Season Two: NYC DOT’s Curb Enthusiasm Podcast Returns With Commissioner Mike Flynn
First episode features Flynn’s vision for faster buses, safer streets, and the future of NYC DOT
under Mayor Zohran Mamdani
NEW YORK – The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) today launched the second season of its Curb
Enthusiasm podcast with a new episode featuring Commissioner Mike Flynn, outlining his vision for the
agency under Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the next phase of work to deliver faster buses, safer streets, and a more
dynamic public realm.
In the episode, Flynn discusses his priorities for accelerating bus speeds, building on the success of Vision Zero,
and adapting street design to the rapid growth of e-bikes, stand-up e-scooters, and cargo bikes. He also highlights
how NYC DOT is delivering immediate, on-the-ground improvements while advancing long-term projects across the five
boroughs. The episode marks the first time the podcast incorporates listener questions submitted via social media.
“Mayor Mamdani challenged us to think big, be bold, and make our streetscape the envy of the world—and that means
focusing on real outcomes for New Yorkers. This includes faster buses, better public spaces, and improved traffic
safety,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This conversation was a great opportunity to share
where we’re headed and how we’re going to get there. This is my dream job, and I’m excited to lead this agency as we
take our work to the next level.”
Commissioner Flynn outlines the need for new tools to improve street safety, including pursuing state legislation to
enable speed limiters for the most dangerous drivers. He also discusses how community engagement is crucial but
needs to reflect the needs of the entire community, not just the loudest voices in the room. The episode also
touches on streamlining regulations for outdoor dining and continuing to reduce speeds through policies like Sammy’s
Law.
In a new Q&A segment, Flynn answers listener-submitted questions on topics including the timeline from temporary
street treatments to permanent capital upgrades, bus rapid transit in New York City, expanding Green Wave signal
timing for cyclists, the future of curbside parking, and why street repaving can take time.
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.
The episode is hosted by Emily Weidenhof, Assistant Commissioner of Public Realm at NYC DOT. Curb Enthusiasm is
available on Spotify,
Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music,
and other major streaming platforms. More information is available at nyc.gov/CurbEnthusiasm.
About Mike Flynn
Mike Flynn is the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Flynn
brings more than two decades of experience advancing transportation, infrastructure, and urban development projects
across New York City and the country, spanning senior leadership roles in both city government and the private
sector.
Most recently, Flynn led the New York office of TYLin City Solutions (formerly Sam Schwartz Engineering) where he
supported teams of engineers, planners, designers, and community outreach specialists working across disciplines to
solve complex transportation, development, and infrastructure challenges throughout the New York City region. As
Vice President and Sector Manager for New York and the Northeast, Flynn oversaw major projects at the intersection
of mobility, land use, and public space.
Previously, Flynn spent nearly a decade at NYC DOT, where he held leadership roles including Director of Capital
Planning and Project Initiation. In that position, he helped oversee the planning and delivery of major capital
projects across the city, including street reconstruction, transit and resiliency projects, and pedestrian and
bicycle infrastructure. Earlier at NYC DOT, Flynn worked on pedestrian and bicycle programs and transportation
planning initiatives that helped reshape how New Yorkers move through the city, including leading the development of
the City’s first Street Design Manual.
In addition to his work in government and the private sector, Flynn served for nearly eight years as a Visiting
Professor in Pratt Institute’s Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development, where he taught courses focused on
urban planning, transportation, and sustainable city design.
He holds a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Science from the University of Vermont.
About Emily Weidenhof, Episode Host
Emily Weidenhof is assistant commissioner of public realm at NYC 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.
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