A safe and reliable transit system is critical for improved transportation equity and reduced traffic pollution. Marylanders need a strong public traffic system so that they get to jobs, food, healthcare, education, recreation, and other important destinations each day.
The burden of an unsafe and unreliable transit falls hardest on communities of color, low income communities, and people with disabilities. In Baltimore, nearly 1 in 3 residents don’t have access to a car and less than 8.5% jobs are accessible within 1 hour by public transit.
Investing in public transit provides critically needed transportation for those without cars and is an essential part of the state’s efforts to reduce climate, air, and water pollution by reducing Marylanders’ reliance on gasoline-powered cars. A person who commutes 20 miles daily round trip by car could lower their carbon footprint 4,800 pounds annually, equivalent to the emissions from 245 gallons of gasoline, if they instead made that trip each day on public transit. Electrifying our buses will further reduce transportation pollution and clean up our air.
In 2022, we joined with members of the Transform Maryland Transportation Coalition in pushing for a successful veto override of the Transit Safety & Investment Act, legislation which locks in annual capital funding minimums to address the Maryland Transit Administration's (MTA) $2 billion maintenance backlog. This will help make the transit system more safe and reliable.
We are fighting to:
- Pass the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act to encourages more state investment in public transit, walking and biking infrastructure, and transit-oriented development.
- Defend existing funding for our state's public transit systems including MTA, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMAT) and the Locally Operated Transit Systems.
- Support the completion of the East-West Red Line Project and BMORE Bus plan in Baltimore.
- Support the construction of the Purple Line light rail project.
- Electrify our school buses, MTA’s fleet, and WMATA’s fleet.
- Push for more funding to increase the frequency and reliability of transit service throughout the state.
Take Action
Interested in volunteering? Send an email to Lindsey at transportation@mdiserra.org for more information on how to get involved.