Barriers to Transportation Programs in Rural Areas

Rural communities may face challenges in supporting transportation programs that offer safe, affordable, reliable, convenient, and accessible transportation options. This section provides an overview of barriers to transportation programs in rural communities. For more information about considerations for implementing transportation programs, see Module 4: Implementation Considerations.

Safety and Infrastructure Issues

Lower population density in rural areas often leads to lower ridership for fixed transit routes and a smaller tax base to fund maintenance and repair of transportation systems. The lack of investment in infrastructure in rural communities coupled with increasing use of rural roads over time has also affected transportation safety. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration estimates that 40% of county roads in rural areas are “inadequate for current travel,” while nearly 50% of bridges over 20 feet long are currently considered “structurally deficient.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reported that in 2021, 41% of road fatalities occurred in rural areas.

Since many rural residents rely on personal automobiles as their main means of transportation, maintenance of rural roads is crucial for daily travel. The quality of existing roadways in rural areas is also of concern. Due to environmental constraints, many rural roads are built from gravel or dirt, which are potential safety hazards. Additionally, the terrain of many rural areas at the state and even local level can vary significantly, with many rural areas having rougher terrain than urban areas. This geographic diversity indicates that no single type of transportation can meet the needs of every rural community.

The frequency of travel on some of these rural roads has increased over the past years as tourism becomes a growing business in the rural U.S. Most of the country's national parks are in rural regions, which draw huge populations each year. In addition, much of the nation's food industry relies on transportation of products long distances on rural roads and highways. The safety and structural integrity of these roads is important to maintain an interconnected transportation system.

Coordination of Programs and Services

With several federal agencies and various local organizations involved in coordinating transportation systems and programs throughout the U.S., coordination of services is important. Rural communities often face challenges related to fragmentation and duplication of services among different programs — such as Medicaid or Veteran's Affairs services — that serve people in the same geographic area. This lack of coordination among local and state agencies can lead to inefficient use of limited resources. Communication between workforce programs continues to be a problem in many rural regions. The National Network for the Transportation Workforce aims to close this gap in communication by serving as a regional coordinating body for transportation workforce programs throughout the country to alleviate this issue.

Distance

Long distances to healthcare services are a barrier for many people living in rural areas and are only getting worse. From 2001 to 2017, the average distance traveled for medical or dental care increased from 15.16 miles to 17.93 miles in rural regions. Those with a personal vehicle can be adversely affected by rising gas prices, making longer trips more expensive. For those without a personal vehicle, traveling long distances can be especially burdensome. People who do not have access to a motor vehicle often have to rely on public transportation services, and destinations are not always located on a public transportation route.

Population Density

Low population density over a large expanse of land defines many rural areas. Only 14% of the population resides in 72% of the U.S. land area, indicating continuous low population density. Regions with low population density face challenges with constructing and maintaining transportation systems due to a smaller pool of local taxpayers to finance transit projects.

Resources to Learn More

Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America's Heartland
Document
Reports on challenges and opportunities of rural transportation in the U.S. Describes the conditions, changes in use, safety, and needed improvements of the nation's road infrastructure and identifies the benefits of good transportation to rural economy and quality of life.
Organization(s): TRIP
Date: 5/2019

Rural Transportation: Challenges and Opportunities
Document
Presents results from a national survey of data collected from state and federal agencies describing the challenges and benefits of rural transportation in relation to health and healthcare. Offers policy interventions focused on transportation services to improve healthcare access and well-being of rural populations.
Author(s): Henning-Smith, C., Evenson, A., Corbett, A., et al.
Organization(s): University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017

Rural Transportation: Unique Considerations
Document
Discusses the importance of rural transportation and its development. Covers the barriers and opportunities found in rural communities, addresses health equity in planning, and role of government in rural transportation initiatives.
Organization(s): Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Date: 2/2019

Transportation and Health in Rural Missouri
Document
Describes the limited availability of transportation options in rural Missouri and the impact it has on health of individuals. Discusses policy and program interventions to address these challenges.
Organization(s): Missouri Foundation for Health
Date: 10/2018