Population Considerations for Rural Transportation Programs

Some populations may be disproportionately affected by transportation barriers in rural communities. These include older adults, veterans, tribal populations, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes. Rural programs will need to consider the unique needs of these populations when implementing transportation programs. For an overview of considerations for implementing transportation programs, see Module 4: Implementation Considerations.

Older Adults

Older adults in rural areas primarily use personal automobiles for transportation and take most of their trips either as the driver or passenger. Older adults may outlive their ability to drive, which reduces their ability to travel when, where, and how they want to go. Access to transportation options help older adults maintain their health, safety, mobility, and independence.

Beyond driving, transportation options for older adults vary by geographic location, among other factors. Fixed route public transportation is limited in rural communities and may or may not meet the needs of all older adults. For example, limited schedules, inconvenient pick-up locations, and long wait times may prevent older adults from using fixed route services. Additionally, some programs provide transportation for older adults to healthcare visits, but not other locations, such as stores, employment, recreation, or social activities. Volunteer transportation programs often provide support for older adults who need assistance with packages or seat belts, or who require door-to-door or door-through-door services. Volunteer driver programs such as ITNCountry can increase access to transportation for older adults.

Veterans

Many American veterans live in rural areas. Long distances to Veterans Health Administration facilities can be a barrier preventing some rural veterans from accessing healthcare and human services. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) to help veterans travel to VA facilities. The VTP includes the Highly Rural Transportation Grants, which provide funds for transportation services in sparsely-populated counties.

Tribal Populations

Roads on tribal reservations and lands, as well as Alaska Native villages, are important to quality of life and access to care, employment, and education. Despite this, many tribal roads are underdeveloped when compared to other public road networks in the nation. Most roads in the tribal transportation system are composed of “unimproved earth and gravel,” and approximately one quarter of bridges in the system are structurally deficient. These road conditions pose safety concerns for tribal populations and limit opportunities for economic expansion.

Funding for transportation in tribal areas may require complex planning and coordination processes. Tribal transportation planning involves collaboration between sovereign tribal governments and national agencies, like the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) provides funding to address the transportation needs of federally recognized tribes.

People with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seeks to ensure that all people with disabilities have access to safe, accessible transportation services. Rural populations with disabilities often face additional barriers to accessing transportation than those without disabilities. For example, some disabilities can prevent individuals from driving a personal automobile or accessing fixed-route transportation systems if vehicles are not adapted to meet their needs. Transportation barriers can prevent rural populations with disabilities from receiving necessary health and human services and participating fully in society.

People with Low Incomes

A lack of transportation can prevent people who live in rural communities from accessing employment opportunities and programs designed to alleviate poverty. Access to public transportation can be important for families with low incomes because it may reduce transportation-related expenses for the household, and particularly important for those families that do not own a car.

Resources to Learn More

Loneliness and Social Networks for Older Adults in Rural Communities: A Narrative Synthesis Systematic Review
Document
Outlines the need for better transportation and social support systems for older adults in rural areas due to the positive benefits both can provide on cognitive behavior.
Author(s): Hussain, B., Mirza, M., Baines, R., et al.
Organization(s): Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1113864
Date: 5/2023

Best Practices for Tribal Participation in Transportation Planning and Programming
Document
Presents case studies of tribal transportation systems created and implemented in a variety of settings. Describes their best practices and how they can be integrated into other systems. Contains references and checklists for groups interested in building or enhancing existing tribal transit systems.
Organization(s): CTC & Associates LLC
Date: 4/2018