What is the Transit Equity Gaps Study?

Now in its second phase, the Transit Equity Gaps Analysis is our effort to improve how Baltimore residents connect to livable wage jobs and essential services. This builds on our initial work examining the city’s public transit network and recommending changes that promote greater equity across the system.

Wasn’t there previously work done on a transit equity study?

Yes. In 2020–2021, we partnered with the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to create a “Transit Equity Score” using demographic and transportation accessibility data. That methodology played a key role in shaping the City’s Transit Development Plan, which was finalized in 2022.

What does the Transit Equity Score measure?

The score considers factors like race, poverty, disability status, vehicle access, education, employment, and how people get to work. It helps us understand which neighborhoods face the biggest transportation challenges.

How will you decide which neighborhoods to focus on?

We’ll update our Transit Equity Score using the most recent data and analyze commuting patterns to identify “desire lines”—the most frequently traveled routes that connect priority neighborhoods to major employment centers. These desire lines show us where transit improvements can have the biggest impact.

What kinds of recommendations will come out of this study?

We’re focused on realistic, actionable steps. These could include:

• New or modified fixed-route transit services
• First/last mile infrastructure improvements
• New micromobility options
• Other enhancements to the transportation network
• We’ll also provide recommendations for the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) to consider.

Will the community have input on these recommendations?

Absolutely. We’ll be hosting pop-ups at high-ridership transit stops, attending community association meetings, holding open houses and formal public meetings, and sharing surveys to gather feedback. Public engagement begins in the Spring of 2025. If you’re not able to join us at any of our public engagement events, feel free to leave a question or comment below.

Are there plans to update or improve reliability of existing bus routes by turning some into BRT, absent larger federal funding for metro/light rail?

• The Baltimore City Department of Transportation manages the Charm City Circulator, which consists of 5 routes operating in and around downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. BCDOT does not currently have any plans or funding to convert any CCC routes to bus rapid transit. The city is not aware of any plans that the Maryland Department of Transportation – Maryland Transit Administration has for BRT in the city.

What is the current plan for the Redline, recognizing that federal cuts or lack of support will make it difficult to fund such projects?

• The Red Line is being managed and led by the state, through the Maryland Department of Transportation - Maryland Transit Administration. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation is working closely with MDOT-MTA and the Red Line team as this project progresses. For more updates on the status and latest news related to the Red Line, visit https://redlinemaryland.com/

How has the Transit Equity Score evolved since its initial development in 2020–2021?

• The initial transit equity scoring approach was used to identify five priority equity zones within the city. This analysis builds on the previous analysis work completed and expands the analysis beyond the five equity priority zones to citywide.
  • In addition to the demographic indicators used in previous analyses, this study considers additional demographic indicators that may be relevant such as limited English proficiency population, working-age population, households with children, population without health insurance, and rent-burdened populations, which may impact need or demand for transit access to employment opportunities for residents.
  • This analysis updated the transit equity scores based on the most recent 5-year American Community Survey data (2019-2023) available at the time of analysis at the census tract level. Census tracts level is used as census tracts generally have lower margins of error and provide more reliable estimates than block group level data.
  • This analyzes utilizes a standard deviation-based interval approach for the scoring. Standard deviation-based intervals help analyze values in a census tract based on whether they are above or below average compared to the city overall. Examples of agencies that use standard deviation-based intervals approach includes North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's Demographics Analysis Tool and Delaware Valley Regional Transportation Planning Commission's Indicators of Potential Disadvantage.

What specific data sources are being used to assess equity gaps in transit?

• The analysis utilizes data from several sources, including existing transit routes from Maryland's GIS Data Catalog website, existing BCDOT transit routes shared by BCDOT, average daily frequency and service spans along routes based on publicly-available GTFS data from MTA, publicly-available transit ridership and on-time performance date from MTA, existing bicycle facilities from Open Baltimore website, and micromobility ridership data provided by BCDOT.

How do you define "desire lines", and what criteria determine which neighborhoods need the most urgent transit improvements?

• The equity analysis and assessment methodology, which builds on the previous analysis approach, is used to map and analyze areas that may be traditionally disadvantaged and populations of need in Baltimore City. The methodology uses a composite scoring index and analyzes values in a census tract based on whether they are above average or below average compared to the city as a whole. Areas with higher composite scores are likely to include above average percentages of more than one demographic indicator population.
• Desire lines represent desired or potential connections that aim to link higher composite score areas to areas with above average percentages of livable wage jobs that don't require advanced education or a high school degree. Desire lines utilize an origin-destination analysis approach where higher equity composite score areas are origins and tracts with above average percentages of livable wage jobs are destinations.
• The purpose of the analysis is to identify areas with higher proportions of populations that may be disadvantaged or underserved, understand transit gaps/challenges in those areas, and what improvements may be helpful to bridge those gaps. The analysis is not intended to identify how equitable an area is or which challenges or improvements are most urgent, necessarily, but is intended to be a resource to help inform future planning and investment.

How does this plan counteract racist historical practices such as redlining?

• While there is no single transportation study that will address the historical fallout from racist practices such as redlining, the Transit Equity Gap Analysis is intended to help identify ways that Baltimore City DOT can address some of the issues stemming from these kinds of practices and to ensure that Baltimore City’s transit and transportation systems work well for everyone regardless of where they live. This study seeks to find ways to better connect Baltimore City residents with livable wage jobs by addressing broken “links” in our transportation and transit systems that, if fixed, could make it easier for city residents to access livable wage employment.