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Owners of small businesses on a Baltimore main street overwhelmingly support investments in transit and walkability
Owners of small businesses on a Baltimore main street overwhelmingly support investments in transit and walkability
Highlandtown is a historic and diverse neighborhood of Southeast Baltimore. Known for its arts and business district, Highlandtown is a growing community of about 7,800 people, roughly 42% white, 34% Hispanic, and 20% African-American. The neighborhood has a median household income of about $28,800.
Highlandtown is home to local restaurants, bars, salons, barbershops, cafes, churches, liquor stores, laundromats, corner stores, convenience stores, schools, non-profit organizations, and art galleries, including the Creative Alliance. Its diverse population and thriving community spaces encourage growth of local business and community
engagement. However, the area faces a legacy of underinvestment, which has led to local hardships including vacant commercial spaces, economic vulnerability among residents, and increasing levels of homelessness. The business district itself is a walkable area that is bordered to the west by Ellwood Avenue, the east by Haven Street, the north by Baltimore Street, and the South by Eastern Avenue. It sees a mix of cars, buses, e-bikes, bicycles, and pedestrians throughout the district.
Highlandtown has a strong connection to Baltimore’s transit system because of its close proximity to downtown, just 3 miles outside the heart of Baltimore City. The area is served by the CityLink Gold and Navy Lines as well as the LocalLink 21 and LocalLink 22 Bus Lines. Although transit helps many riders get between Highlandtown and other neighborhoods in Baltimore, riders also deal with bus cancellations, unpredictable wait-times, and the need to make several connections in one journey. For drivers, Highlandtown is bordered by Route 40 to the North and Interstate 895 to the East, connecting it to the broader Washington DC - Baltimore Region. The nearest train station is the Baltimore-Penn Station, located approximately 3 miles away from Highlandtown.
Long-term development for the area includes extending the Baltimore Red Line out to reach Highlandtown, a project being actively pursued by the Maryland Transit Administration to provide a more robust East-West connection. Recently, activists in the Highlandtown Business District have been working to boost re-development and growth after the presence of ICE Officers stunted the growth of the neighborhood last year. Additionally, both non-profits and local government agencies (like the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services) are working in the Highlandtown area to address the increasing levels of homelessness and drug use.
“We have three current employees who take the bus to work and two more who don’t take the bus and don’t drive - so walkability and transit are really important for everyone getting here on-time. The walkability of the area is not bad, but most of us have to use multiple buses, so seeing improvements in transit would be great.”
– Lisa Robinson, employee of Baltimore Bark House
Surveying Small Business Owners
Surveying Small Business Owners
From restaurants and barbershops to cafes and groceries, we took to the streets of Highlandtown, Baltimore to hear directly from small business owners about the impacts of pedestrian infrastructure and transit service on their businesses and their community. The survey was offered in both English and Spanish. Full survey results can be found in the appendix.
Survey Results - Takeaways
Survey Results - Takeaways
Walkability
Walkability
The majority of small business owners support walkability, believing that walkable infrastructure supports the success of their businesses.
Over 75% of small business owners surveyed believed that walkability supports a thriving local business economy
73.6% of small business owners surveyed believed that people walking past their storefront were more likely to stop in compared to those driving past
When asked to rate the existing walkability of the area from 1 to 10, there were a wide range of opinions, but the average rating was a 6.88 out of 10.
The overwhelming majority of business owners (over 85%) supported investments in walkability both within the business district and throughout the community as a whole.
Survey responses to the statement: "Walkability supports a thriving business economy."
Survey responses to the statement: "A robust public transit system would make it easier for people to visit my shop/restaurant. "
Public Transit
Public Transit
The majority of small business owners support public transit, believing that a more robust public transit system would support the success of their business.
79.4% of business owners surveyed agreed that a robust public transit system would better support customers who are aging or have disabilities to access local businesses, community, and services.
73.5% of business owners surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that a robust transit system would make it easier to recruit and retain employees.
When asked to rate the existing public transit system of the area from 1 to 10, there were a wide range of opinions, but the average rating was 6.59 out of 10.
81.8% of business owners supported investments in public transit around their business and 88.2% supported investments in public transit around the community as a whole.
“Our families have always been concerned about transportation feasibility and safety, especially regarding their children. Improved neighborhood walkability and increased community engagement would do wonders for our business.”
– Erin Keenan LPMT, MT-BC, Program Director at Hit Me With Music Foundation
Conclusion
Conclusion
An overwhelming majority of small business owners surveyed supported investments in both walkability and public transit in their business district and the city as a whole. Even though opinions on the existing state of walkability and public transit varied greatly among owners - with some suggesting that a lot of improvement was needed in both areas, and others who found very little to improve - a significant proportion of business owners agreed that investments are needed.
Business districts and neighborhoods like Highlandtown benefit from walkability and transit service just as much as the downtowns of larger metropolitan areas and rural communities. Highlandtown business owners recognize the importance of walkability and transit in fostering a thriving local business economy while supporting both their customers and employees.
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