The "Inequality Chronicles," now in their third installment by Places Journal, are essential reading.
Alec MacGillis's article examines how public investment "and disinvestment" in public transit "figured greatly in the persistence of racial and economic inequality" in Baltimore.
The article begins with the riot of April 27, 2015, exacerbated by a decision to shutdown of public transportation after the memorial service for Freddie Gray had concluded. The remainder of the article traces a history that begins with Reconstruction, following the Civil War, through the Great Migration, into Baltimore's unique pattern of white flight, which spanned either side of World War II, and into the transit and transportation planning decisions of recent decades.
Supplemental reading for the recent transit planning decisions can be found in an editorial published by the Baltimore Sun earlier this week, which calls for a transformative investment in public transit.
Earlier installments of the "Inequality Chronicles" covered Memphis and Houston.
FULL STORY: The Third Rail
Light Rail It Is for Baltimore’s Red Line Project
The decision to go with light rail over bus rapid transit will be more expensive and take longer to complete, but proponents say it’s an investment in Baltimore’s economic future.
Maryland Could Cut Transit Funding, Citing Budget Gap
The governor says the state remains committed to its major transit projects, but may need to reduce service to meet a growing financial shortfall.
Maryland to Restart Planning for East-West Transit Line Through Baltimore
A plan for the Red Line, an east-west light rail line notoriously canceled by former-Governor Larry Hogan in 2015, is back on the table in Baltimore.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research