How Construction Materials and Supply Chains Affect Infrastructure Projects

The ITP team returns to dive into post-pandemic transit and the evolving forces shaping infrastructure today. Mass Transit’s Noah Kolenda joins Gavin, Brandon, and Jessica to break down five years of ridership recovery across the New York MTA system — revealing how commuter rail, buses, subways and paratransit have each rebounded differently as travel habits shift. Later in the episode, Gavin speaks with Keith Plokhoy of CMC to explore how construction materials, supply chains and pre‑engineered bridge technology are transforming project delivery. Their conversation highlights how accelerated bridge construction can improve resilience, cut man‑hours and reopen critical routes faster after disruptive events. To wrap up the episode, Brandon puts the team to the test with a fresh round of Mass Transit trivia. Featured Guests  Noah Kolenda - Mass Transit  Noah Kolenda is the associate editor at Mass Transit, where he specializes in data-driven coverage of transit operations, ridership and urban mobility trends.  Keith Plokhoy - CMC  Keith Plokhoy is the director of bridge systems at CMC. His work focuses on bringing pre‑engineered, accelerated bridge construction solutions to market, helping agencies deliver projects faster, more safely and with greater long‑term resilience. What You'll Learn How ridership has recovered across MTA modes — from commuter rail to subways — and what the data reveals about changing post‑pandemic travel habits. How construction materials, supply chains and accelerated bridge construction technologies are influencing project delivery timelines and cost savings. How pre‑engineered bridge systems improve resilience in areas facing extreme weather and repeated flooding. Insights from Brandon’s Mass Transit trivia showdown — covering the latest news, fleet transitions and funding shifts across the industry. Inside the Episode  Episode Length: 50:50 Timestamps:  1:40 – Noah's MTA data dive  16:53 – Interview with Keith Plokhoy 44:10 – Mass Transit news quiz Useful Links CMC Bridge Systems MTA Ridership Data (NY Open Data Portal)  Send us a topic suggestion!  Don’t forget to subscribe to the ITP and rate and review our podcast! Email [email protected] with your transit or infrastructure hot takes — we might read them on air.