of millions of people a year, this is the episode for you. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

For Boston, Summer 2026 is set to be one of the busiest seasons in recent history. Next year, Massachusetts will host seven FIFA World Cup matches while simultaneously celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation alongside visitors from around the world. With hundreds of thousands of people anticipated to be visiting the region for these events, the MBTA needed a solid plan to keep riders and visitors moving. On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Erika Mazza, Senior Advisor for Special Projects at the MBTA. Erika and her team have developed an exhaustive playbook for Summer 2026 that will keep our local riders moving, and allow visitors to explore all that the region has to offer. Come along as we learn about how the T is already preparing for the global stage. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

On this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by Pari Kim, one of the stars of Netflix’s "Love on the Spectrum". Long before Pari was featured on the show, she was the MBTA’s biggest fan and a passionate rail enthusiast. In this episode, we chat with Pari about her newfound fame, how she’s using her platform to advocate for public transit, what her plans for the future are, and how she plans to use art to continue to celebrate her passions. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

In this episode of Spilling the T, we’re joined by David Perry, Director of Ferry Operations at the MBTA. David shares the story of how his role came to be, what his day to day duties are and how far the ferry system has come in recent years. He also gives us a rundown on what riders can expect for ferry schedule and frequency as the T works to continue to support this incredible mode of transport. If you've never been on board an MBTA ferry before, we also go over ticketing, amenities, parking and more, so that listeners will be ready to ride! Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at [email protected] – your feedback might end up in a future episode!