#22: Highlights from #SpringIntoTDM NE + A Few Interesting Links

Welcome to The Weekly Journey - your two-minute journey through the world of mobility and beyond. Use it to stay informed, find a new go-to source, or just have a peek inside how we think. Brought to you by the team at Journey.

A Journey insight. 💡

Journey transit practice lead Dan Berez had a great time connecting with folks at the Spring Into TDM New England Association for Commuter Transportation conference. Dan sent along a few personal presentation highlights:

📲 🚌 Logan Nash showed off how the MBTA creates innovative software tools to bridge the gap between legacy infrastructure and modern transit agency operations. I really appreciated learning how his team collaborates with frontline staff to make sure new tools intuitively fit their workflows - leading to both an improved customer AND employee user experience.

⚽ 🚉 Tricia Fenton walked us through how the Boston region is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lots of great takeaways - especially related to the unparalleled interagency coordination required to provide a seamless gameday transportation experience.

🏘️ 🚴 Jay Monty, Zeke Mermell, Ryan McKinnon, and Brad Rawson talked about how Everett, Watertown, Cambridge, and Somerville have leveraged TDM ordinances to benefit their communities. I was particularly intrigued by their insights on the benefits of TDM policies beyond mobility and environment - including the emergence of affordable market-rate apartments and a new platform for public/private collaboration.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the conference possible. Looking forward to the next one!

A few interesting things. 🧠

🏙️ Big Glass Boxes: Construction Physics takes a deep dive into how glass curtain walls became the predominate form of modern skyscrapers.

🏘️ Development Templates: Memphis is now enabling developers to create new housing without a full plan review using pre-approved development templates. 

🚦 Signals: Gothamist profiles the 100-year-old signal system that guides NYC subway operators and the MTA team that keeps everything working 24/7.

🚉 Trains: The Transit Costs Project just released a new report focused on improving rail service on the Northeast Corridor. Smart Cities Dive has a summary here.

A quick Journey update. 🏗️

📃Certification Update: Journey is now certified as a DBE in Oregon and Nevada. We’re now certified in over 30 states and other jurisdictions. Check out the full list. 

📚 Book Clubs:

• ACT Book Club: Journey founder Lauren Mattern hosts the monthly Association for Commuter Transportation Book Club. Join us for an upcoming discussion of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World this Wednesday at 3 PM (EDT), with a special appearance by author Henry Grabar. Sign up here and earn 1 TDM-CP credit for attending.

• Chicago City Builders Book Club: Lauren co-hosts the monthly Chicago City Builders Book Club with Marla Westervelt Berg of CityFi and Mike Ernst of Arup. This month, they are reading Fire on the Prairie: Chicago's Harold Washington and the Politics of Race by Gary Rivlin. The club will meet on Thursday, May 29 from 6 PM to 8 PM (CDT) at Arup’s office in The Loop. Sign up here.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Be sure to subscribe to get The Weekly Journey in your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn.