Topic Guides

Transportation

• Introduction
• FAQs
• Publications
• