Specialized Transit and Elderly, Disabled, and Families in Poverty Populations

Abstract

This report presents results of three separate listening sessions to identify the transportation accessibility issues for a target group of users: the elderly, the disabled, and families in poverty. The sessions revealed that the need for coordinated resources between all service providers, a lack of flexible transportation options, and the need for transportation-oriented developments and better community planning present the greatest barriers for all three populations. In response to those findings, University researchers from operations, policy, and technology areas worked with the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS), Dakota Area Resources and Transportation for Seniors (DARTS), and United Way representatives to identify research needs and topics that could address the listening session issues.