The problems of job accessibility and energy consumption associated with metropolitan decentralisation have not been solved by conventional mass transit. The potential exists for new public transportation options that increase accessibility to suburban jobs and use energy more efficiently. The factors constraining low-wage urban labour from commuting to suburban jobs and the demand for reverse commute services are examined, and public transportation options that would increase accessibility and conserve energy are identified. The focus is on the Baltimore metropolitan area. The suburban activity centres in the metropolitan area are relatively inaccessible by transit from many areas of Baltimore City. Travel times for reverse commute transit are often greater than those for suburb-to-city transit. Low-wage urban labour uses transit, automobile, and paratransit modes for commuting in the city but desires higher wages and automobiles or higher-quality public transportation for commuting to the suburbs. Additional paratransit options could increase accessibility and vehicle loads, resulting in a large saving of energy. Creating bus ways and high-occupancy-vehicle lanes that can be used cost-effectively for the reverse commute should be considered. Government and private-sector employers should aggressively market ridesharing to the urban labour force and pay financial incentives to attract labour to suburban jobs and to paratransit services. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting