Advancing Equity through Regional Multimodal Planning in Small Urban and Rural Communities

Project Abstract

While the advantages of multimodal passenger transportation planning in urban environments have been extensively studied and well-documented, transferring these planning practices to rural areas and small towns pauses unique challenges. Nevertheless, the need for alternative transportation solutions in rural and remote regions is on the rise due to a multitude of factors, including an aging rural population, escalating poverty rates, and more. Moreover, the often fragmented nature of regional approaches related to housing, land use, and transportation planning and asset management, not only exacerbates these challenges but also squanders an opportunity to tackle transportation-related disparities in a more effective manner. This proposal addresses the need for multimodal transportation approaches tailored to facilitate the planning, prioritization, evaluation, and asset management of rural and small urban passenger transportation networks. The project will document existing best practices, identify effective strategies, and develop a multimodal-focused planning framework that aims to enhance transportation options by holistically considering regional planning and asset management. The expected study's outcomes will include (1) a case database that will document multimodal planning and housing/land-use/transportation/asset management coordination in rural and small-town contexts; (2) a set of rural/small urban specific strategies that can be adapted to enhance multimodal planning practices; and (3) a tailored planning practice framework that integrates smart growth and shrinkage principles as well as emerging mobility services, active transportation principles, and asset management practices.

Universities Involved

West Virginia University

Principle Investigators

Dr. Dimitra Pyrialakou

Funding Sources and Amounts

USDOT: $100,000

Start Date

September 1, 2023

Completion Date

September 1, 2024

Expected Research Outcomes & Impacts

Addressing the pressing mobility needs of rural areas and small towns, this project seeks a paradigm shift in multimodal rural planning amidst existing challenges. By introducing a comprehensive tool for officials, it aims to bolster coordinated development in transportation, housing, and land-use. The anticipated outcome is a roadmap for improved multimodal planning practices, promising enhanced transportation options and equitable development outcomes for rural and small-town residents.

Subject Areas

Rural transit, Planning, Accessibility