Sustainability

Indicators featured in the Sustainability section of Vital Signs describe the city’s progress towards enhancing sustainability and improving connectivity. This chapter provides indicators for the following areas:  

• Cleanliness  

• Transportation 

• Travel Time to Work 

• Greening  

• Energy use  

• Community Engagement 

• Walkability 

These six areas represent a broad array of measures to track the environmental qualities of the city, the modes that people use to travel to work, the civic engagement of residents, and transitions in the built environment.  

Indicators presented in the Sustainability section of Vital Signs 22 are sourced from city, state, federal, and proprietary data sets. These sources include; CitiStat/Baltimore 311, Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation-TreeBaltimore, Board of Elections, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Transit Administration, American Community Survey, and Walk Score®.   

Vital Signs 22 tracks two indicators that measure the cleanliness of Baltimore City: the rate of dirty streets and alleys and the rate of clogged storm drains. Data originates from the CitiStat 311reporting system for submitting service requests, which occur when residents, employees of businesses, or city employees use the phone, website, or mobile app to report a wide variety of non-emergency incidents. These problems range from illegal dumping to broken streetlights to potholes. These datasets are available through the Open Baltimore with daily updates so more recent data can be processed for Vital Signs.  

From 2021 to 2022, the rate of reported dirty streets and alleys increased from 78.6 to 86.2 per 1,000 residents. The Community Statistical Areas (CSAs) with the highest rates of reported dirty streets and alleys were Southwest Baltimore (486.7 per 1,000 residents), Madison/East End (467.4 per 1,000 residents), and Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point (279.8 per 1,000 residents). The CSAs with the lowest rates of reported dirty streets and alleys in 2022 included Cross-County/Cheswolde (4.9 per 1,000 residents), North Baltimore/Guilford/Homeland (9.87 per 1,000 residents), and Dickeyville/Franklintown (10.6 per 1,000 residents). 

Most of the neighborhoods with the highest rates of reported dirty streets and alleys are a part of the Clean Corps program.  "Clean Corps works with  Baltimore-based nonprofits in partnership with 14 neighborhoods to clean and maintain community-selected vacant lots biweekly, alleys weekly, and public trash cans daily."  Residents and Clean Corps crews are instructed to use the 311 system to log reports of dirty streets and alleys. This is likely the driver of the increased rate of calls in 2022.

From 2021 to 2022, the rate of reported clogged storm drains declined from 4.8 to 2.2 per 1,000 residents. In 2022 the CSAs with the highest rates of reported clogged storm drains were Oliver/Johnston Square (5.9 per 1,000 residents), Madison/East End (5.4 per 1,000 residents), and Southwest Baltimore (4.3 per 1,000 residents). The CSAs with the lowest rates of reported clogged storm drains in 2021 were Dickeyville/Franklintown (0.3 per 1,000 residents), Morrell Park/Violetville (0.6 per 1,000 residents), and Belair-Edison (0.7 per 1,000 residents). 

The density of urban environments often means that residents benefit from the accessibility of alternative means of transportation that reduce vehicle miles traveled by car. Baltimore’s mid-size transportation system includes regional rail (MARC), Metro, light rail, the Charm City Circulator, and a system of local and commuter buses. While the current transit system works well for movement north and south, problems with accessibility persist for movement between east and west. Recent research has shown that “walkability” is necessary for cities to thrive and that where transit use is high, so too is walking and/or biking. ¹  Vital Signs 22 tracks several indicators that measure use of alternative transportation, travel time to work, and zero vehicle households. 

Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, the percentage of households in Baltimore City with no vehicles available decreased from 29.0% to 26.5%. The CSAs with the highest percentage of residents without access to a personal vehicle were Oldtown/Middle East (59.3%), Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park (56.1%), and Poppleton/The Terraces/Hollins Market (54.7%). The CSAs with the lowest percentage of residents without a vehicle included South Baltimore (3.0%), Canton (5.5%), and Greater Roland Park/Poplar Hill (6.8%).  

Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 the CSAs that saw the greatest decrease in the percentage of households without access to a personal vehicle were Belair-Edison (-11.9), Clifton-Berea (-11.9%), Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point (-10.2%), and Harbor East/Little Italy (-10.1%). Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 the CSAs that saw the greatest increase in the percentage of households without access to a personal vehicle were Greater Rosemont (+8.6%), Orchard Ridge/Armistead (+8.2%), and Forest Park/Walbrook (+8.1%). 

Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, the percentage of households in Baltimore City that drove alone to work decreased from 60.0% to 57.5%. The CSAs with the highest percentage of residents who drove alone to work were Brooklyn/Curtis Bay (73.7%), Hamilton Hills (71.1%), and Cedonia/Frankford (69.3%). The CSAs with the lowest percentage of residents who drove alone to work were Oldtown/Middle East (28.8%), Greater Charles Village/Barclay (39.2%), and Madison/East End (40.8%). 

Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 the CSAs that saw the greatest decreases in the percentage of households who drove alone to work were Greater Roland Park (-23.5%), North Baltimore/Guilford/Homeland (-20.6%), Hamilton (-17.0), and Canton (-16.8%). Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 the CSAs that saw the greatest increase in the percentage of households who drove alone to work were Oliver/Johnson Square (+20.6), Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point (+15.4%), Edmondson Village (+10.9%). 

During 2018-2022, 12.8% of Baltimore City residents used public transportation to commute to work. Between 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 this rate decreased by 5.4%. The CSAs with the highest percentage of residents who used public transportation to commute to work Upton/Druid Heights (35.2%), Greater Rosemont (35.1%), and Oldtown/Middle East (28.7%). The CSAs with the lowest percentage of residents who used public transportation to commute to work included Fells Point (2.3%), South Baltimore (2.3%), and Canton (2.7%). 

During 2018-2022, 7.7% of Baltimore City residents used carpools to travel to work. The CSAs with the highest percentage of residents who used carpools to travel to work included Cherry Hill (21.4%), Orchard Ridge/Armistead (14.8%), and Southeastern (14.0%). The CSAs with the lowest percentage of residents who used carpools to travel to work included Poppleton/The Terraces/Hollins Market (0.8%), Downtown/Seton Hill (2.6%), and South Baltimore (2.8%). 

During 2018-2022, 5.5% of Baltimore City residents walked to work. The CSAs with the highest percentage of residents who walked to work included Oldtown/Middle East (20.5%), Greater Charles Village/Barclay (19.0%), and Downtown/Seton Hill (18.6%). The CSAs with the lowest percentage of residents who walked to work included Dickeyville/Franklintown (0%), Edmondson Village (0.4%), and Dorchester/Ashburton (0.6%). 

From 2013-2017 to 2018-2022, the percentage of city residents commuting to work with a commute time of less than 15 minutes decreased slightly from (15.9%) to (15.8%). During 2018-2022, the percentage of residents with a commute time of less than 15 minutes ranged from a high of (30.7%) in North Baltimore/Guilford/Homeland to a low of (3.5%) in Edmondson Village. 

From 2013-2017 to 2018-2022, the percentage of city residents traveling to work with a commute of between 15 and 29 minutes increased from (38.2%) to (39.6%). During 2018-2022, the percentage of residents with a commute of between 15 and 29 minutes ranged from a high of (53.2%) in Loch Raven to a low of (23.3%) in Greater Mondawmin.  

From 2013-2017 to 2018-2022, the percentage of city residents commuting to work with a commute of between 30 and 44 minutes decreased slightly from (25%) to (24.6%). During 2018-2022, the percentage of residents with a commute of between 30 and 44 minutes ranged from a high of (42.7%) in Greater Mondawmin to a low of (13.7%) in Madison/East End. 

From 2007-2011 to 2018-2022, the percentage of city residents commuting to work with a commute greater than 45 minutes decreased slightly from (20.8%) to (20.0%). During 2018-2022, the percentage of residents with a commute greater than 45 minutes ranged from a high of (38.0%) in Edmondson Village to a low of (8.0%) in Harbor East/Little Italy. 

Baltimore City is home to many green spaces, parks, and waterways. Some of the more widely recognized locations include the Inner Harbor, Middle Branch, Druid Hill, Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, and Herring Run Parks. City residents in particular value access to green spaces as a place to recreate, exercise, and congregate, but the city’s green spaces also serve a vital role in ensuring clean air and water for long-term urban sustainability. Baltimore neighborhoods actively participate in increasing access to green spaces through tree planting and other watershed protection activities such as stream clean-ups. These efforts not only provide public health benefits but directly impact water quality in the city, region, and ultimately the entire Chesapeake Bay. Vital Signs 22 tracks two indicators related to community greening: number of trees planted and tree canopy. 

In 2020, there were 4,777 trees planted in the public rights-of-way in Baltimore through the city’s TreeBaltimore     initiative. The CSAs with the greatest number of trees were planted were Allendale/Irvington/S. Hilton (447), Oliver/Johnston Square (393), and Belair-Edison (367). Two (2) CSAs had no trees planted through the TreeBaltimore initiative in 2020, Westport/Mount Winans/Lakeland and Orchard Ridge/Armistead.

We anticipate this data being updated in the Fall of 2024.

Studies throughout the United States have shown that communities are losing tree canopy due to a wide range of threats. In Baltimore, however, tree canopy experienced an approximate 1% increase between 2007 and 2015. In 2015, 28% of the city’s total land area was covered with trees, which is a slight increase from 27% with the previously available data in 2007. By CSA, percentage of tree canopy ranges from a high of 73.0% in Dickeyville/Franklintown to a low of 4.0% in Highlandtown.  ²   

An issue gaining importance for neighborhoods over the past decade is the use, conservation, and cost of residential energy. Research shows that programs aimed at providing incentives for installing devices in the home to reduce consumption (compact - fluorescent lightbulbs, smart meters, energy saving appliances) or provide education on energy efficient practices impact the entire neighborhood through greater residential stability and investment.   

In 2018-2022, 62.8% of the city’s residences were heated using utility gas. The percentage of residences heated by utility gas ranged from a high of (78.4%) in Hamilton Hills to a low of (21.3%) in Downtown/Seton Hill.  

In 2018-2022, 30.7% of the city’s residences were heated using electricity. This number has grown from 24.3% in 2011. The percentage of residences heated by electricity ranged from a high of (76.0%) in Downtown/Seton Hill to a low of (15.3%) in Hamilton. 

Since 2002 when the first Vital Signs report was released, the percentage of persons registered to vote and those voting in the general election have been tracked as key indicators to measure community engagement. Over the past few election cycles, these indicators show steady increase in voter registration but more variable rates of actual voting. 

We anticipate this data being updated in the Summer of 2024.

In 2018, 80.1% of the city residents over the age of 18 were registered to vote, which is an increase from 78.8% in 2016. The percentage of residents over the age of 18 who were registered to vote ranged from a high of an estimated 100% in Mount Washington/Coldspring and South Baltimore to a low of 57.5% in Southeastern. 

We anticipate this data being updated in the Summer of 2024.

In 2020, 58.8% of City residents voted in the general election, an increase from 48.2% in 2016 and 37.3% in 2014. The percentage of residents voting in the general election ranged from a high of 80.0% in Greater Roland Park/Poplar Hill to a low of 41.1% in Southwest Baltimore. 

In 2017, Baltimore City had a WalkScore of 56.2, which places the city as a whole in the “somewhat walkable” category, meaning that some amenities are within walking distance. 

• 6 CSAs were ranked as being a “walkers’ paradise” (having a Walk Score greater than 90) including Downtown/Seton Hill (95.7), Fells Point (94.6), and Harbor East/Little Italy (94.2).    
• 16 CSAs were ranked as “very walkable” (having a Walk Score between 70 and 90) including Midtown (89.4), Madison/East End (88.8), and Patterson Park North & East (88.6).  
• 21 CSAs were ranked as “somewhat walkable” (having a Walk Score between 50 and 70) including Hampden/Remington (69.0), Glen-Fallstaff (68.1) and Greater Rosemont (68.0).  
• 12 CSAs were ranked as being “car dependent” (having a Walk Score less than 50) including Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point (19.7), Dickeyville/Franklintown (26.1), and Southeastern (30.1).