* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Ramos
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
From Front Door to Schoolhouse Door
For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Baltimore City Public Schools, Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success and Office of Equity and Civil Rights to discuss our children’s commute to school.
body
Recitals
In Baltimore City Public Schools, approximately 29,000 students take MTA public transit to school. Nearly three out of every four middle and high school students in our district rely on buses, light rail, and subways regularly. MTA service is designed primarily with adult commuters in mind, not the 18% of ridership who are children on their way to learn.
As such, our students face challenging obstacles on their way to and from school buildings. Due to school choice, many young people take lengthy rides to schools that are far from their neighborhoods, leading to increases in tardiness and absences which affect their education. Students often avoid taking part in after-school extracurricular activities and employment because of safety concerns on their evening trips home in the dark, with 32% of students saying they do not feel safe on their way to and from school. Young women commonly experience sexual harassment during their trips.
The City Council would like to determine the safety of our students on their commutes to school, the equatability of public transit for our students, and the impact of public transit on student attendance, academic outcomes, extracurricular activities, and employment.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council requests representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Baltimore City Public Schools, Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success and Office of Equity and Civil Rights to discuss our children’s commute to school.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, the Director of Transportation, the Health Commissioner, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.