Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Civil Engineering

Committee Chair

Michael Anderson

Committee Member

Abdullahi Salman

Committee Member

Yooseob Song

Committee Member

Howard Chen

Committee Member

Avinash Unnikrishnan

Research Advisor

Michael Anderson

Subject(s)

Paratransit services, Paratransit services--Alabama, Local transit accessibility--Social aspects--Alabama, Rural transit--Social aspects--Alabama

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive framework for identifying transit deserts in rural areas with Demand Response Transit (DRT) services. This framework will focus on marginalized rural areas in Alabama, providing a foundation for better understanding their transportation needs. The research gap regarding transit deserts in rural areas is significant. While the concept of transit deserts has been explored in urban settings, rural areas with DRT services remain largely under-researched. Addressing this gap is vital for establishing equitable access to transit services across rural areas. This research contributes to the existing body of literature in two major ways: This study will develop a metric to identify transit deserts in rural areas, grounded in both socioeconomic and supply factors. Six socioeconomic factors—identified through a repurposed survey—and seven supply factors based on accessibility will be used to calculate transit deserts. This metric will offer a quantitative approach for measuring transit deserts, providing clarity on where transit needs are insufficient. In addition to developing the metric, this research will produce a tool that integrates with ArcGIS via Excel. This tool will enable users to visually map the locations of transit deserts, helping policymakers and transit authorities conduct more effective analyses and make informed decisions regarding rural transit planning.

Comments

Submitted...in the joint Civil Engineering Program.

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