MBTA Chief Shares Transit Equity Insights with Students

MBTA chief discusses transit equity, community engagement with Boston University students

MBTA Chief Talks Transit Equity at Boston University

MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng shared leadership insights with urban planning students at Boston University on March 5, discussing how transit shapes equitable cities. The discussion at the Kilachand Center addressed community engagement, sustainability, and outreach to underserved communities. Eng, who also serves as interim Massachusetts secretary of transportation, emphasized that building strong partnerships across stakeholder groups drives success in transit work.

Context and Background

The event was organized by Boston University's City Planning & Urban Affairs programs, the BU Initiative on Cities, and the student-run Urban Planning Association. Eng, a career civil engineer, gained national recognition for eliminating slow zones across the MBTA subway system and previously led the MTA's Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit. The discussion was moderated by Briette Brightman, an MS in City Planning student and recent MBTA intern, alongside CPUA Lecturer Terry Regan. Brightman credited her MBTA internship with changing her career path, stating that public transportation is the backbone of an equitable and functioning city.

Key Discussion Topics

Eng addressed sustainability, community engagement, and outreach to historically underserved communities during the conversation. He encouraged students that advancing in their careers would enable them to make decisions and set policies that change lives and communities. Eng also shared his perspective that public complaints should be viewed as gifts, regardless of how they're expressed, because they provide valuable insight into rider needs and system performance. The discussion highlighted how transit agencies can better serve diverse populations through intentional engagement strategies.

Educational Partnership

The March 5 event at Boston University's Metropolitan College brought together academic and transit leadership to explore public transit's role in enriching cities. Multiple sources reported on the educational event throughout April, reflecting continued interest in the intersection of transit management and urban planning education. The discussion provided students with direct access to a transit leader managing one of the nation's oldest subway systems.

Transit Leadership Insights

The event highlighted Boston as an example of how public transit shapes urban lives for those who work, live in, and visit cities. Students gained perspective on the relationship-building and stakeholder engagement required in transit leadership roles. For riders interested in following MBTA service updates and planning trips across Boston's transit network, Moovit provides real-time information and route planning tools.