The lack of accessible transportation is consistently one of the most highly-rated problems facing people with disabilities living in rural communities and those who serve them. We conducted a series of studies to assess the use of Section 5310 of the Transportation Act for providing transportation in rural communities. We found that the Federal transportation programs allocate disproportionately fewer funds to rural areas than to urban areas. In another study, however, states used Section 5310 funds to create and sustain rural and suburban transportation programs. We also analyzed all state management plans and found that rural communities followed four pathways to develop local transportation services. Throughout these studies, we make specific recommendations for policy revision and practice.
- Project dates: 2004-2011
- Funded by: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant No. H133B70017, H133B030501, H133B080023
- Principal staff: Alexandra Enders, Tom Seekins, Ph.D., Grace Silvia
- Related projects:
- Assess the Potential Involvement of Rural Faith-Based Organizations in Providing Community Transportation for People with Disabilities
- Develop and Evaluate a Voucher System for Increasing Access to Transportation for People with Disabilities Living in Rural Areas
- Transportation and the American Time Use Survey
Links to Publications Available on UMScholarWorks:
A Review of FTA Section 5310 Program’s State Management Plans: A Legacy Program in Transition
Filling the Gaps in Accessible Transportation
Models of Rural Transportation for People with Disabilities
Progress Toward Equity in Rural Transportation: An Update on SAFETEA-LU
The New Freedom Initiative Transportation Program
Transportation’s Section 5310: Where are We Going?
Use of Section 5310 Transportation Resources in Urban and Rural America: A Baseline Assessment
What is Unavailable, Insufficient, or Inappropriate Transportation?
Links to Scholarly Articles and Abstracts:
Allocation and Use of Section 5310 Funds In Urban and Rural America