The WTS-Boston DEI Committee hosts a quarterly book club which covers various books on equity in the transportation industry. In June, the Committee hosted its third book club meeting of 2025 on the book Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution by Janette Sadik-Khan and Seth Solomonow (2016). The book revolves around the various transportation transformation projects that Sadik-Khan implemented in her tenure as New York City’s transportation commissioner, tying those projects to inspirational ones around the world. 

Attendees had thoughtful conversations about the book and its various themes. The group included a mix of public/private, members/non-members, and locals as well as those from North Carolina, Ohio, and New Hampshire. The diverse backgrounds of the attendees contributed greatly to the discussions and opened up various opportunities for members to learn about different states and their policies. 

Some common themes of the book discussion revolved around the importance of public engagement, transportation equity, importance of third public spaces, and the social, economic and political impact of various transformation projects. 

Attendees stated that the book provided good perspective on the social and political impacts of projects. Stating that it is crucial to include the community in discussions to understand that need of the community rather than pushing them to accept changes that might not be as beneficial directly to that community. Attendees shared stories and experiences about their personal experience with road diets, dedicated bike lanes, and how inclusivity for differently-abled individuals has been addressed in various localities, such as hill escalator systems.

The conversation touched on transportation equity as well as the need to increase the number of third spaces by collaborating with neighborhood organizations that focus on community development. Times Square was mentioned as an example of a space that was successfully transformed through artists, performers and street furniture. The attendees also discussed various third spaces in Boston such as The Greenway and The Hudson Street Stoop, and their impact on bringing people together through programming. 

The attendees discussed local MBTA transit routes that connect marginalized communities to the City of Boston, highlighting the various initiatives the MBTA has taken to make public transit more accessible such as the Fare-Free Program on certain bus routes and Reduced Fares programs. The attendees also discussed population density near transit hubs and its impact on reducing vehicle trips. 

Overall, the attendees had great discussions revolving around the book and relating it to real life examples in their perspective cities. The Committee is looking forward to its upcoming book club next quarter. 

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