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From page 57... ... A-1 These fact sheets are working drafts. Due to the breadth of the rural transportation topics, they are not intended to be exhaustive, comprehensive lists, but rather a starting point for facilitated discussions. Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... A-2 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap miles long; it may be possible to shift these trips to active transportation modes, but it may require safe and dedicated infrastructure, which can be challenging as rural communities face limited resources. Access to Active Transportation Opportunities in Rural Communities Active transportation has been promoted as a means to reduce automobile dependency while increasing physical activity, improving multimodal access, and spurring economic development (Loh et al. Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-3 disabilities, ADA-compliant infrastructure provides wider benefits such as supporting mobility for ambulatory elders, facilitating the use of small, wheeled devices (strollers, mail carts, hand trucks, wagons, etc.) , and reducing pedestrian tripping hazards. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... A-4 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Safety Risks and Countermeasures for Active Transportation Users Approximately one-quarter of U.S. pedestrian and bicycle fatal and injury crashes occur on rural highways (Carter and Council 2006) Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-5 obesity among school age children. Safe Routes to School programs provide an opportunity to address these challenges. Read the entire page →
From page 62... ... A-6 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap parking fees. In most jurisdictions funding for active transportation facilities has been less predictable. Read the entire page →
From page 63... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-7 Theme Description Transportation agencies across the United States are facing issues with recruiting and retaining skilled employees. Especially due to the knowledge that within the next 10 years, half of the current transportation workforce will be eligible to retire. Read the entire page →
From page 64... ... A-8 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Potential Research Needs • What recruitment and retention strategies have been successfully implemented within transportation agencies? • Why are we seeing workforce shortages in the transportation industry? Read the entire page →
From page 65... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-9 Challenges • Communities with limited roadway connections are highly vulnerable to natural and manmade disasters • Limited roadway connections can increase transportation costs and restrict economic opportunities for affected communities • Many communities lack non-highway access Aging in Place By 2030, there will be more than 72 million senior citizens age 65 and older in the United States, with almost 25 percent of all U.S. seniors living in a rural area (Grantmakers in Aging 2018) Read the entire page →
From page 66... ... A-10 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Shared-Use Mobility Services The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) defines shared-use mobility as transportation services that are shared among users (Shared-Use Mobility Center 2018) Read the entire page →
From page 67... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-11 • Developing partnerships among transportation providers in a region (such as public and private transportation agencies, tribal agencies, human services, and nonprofit entities) • Ensuring that all agencies comply with ADA regulations in order to improve mobility for people with disabilities Available Research Research on access and mobility has largely focused on strategies to meet the needs of transportation disadvantaged groups. Read the entire page →
From page 68... ... A-12 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Transportation Disadvantaged and Access to Healthcare Service Transportation barriers cause 3.6 million American people to miss or delay medical care each year (Hughes-Cromwick et al. Read the entire page →
From page 69... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-13 Challenges • High cost of communications technology improvements • Difficulties with coordinating multiple operational structures among different agencies • Spotty or nonexistent mobile coverage Solutions • Implementing technology improvements to allow the public to better communicate with 911 • Coordinating 911 services at the regional level (e.g., across multiple counties) to share resources or improve efficiency • Deploying smartphone applications for first responders Incorporating Public Health into Transportation Planning The United States ranks 43rd in the world in life expectancy (Central Intelligence Agency 2018) Read the entire page →
From page 70... ... A-14 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Theme #5: Generational Expectations, Work, and Lifestyle Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 71... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-15 Generation X While the exact age ranges may vary by source, Generation X are generally defined as those born between 1964 and 1982 (Pew Research Center 2018a) Read the entire page →
From page 72... ... A-16 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap • Investing in infrastructure in rural areas, and learning from entities that have already invested (e.g., Utah with their fiber network) to support greater technology in rural environments may make rural areas more enticing to Millennials. Read the entire page →
From page 73... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-17 higher educational resource within the community, and investing in making their community accessible to a multitude of modes. Bath, Maine, similarly is seeing significant investment in their community. Read the entire page →
