New Episode of NYC DOT’s Curb Enthusiasm Podcast Features Midori Valdivia

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November 21, 2024
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New Episode of NYC DOT's Curb Enthusiasm Podcast Features Midori Valdivia

Valdivia Is an MTA Board Member and Veteran of Major Transportation Agencies in New York City

Conversation Focuses on Importance of Bus Service, How Transportation Needs Evolve at Different Stages of Life, How Street Safety Can Be Fun and Make Neighborhoods More Livable, and Much More

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the release of the third episode of the agency's Curb Enthusiasm podcast. The episode features Midori Valdivia, a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and a veteran of major transportation agencies in New York City, including the MTA, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. The conversation focuses on the importance of buses, how transportation needs evolve at different stages of life, how street safety can be fun and make neighborhoods more livable, how cities can work together on transportation, equity and opportunity in the transportation field, and much more.

"The Curb Enthusiasm podcast is about having a dialogue on the most consequential transportation and urban planning issues facing cities all over the world," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "As a veteran of major transportation that spans everything from the subways that operate underground to the buses and for-hire vehicles that operate above ground, Midori brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into how transportation works in the biggest city in America."

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 co-hosted by Emily Weidenhof, assistant commissioner of Public Realm at NYC DOT, and Diniece Mendes, director of the Office of Freight Mobility at NYC DOT.

Curb Enthusiasm is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, BuzzSprout and other major streaming platforms. More information is available at nyc.gov/CurbEnthusiasm.

About Midori Valdivia

Midori Valdivia (she/her/ella) is a transportation, operations, and urban planning professional committed to expanding mobility options for people. As the Founder + Principal of Midori Valdivia Consulting LLC, she specializes in advisory services and project leadership for organizations making change in cities.

Valdivia has led a career in public service holding senior roles at major transportation agencies in New York City. Her experience spans across a variety of modes including subways, bus, ports, taxi and for-hire vehicle transportation, and airports. She began her career in financial analysis and capital planning at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Prior to developing her own consulting practice, Valdivia was the Chief of Staff to the Chair & CEO of the MTA. She also held the role of Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, the agency responsible for licensing and regulating taxis and other for-hire services such as Uber and Lyft. There, Valdivia led the development of the largest wheelchair-accessible taxi fleet in the nation at the time. She also served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Valdivia is a graduate of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs where she received a joint degree in Public Affairs and Urban & Regional Planning. She received her bachelor's degree at Penn State.

Valdivia is a frequent subway and bus rider, including the express bus. She is part of communities that work to increase representation of women and people of color across the urban planning sector. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and daughter, fellow public transit enthusiasts.

About Emily Weidenhof, Episode Co-Host

Emily Weidenhof is assistant commissioner of Public Realm at New York City 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.

About Diniece Mendes, Episode Co-Host

Diniece Mendes is the freight mobility director for NYC's Department of Transportation. Diniece spearheads transformative programs rooted in Delivering New York and Delivering Green, enhancing the safety, efficiency, and resilience of New York City's supply chain to bolster urban livability and economic vitality. In addition to her role at DOT, Diniece serves as Vice President on the Board of Governors for ASCE's Transportation and Development Institute, where she champions the engineering profession and promotes diversity in STEM careers, inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

Diniece received her master's degree in civil engineering with a specialization in transportation from University of Texas - Austin and her bachelor's degree in civil engineering from City College CUNY.

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