On Wednesday, February 7th, AASHTO Vice President and Connecticut DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto interviewed Ian Coss, producer of the acclaimed podcast “The Big Dig,” in front of a packed room of transportation officials at the 2024 AASHTO Washington Briefing in Washington, D.C. In their discussion, Coss highlighted key aspects of the Big Dig project in Boston, including how expectations were set high early on to gain support, how communication faltered (leading to public disillusionment), and how the project transformed the city despite its challenges. Coss emphasized the power of storytelling in infrastructure projects to capture public imagination and support. Eucalitto agreed, noting the importance of conveying the impact of investments to secure funding, and commented that relatable human stories like those told in Coss’s podcast can even inspire young engineers.
View From Washington DC
View From Washington DC
