In participation with and supported by the Urban Land Institute Curtis Infrastructure Initiative, ULI Baltimore presents The Equitable Network, a proposal to build connective micro-transit infrastructure within Baltimore’s neglected neighborhoods.

The ULI Curtis Infrastructure Initiative promotes locally driven infrastructure solutions that are equitable, resilient, and enhance long-term community value. Michael Spott’s Shaw Symposium on Urban Community Issues provides guidance for sustainable problem-solving and equitable investment directions for infrastructure; and we have utilized four of the five strategies identified by Spott to guide our work in developing The Equitable Network. These are as follows:

• Enable equitable access to transportation, particularly transit.
• Reconnect and reinvigorate neighborhoods damaged by past infrastructure investments.
• Address historical disparities in community investment, particularly those based on race, and ensure equitable access to economic opportunities and the benefits of redevelopment.
• Improve health, enhance environmental sustainability, and reduce climate risks.

The Equitable Network aims to build resilience within Baltimore’s “Black Butterfly,” connecting disinvested communities to Baltimore’s green infrastructure initiatives, the Green Network Rails to Trails Greenway Trail. Gaps in the existing pathways and green infrastructure led to the ideation of The Equitable Network. Given the contrasting conditions between the developed downtown and the east and west wings of the city, this project consciously prioritized site opportunities where equitable infrastructure is lacking.

The Equitable Network recommends micro-transit, streetscape improvements, and development opportunities within disinvested communities throughout Baltimore, building on Baltimore’s Green Network Plan and the Rails to Trail Infrastructure Plan. The pilot focuses on West Baltimore, making connections from park-to-park specifically on Mount Street and Gilmor Street, two north-south roads in West Baltimore that lead to Druid Hill Park and Carroll Park, two of the city’s largest and oldest parks that are less than a ten-minute drive apart. The initial report Curtis Infrastructure Initiative Report completed August of 2023 by the ULI Baltimore DEI Committee, spearheaded by ULI Baltimore’s Brennan A. Murray, Kristina Williams, and Ghadeer Mansour (now with ULI Washington), documented the research, planning and first phase of community engagement on this project.

To advance the next phase of The Equitable Network, the ULI Baltimore with support from the Curtis Infrastructure Initiative engaged Courtney Morgan of the Studio for Collaborative Design (SCRD) and Darius White of Byzig. Their work has been instrumental in translating the initiative’s vision into actionable strategies through extensive community engagement, including design workshops and stakeholder interviews conducted in 2024. This process shaped a detailed plan for four key nodes along the network, incorporating resident input to develop site-specific improvements that address transportation equity, environmental sustainability, and public space activation. Their expertise in equitable urban design and infrastructure planning ensures that The Equitable Network remains a community-driven effort, prioritizing historically disinvested areas in West Baltimore while aligning with broader citywide green infrastructure and redevelopment goals.

Next steps for The Equitable Network focus on deepening community engagement, securing additional funding, and laying the groundwork for construction. Parks & People has allocated $200,000 in capital funds from Maryland DHCD, but full buildout requires continued outreach a