From page 74... ... A-18 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap long-distance movements. For international shipments, it typically involves using large metal containers that can be easily transferred between trucks, trains, and ships. Read the entire page →
From page 75... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-19 Mexican trucks are unsafe and violate U.S. emissions standards. Read the entire page →
From page 76... ... A-20 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap The U.S. rail industry comprises Class I carriers that primarily operate long-haul mainline services, and short line and regional railroads that connect hubs on the Class I system with local shippers, such as grain elevators and rural industries. Read the entire page →
From page 77... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-21 require railroads to increase other freight rates, potentially aecting agriculture and other rural industries. • ere is potential for additional railroad industry mergers in both the Class I and Short Line/ Regional sectors. Read the entire page →
From page 78... ... A-22 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Maritime Freight The maritime freight industry includes three main sectors: barges (mainly on the Mississippi River and its tributaries) , Great Lakes vessels (including vessels that operate entirely within the lake areas and those connecting to ocean ports via the Saint Lawrence Seaway) Read the entire page →
From page 79... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-23 Intermodal Freight Much of the intermodal freight destined for the United States originates in Asia and consists of consumer goods such as electronics and clothing. Intermodal freight is also used for backhauls to Asian markets, including fresh fruits/vegetables and identity-preserved food products (e.g., non-GMO soybeans) Read the entire page →
From page 80... ... A-24 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Challenges • The express delivery market is effectively a nationwide duopoly. Although high-volume small parcel shippers can negotiate rates, the published rates charged to small shippers and the public are nearly identical for both companies. Read the entire page →
From page 81... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-25 Theme #7: Weather, Climate, and Resilience Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 82... ... A-26 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap • Approximately twice as many extreme U.S. snowstorms occurred in the second half of the 20th century compared with the first half (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration c. Read the entire page →
From page 83... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-27 Human activities can contribute to disaster risks. For example, forest management practices influence fire risks, land development practices influence flood risks, and underground fluid injection for petroleum and natural gas extraction can magnify seismic risks. Read the entire page →
From page 84... ... A-28 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Many parts of the United States are also experiencing increasingly severe freeze-thaw cycles that aect the structural integrity of bridge decks and other structural elements. It is anticipated that the combined eect of thermal stresses and ice crystal damage will shorten the useful life of many rural bridges. Read the entire page →
From page 85... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-29 are subject to considerable hardship while a replacement is built. In some cases, temporary bridges have been used to reduce these hardships, if the required span is not too long. Read the entire page →
From page 86... ... A-30 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Solutions • e "cool road" concept -- increasing pavement reectivity through the use of light-color surface coatings or infrared-reective granules -- has been proposed as a possible method to reduce pavement deterioration caused by heat from the sun. • e economics of more widespread use of pavement stabilization techniques could be explored to identify situations where these techniques are cost-eective alternatives to unsurfaced roads and full-depth paving. Read the entire page →
From page 87... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-31 requires adjustments in snow and ice control techniques. To respond quickly, more winter maintenance personnel and equipment are required. Read the entire page →
From page 88... ... A-32 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Challenges • Optimizing the timing and techniques for winter maintenance is complicated due to the wide range of temperatures, precipitation conditions, and storm timing that can occur. In addition, the duration of post-storm sunlight influences deicing effectiveness. Read the entire page →
From page 89... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-33 Potential Research Needs • Many rural transportation agencies -- particularly those at lower elevations near major rivers -- have already experienced multiple bridge and culvert failures attributable to increasing storm intensity. These communities have an immediate need for an integrated low-cost tool that can rapidly measure the hydraulic capacity of existing structures (perhaps using lidar scanning) Read the entire page →
From page 90... ... A-34 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Transit Transit in the rural environment can take different forms, including fixed route, deviated fixed route, and demand response. Additional examples may be informal rideshare provided by a friend or family member to an elderly adult, and vanpool programs. Read the entire page →
From page 91... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-35 Solutions • Coordinating with TNCs could be a potential solution, although such examples are typically only found in urban areas • Coordinating transportation with specialized service providers School Transportation School transportation in rural areas often involves picking up children along rural roadways that may not always have desirable sight distance. Furthermore, compliance with school transportation signs does not always occur. Read the entire page →
