The Unequal Commute – Examining Inequities in Four Metro Areas’ Transportation Systems

Low-wage workers residing in cities or the suburbs need access to affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to get to and from work, especially those working off-peak hours or irregular schedules. In a recent research project, four metropolitan areas—Baltimore, Maryland; Lansing, Michigan; Nashville, Tennessee; and Seattle, Washington—were selected to examine transportation equity and inclusion and how these regions might improve future transportation options. Data was collected on metro area resident commute times to work, schools, hospitals, and libraries using public transportation and automobiles. Transit data was from the Transitland Feed Registry and OpenStreet Map, and demographic data was from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey. The findings identified disparities and gaps in access to jobs broken down by race and ethnicity in each of the four metropolitan regions.