In a car-oriented city like Baltimore, where a third of residents lack a car, the urban transport fabric can intensify inequity. A national study found that annual transportation costs for working families in Baltimore are $9,506, compared with and average income around $30,000. Trends also indicate that the number of low-wage workers relying on public transportation in Baltimore is growing. Baltimore’s low-income residents have few transportation options, experience relatively low-quality service, and pay heavily for those limited options. However, improvements in transportation options and a reduction in costs would allow working families to devote less of their income to transportation. Here are three strategies to help:
- Map the relative cost of transportation for Baltimore’s neighborhoods
- Identify strategies to reduce the disparity in cost of transportation relative to income
- Work with the MTA to measure the quality of transit service in Baltimore’s neighborhoods