Project description

Disadvantaged, low-income, rural, and tribal communities, often collectively referred to as underserved or priority populations, have less access to transportation infrastructure, face more barriers in getting around, and are underrepresented in the transition to sustainable and electric transportation. Using results from a California wide questionnaire survey that overrepresents priority populations, we will investigate unmet and suppressed travel needs, whether sustainable transportation can meet those needs, and what policy, practice, and infrastructure interventions can support sustainable transportation in these communities. The research will give insight into communities that are typically not included in large numbers in travel surveys, which means their transportation needs, unmet and suppressed travel needs, and any barriers they face in adopting sustainable transportation are as not well understood in quantitative research. The results will inform policy, practice, and infrastructure programs that aim to create a more equitable and just transportation system by providing insight on the nature of unmet and suppressed travel, including types of destinations (e.g., work, education, health) populations cannot access or have difficulties in accessing, their preferred mode to reach that location, and whether sustainable transportation can meet these unmet needs (in addition to meeting currently met needs).