Impact of Transportation Access on Low Income Latinos

Working in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor of Massachusetts, a community based organization, we surveyed 362 mostly low-income and Latino residents in East Boston, Lynn, Worcester, and Springfield, Massachusetts between October 2012 and January 2013. The sample consisted primarily of people of Hispanic origin (80%) and women (70%). We targeted low-income neighborhoods and as a result the survey respondents tended to be very low income, with 75% reporting total household incomes below $20,000 and less than 6% reporting household incomes greater than $40,000.

For many low-income Latino residents of Massachusetts, high-quality and reliable transportation options simply do not exist. Public transportation options leave much to be desired, yet the cost of vehicle ownership and upkeep is financially burdensome.

Overall, four in ten residents sampled lacked any access to a car and over one third of respondents (35%) relied on public transportation as their primary mode of transportation. Many respondents relied on cars, particularly for access to grocery shopping and visiting family and friends, even though they did not own a car or even in many cases (42% of respondents) have a driver’s license.

Transportation challenges and disadvantages seriously and adversely affect the quality of life and access to opportunity for low-income Latino families in Massachusetts cities. One major toll imposed by the current transportation system on low-income families is its cost. Inadequate access to reliable and convenient transportation in daily life is a drain on the limited amount of disposable or discretionary income available to low-income Latino families. The current transportation system also limits access to good jobs. We found that the varying levels of transit access in the four communities surveyed roughly paralleled trends in employment.  Transportation issues also affected access to medical care, schools, and other essential services.