From page 92... ... Figure A-4. Amtrak national route map as of January 2017 (Amtrak 2016) Read the entire page →
From page 93... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-37 Amtrak has been searching for alternative revenue sources. For example, since 2014, the company has begun to explore the revenue potential of its real estate holdings (Levitt 2014; Amtrak 2017) Read the entire page →
From page 94... ... A-38 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap The emergence of these new services and operators suggests that intercity bus services can potentially be profitable in additional markets. These services operate in a multifaceted competition with other modes including aviation, passenger rail, rental cars, and personal motor vehicles. Read the entire page →
From page 95... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-39 FTA Regulation Impacts The following are examples of FTA program funding that have been used to provide rural public transportation: • FTA Section 5310 – Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities • FTA Section 5311 (f) – Private Match, Formula Grants for Rural Areas • FTA Section 5339 – Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Program Challenges • It can be burdensome to small rural areas who have limited, often already overworked staff to apply for funds and manage the program requirements. Read the entire page →
From page 96... ... A-40 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap availability of rural public transportation and a positive economic outlook for the rural or small urban economy. Challenges • Transportation (in some cases, inconsistent transportation) Read the entire page →
From page 97... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-41 Theme #9: Law Enforcement, Crime, and Drugs Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 98... ... A-42 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap with similar areas with enforcement (Stanojević et al. Read the entire page →
From page 99... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-43 dispatching law enforcement, fire, and EMS units; and confidential messaging between first responders. • Cooperative agreements can be developed to share law enforcement and other emergency response resources across jurisdictional boundaries. Read the entire page →
From page 100... ... A-44 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Solutions • U.S. DOT launched several initiatives aimed at helping public transportation employees (such as bus operators) Read the entire page →
From page 101... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-45 As a result, it is probably more compatible with volunteer ride sharing programs and rural paratransit systems. Existing group therapy and faith-based programs can support MAT by providing resources to assist recovering addicts with obtaining housing and employment and developing interpersonal relationships with non-users. Read the entire page →
From page 102... ... A-46 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap • The widespread availability of smokeless marijuana products makes it more difficult for transportation agencies to identify on-duty violations of employee drug use policies. • Many transportation agencies currently have zero-tolerance policies for employee use of marijuana, and federal regulations require a zero-tolerance policy for public transit employees. Read the entire page →
From page 103... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-47 Theme #10: Aviation Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 104... ... A-48 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap The number has rebounded in recent years: the program currently subsidizes service to 173 cities (112 in the lower 48 states and 61 in Alaska) Read the entire page →
From page 105... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-49 Challenges • Historically, the economics of air taxi services have been challenging in most markets: although the per-passenger costs are high, due to limited traffic, many operators struggle to earn an acceptable return on investment. Solutions • Recent research focuses on aircraft automation as a possible means of transforming air taxis into a profitable mass-market service. Read the entire page →
From page 106... ... A-50 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap of local airport (if any) available in the community (Blair et al. Read the entire page →
From page 107... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-51 Theme #11: Connected and Automated Vehicles and Emerging Technologies Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 108... ... A-52 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Road Infrastructure Considerations Roads in rural areas have longer travel distance, rugged terrain, and alternate surface types. They may also lack pavement markings and cross multiple jurisdictions. Read the entire page →
From page 109... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-53 Solutions • AV/CV technologies can address rural freight movement challenges by improving communication, increasing coordination, and optimizing supply chain and logistics management (Gettman et al. Read the entire page →
From page 110... ... A-54 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Theme Description The U.S. Travel Association, an industry trade group, estimates that from 2008–17 spending by domestic and inbound international travelers in the U.S. Read the entire page →
From page 111... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-55 approach that provides a balance for resource preservation, enhances the community, and is safe for all users. Challenges • Many public land transportation facilities are already designed and implemented and are constrained by the surrounding topography. Read the entire page →
