SITCE 2024 CEO Roundtable: Enhancing Urban Mobility with Digital Innovation – Driving Efficiency and Enhancing Passenger Experience
Recorded Live @ SITCE 2024 in Singapore
Host: Dr. Kaan Yıldızgöz
Panelists:
Nadine Lee, CEO and President, DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit), USA
Abdullah Naser, Chief Strategy Officer, Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC), Kuwait
Natasha Zulkifli, Founder and Director, Women in Rail Malaysia; Director, YTL Construction
Vincent Dewaele, General Manager, Busworld International
Episode Overview:
In this episode of Mobility Redefined, hosted by Modaxo at the SITCE event in Singapore, industry leaders including Nadine Lee (DART), Abdullah Naser (Kuwait Public Transport Company), Natasha Zulkifli (Women in Rail Malaysia), and Vincent Dewaele (Busworld International) discuss the transformative role of technology and digitalization in improving passenger experience and operational efficiency in public transport. Key topics include DART's strategic mobility plan, Malaysia's intercity rail investments, the Middle East's public transport strategies, and innovations in the bus transportation sector to foster inclusivity and sustainability.
Key Topics Discussed:
Dallas Strategic Mobility Plan
Nadine Lee outlines DART’s new strategic plan for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, a region projected to grow by 50% to 12 million residents by 2040. Key objectives include enhancing workforce pride, delivering high-quality, well-connected services, and leveraging public transport as an economic driver. DART’s approach aligns with the principle that every $1 invested in public transport generates $4 in economic activity.
Rail Developments in Malaysia
Natasha Zulkifli discusses Malaysia’s ambitious rail projects, including the highly anticipated Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail line. This privately funded project aims to reduce travel time to 90 minutes, creating a top-10 global economic corridor. Natasha highlights the need for innovative funding models and emphasises that public transport should be marketed as an economic growth enabler, not just a transit solution.
Public Transport Growth in the Middle East
Abdullah Naser provides an overview of public transport developments in the Middle East, such as Riyadh’s new metro and Qatar’s world-leading electric bus depot, housing over 500 buses. He identifies challenges in ridership due to cultural preferences for private vehicles and outlines strategies like real-time solutions and fare structures to attract passengers.
Bus Innovations and Workforce Inclusion
Vincent Dewaele from Busworld highlights advancements in bus transport, including electrification, contactless payment, and passenger-centric technologies. He shares how electric buses improve inclusivity by attracting more women drivers, who statistically exhibit safer and smoother driving. Vincent underscores the importance of investing in young talent to meet the industry's evolving demands.
Challenges in Workforce Diversity and Retention
The panel discusses the critical need for workforce diversity and inclusivity, especially for women in traditionally male-dominated roles. Examples from the Middle East and the U.S. illustrate the challenges and successes in integrating women into public transport roles, such as engineers and bus operators.
Memorable Quotes:
"With another 4 million people expected in Dallas, we must ensure public transport sustains our economic productivity and quality of life." – Nadine Lee, DART
"Public transport is not just about connecting point A to B; it’s about creating economic benefits along the way." – Natasha Zulkifli, Women in Rail Malaysia
"Technology is the answer to attracting more riders and ensuring operational efficiency in the Middle
