Why Transportation Matters

Transportation provides access. While many of us would jump at the chance to be able to walk out our front doors and have all of our needs – work, housing, education, services, and entertainment – within walking distance, the reality is that most of us must rely on other forms of transportation for access to one or more of these elements.   Inefficient, unreliable, or non-existent transportation options severely limit this access.

Baltimore ranks third in congestion growth when compared to other peer regions. The region continues to outpace similar metropolitan areas in growth of congestion.  The Baltimore metropolitan area — though only No. 17 in population — ranks fifth in the nation in the average number of hours automobile commuters are delayed during peak periods, according to a national traffic study by the Texas Transportation Institute.

Commuters endure an average of 50 hours of delay each year, placing Baltimore behind only Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles and Houston, all much larger metro areas.

Transportation is one of the main issues raised by employers looking to expand or relocate to the Baltimore metropolitan area.  Economic development professionals across the region state that there are two issues that rise to the top when they are talking with businesses that are considering expanding in the region, or relocating to the region - transportation and workforce.  Employers recognize that inefficient and limited transportation options impact attraction and retention of employees and translates negatively to their bottom lines.

The last significant expansion of passenger rail in Central Maryland occurred in 1997.  Conversely, the regions we compete with for business and talent have heavily invested in commuter rail and light rail over the past decade.  We are falling behind, and the resulting decrease in quality of life and access to jobs and housing dampens economic growth and vitality throughout the region.

Transportation costs absorb a disproportionate share of a person’s income.  The average wage earner spends over half of his/her income on housing and transportation costs.  Access to  public transportation can lower household transportation costs by as much as half .The trend in Central Maryland has been toward increased household transportation costs, particularly as job growth has become increasingly decentralized from the urban core.  

Transportation is a critical factor in efforts to address environmental pollution. Transportation is the fastest-growing source of US Greenhouse Gasses (GHG), accounting for 47 percent of the net increase in total US emissions since 1990.  Transportation is also the largest end-use source of CO2, which is the most prevalent greenhouse gas.  These estimates of transportation GHGs do not include the additional lifecycle processes, such as the extraction and refining of fuel and the manufacture of vehicles, which are also a significant source of domestic and international GHGs.

Increased use of public transportation decreases oil consumption and air pollution.