From page 112... ... A-56 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Challenges • Agencies need solutions to accommodate the seasonal congestion demands of a tourism area or natural environment when transportation facilities are designed for daily traffic of commuters or when facilities are limited by the constraints of the terrain. • Severe weather events can cause major discrete congestion and have destructive impacts on the infrastructure (e.g., parking lot washing away at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge due to erosion and storms) Read the entire page →
From page 113... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-57 Solutions • Implement park and ride systems or reservation systems to address parking and capacity issues during peak periods. • Expand access to tour guides or resource information on public transportation. Read the entire page →
From page 114... ... A-58 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Tourism Data A characteristic of the tourism sector is the wide range of factors that influence tourists' decisions to travel and their choice of destination, coupled with the range of options available to them (UNWTO 2013) Read the entire page →
From page 115... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-59 Potential Research Needs • How will CV/AV affect tourism and natural environment areas? What barriers will be faced, what will be the benefits, how can the agencies that manage these lands begin preparing for the advent of these technologies (deployment, education, hiring) Read the entire page →
From page 116... ... A-60 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap projects from other aspects of the rural economy. Lack of clarity about the macroeconomic effects of highway investments affects decisions at the state, county, and local levels. Read the entire page →
From page 117... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-61 as painters to freshen the appearance of signal posts and other roadside hardware. These treatments potentially help convey the message that a community is resolute in spite of its economic problems. Read the entire page →
From page 118... ... A-62 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Solutions • As part of the permitting process for energy projects, some states have implemented road upgrade fees or required escrow of funds to repair damage caused by energy project construction. Agricultural Vehicle Impacts on Rural Roadways and Bridges Modern agriculture is based around the use of large vehicles such as tractors, crop sprayers, and combine harvesters. Read the entire page →
From page 119... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-63 with high-speed motor vehicle traffic, motorized farm equipment, pedestrians, and sometimes bicycles (Hawkins et al. Read the entire page →
From page 120... ... A-64 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Theme #14: Rural Transportation Safety Community Type and Mode The community types and modes that pertain to this theme are shown in the following tables. Community Type Mode  Beyond the "Lower 48" o (AK, HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, MP) Read the entire page →
From page 121... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-65 Challenges • Lack of funding, personnel, and resources to implement countermeasures • Lack of data to identify frequency and location of crashes Solutions • EDC-5 Rural Roadway Departure Innovation to highlight proven countermeasures • Systemic Safety Practices • FHWA/NHTSA Proven Safety Countermeasures • Local Road Safety Plans • NCHRP Report 500 Series Safety Culture In order to reach zero road fatalities, the safety culture in rural areas needs to change. Safety culture is defined as "the values and beliefs shared among groups of road users and stakeholders that influence their decisions to behave and act in ways that affect road safety" (Center for Health and Safety Culture 2018) Read the entire page →
From page 122... ... A-66 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Solutions • Comprehensive speed management program for rural areas • Variable speed limits to account for weather conditions • Public awareness campaigns • Roadway design challenges (e.g., road diets) Behavioral Interventions Many safety challenges in rural areas are due to road user behavior. Read the entire page →
From page 123... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-67 Solutions • Public transit and ridesharing services • Using information from the Clearinghouse for Older Road User Safety and the Older Driver Design Handbook to account for this growing number of users • Older drivers self-regulate their driving (e.g., familiar routes, daylight, low volumes, etc.) Tribal Transportation Safety The fatality and injury rates for Native Americans and Alaska Natives are higher than those for the nation as a whole. Read the entire page →
From page 124... ... A-68 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Available Research With the rate of fatalities higher on rural roads, safety is a topic that has been greatly studied. However, as noted, there are a lot of subtopics for safety and not all of these topics have been researched in depth. Read the entire page →
From page 125... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-69 Carter, D.L., and F.M. Council. Read the entire page →
From page 126... ... A-70 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap Irani, D., M Siers, C Read the entire page →
From page 127... ... Fourteen Fact Sheets A-71 Schwieterman, J Read the entire page →
From page 128... ... A-72 Rural Transportation Issues: Research Roadmap U.S. Federal Transit Administration. Read the entire page →

From page 57...

... A-1 These fact sheets are working drafts. Due to the breadth of the rural transportation topics, they are not intended to be exhaustive, comprehensive lists, but rather a starting point for facilitated discussions.