An Incredible Year for ACT's Book Club
This year, ACT launched a book club to connect our membership with great TDM reads and professional development opportunities. Whether it was sharpening our negotiation skills, learning the ins and outs of traffic engineering, or other great topics, each meeting brought new insights and helpful tips to bring back to your daily work.
Sessions were moderated by Lauren Mattern of Journey and featured subject matter expert guest speakers. Our friends at Journey compiled a series of recap articles to bring you some of the top takeaways from the discussion. Check them out below and stay tuned for more book club meetings in 2026!
Book club recordings can be found here.
Key to the City
Book club description:
The first meeting, led and moderated by Lauren Mattern of Journey, will take place on Thursday, February 13 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Special guest and author Sara Bronin will join the discussion, which will be a tactical discussion of what TDM leaders need to know. From parking policy to TDM ordinances and more, you'll learn about the many ways our field interacts with zoning.
All members are invited to attend, and even if you have not read the book, you'll walk away with valuable insights about how to wield zoning's power. Pick up your copy of the book, check out podcasts or videos featuring Sara Bronin, or simply come ready to listen. See you there!
Trains, Buses, People
Book club description:
Transit is the most effective TDM measure and, along with parking managers, the most important partner to a TDM project. Let’s sharpen our transit chops by getting a compelling “Transit 101” through reading and discussing Christof’s book. This will be a tactical discussion of how TDM and transit can work better together and what TDM professionals should know about being a strong transit ally in 2025 and beyond.
Christof was appointed to the Houston Metro transit board during a time of immense reimagining of the system, so he brings an implementer’s gritty lens to transit planning. His book covers transit planning principles but also an overview of 57 US & Canadian metro area’s transit systems – so you are likely to find a sharp critique of your own transit system or those in the cities in which you work to guide your next transit coordination meetings.
TDM professionals have a lot to offer transit planners and our tools directly build ridership – let’s sharpen our transit connections!
Paved Paradise
Book club description:
The third pick for ACT's book club is Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar.
Parking policies play a crucial role in the success of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. They can either hinder progress or drive meaningful shifts in how people move. Paved Paradise explores the complex world of parking management, tracing how we arrived at our current state and where we’re headed next. Join us for an insightful discussion featuring author Henry Grabar, who will share his perspective on how the relentless pursuit of parking reshaped our cities and the key figures behind these decisions. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation!
Killed by a Traffic Engineer
Join us as we dive into Wes Marshall’s Killed by a Traffic Engineer, a provocative and deeply researched exploration of how decades of traffic engineering decisions have prioritized speed and vehicle throughout—often at the expense of safety, community, and human life.
With sharp insight and clear-eyed analysis, Marshall reveals how technical standards became moral hazards and how even well-intentioned designs have produced deadly consequences. This book challenges us to rethink the status quo and imagine streets that serve people first—not just cars. This discussion will spark fresh ideas on how TDM can help reshape our public spaces into places of connection, safety, and equity.
Supercommunicators featuring Jeff Tumlin
Book club description:
We're switching things up for our next ACT Book Club! Instead of diving into another TDM-focused read, we’re taking a step toward professional development with Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators — a timely and practical exploration of how we can all become better, more effective communicators in every area of our lives.
But here’s the real twist: while we won’t have the author with us this time, we’re thrilled to welcome Jeff Tumlin, a renowned voice in transportation and a master communicator in his own right. Jeff's deep understanding of human behavior and communication dynamics, especially in the context of city planning and transportation, will bring enormous value to our conversation. Honestly, who better to unpack the insights of this book than the best communicator in the TDM business?
Whether you're looking to sharpen your messaging, improve your collaboration skills, or simply better understand the science of meaningful connection, this book club will offer a fresh perspective that’s both personal and professionally relevant.
Join us for a thoughtful discussion and a refreshing change of pace. Let’s talk about how we talk — and how we can do it better!
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Book club description:
Looking to strengthen your communication and negotiation skills in the year ahead? Join ACT’s final Book Club of the year and get a head start on your New Year’s goals with Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (By: Roger Fisher and William L. Ury) — the timeless guide to achieving successful outcomes without sacrificing relationships.
While we won’t have the authors with us, we’re excited to welcome Meg Merritt, a dynamic mobility expert who has used the principles in Getting to Yes and other negotiation strategies to advance her career and lead complex projects with confidence. Meg will share real-world insights on applying these lessons in TDM and beyond — and how building your negotiation toolkit can help you reach your professional and personal goals. Whether you’ve read the whole book or just want to join the conversation, come ready for an engaging, practical, and inspiring discussion with your ACT peers.