Spilling the T

Planning for the Unexpected with Deirdre Habershaw

Spilling the T

Show Notes

Have you ever wondered how we schedule trains and buses and ferries and trollies all across the T? On this episode of Spilling the T, we chat with Deirdre Habershaw about schedules and service delivery at the MBTA and share the behind-the-scenes look at how we tailor our service to get riders where they need to go.

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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.

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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.

Mar 17, 2026

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.

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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!

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