The Poverty Rate indicator measures the percent of the population with income below 200% of the federal poverty level. Data for this indicator were collected directly on December 14, 2021, from the Census Bureau at the census tract level for the 2019 ACS 5-year estimate (5-year estimate, 2015-2019).

Rationale:

Many studies have documented that communities /households/individuals in poverty are expending far more resources on transportation than any other group. These communities and persons make 3+ more connections on public transit to get to their end location; have a smaller radius of travel than other groups; lower vehicle ownership and less access to reliable public transportation options; and longer commute times.

Those in Poverty make up the more significant share of public taking public transit, walking, and biking. Public transportation appears to be an effective alternative for low-income populations, but it brings a laundry list of issues in most communities. In most communities, there is a disconnect between where people live, work, and access transit routes, forcing people to use multiple routes with longer overall commute times. The long commute can translate to diminished wages, missed opportunities, less quality time with family, increased stress, and loss of competitiveness. With the ongoing pandemic, public transit has become increasingly challenging as service cuts and driver shortages are increasing unreliable services. Data during the pandemic on who was still riding public transit were those of lower-income households, Black and Latinos, and women.

Data Source(s) U.S.Census Bureau (Extracted, December 14, 2021). 2019 ACS 5-year estimates. Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months (Table - S1701). CSV