BACKGROUND

Part of every public transportation trip is as a pedestrian. Consequently, safe, convenient, and comfortable access to public transportation services requires adequate and appropriate pedestrian and, often, bicycle facilities. Yet, people must often cross dangerous, non-signalized, unmarked crossways on high-traffic streets and roads to reach transit stops and stations. Some communities, especially historically, underserved communities, often lack basic infrastructure for public transportation access and face conditions hostile to walking and bicycling. Improving access to public transportation has the potential to increase ridership and improve access to jobs, education, childcare, health care, and other critical community services. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. While improvements have been made to mitigate some travel barriers, such as redesigning public transit vehicles and facilities and providing sidewalk curb cuts, there is a paucity of adequate infrastructure needed to fulfill the promise of the ADA.  

Many communities are making investments in transit-oriented Complete Streets that facilitate people-centered transportation options (e.g., services and facilities for public transportation, bicycles, shared micro-mobility modes, and pedestrians). Proven investments serve a variety of societal goals, such as safety, equity, economic vitality, public health, and environmental stewardship. However, these investments cannot be designed and implemented by public transportation agencies in isolation, but are made jointly by local, regional, and state partners and stakeholders, and require effective community engagement. Collaborating with partners and stakeholders with differing priorities and authorities is cumbersome and challenging.

In the coming years, there may be several funding sources that public transportation agencies, communities, and states can use to fund infrastructure improvements. 

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop a practical resource for public transportation agencies, local jurisdictions, state departments of transportation, and other stakeholders to better connect people to public transportation services and facilities through transit-oriented Complete Streets in urban and suburban areas throughout the United States.

STATUS: Research is underway.