Michael Levin \\ Mobility Specialist at Arcadis
Michael Levin is a Mobility Specialist at Arcadis, working on technology and data projects for bus and rail systems. He has over eight years of experience in public transportation. Prior to Arcadis, Michael worked at MTA – New York City Transit in operations planning and budgets.
Michael holds a master’s degree in Transportation Management from NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Skidmore College.
Why transportation?
I have always been fascinated by the operational efforts that go into keeping a system running. So many people, procedures, and systems go into keeping the trains and buses running. Every worker in a system, from the CEO to the tower operators to the maintenance crew to the cleaners, plays an integral part in getting you where you need to go.
What’s your favorite way to get around the YPT-NYC region?
The subway, especially underground lines! You can find me looking out the window of the train trying to see unused track connections, provisions for unbuilt sections, and other hidden relics.
If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
If there is one thing I could change, it would be a unified fare system throughout the whole region. If you live in Jersey City Heights and want to get into New York City, why should you have to pay separate fares for a New Jersey Transit bus, the PATH, and the Subway? Of course, they’re all separate agencies, but don’t we live in one big region where we just want to get where we want to go without too much hassle?
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Mistakes are OK! That’s how we learn. Take that risk and if it doesn’t work, then you’ll learn to get past it and future adversities.
What are you working on currently that you’re most excited about?
A major part of my work is implementation of new computer-aided dispatch and automated vehicle location (CAD/AVL) systems on bus systems. It is a complex system that allows for safe and efficient daily bus pull-out and accurate customer information.
Do you have a favorite transportation book, blog, newsletter, podcast, or YouTube channel?
Transit Unplugged with Paul Comfort. Comfort interviews transit executives from smaller agencies around the world, and it is fascinating to see what innovative things they are doing to gain more choice riders and bring their systems into the 21st century.
What is your favorite transportation-related fun fact or joke?
There were plans for a major expansion of the NYC Subway that never happened. You can see provisions for those lines at several locations around the system (railfan safely, please!).
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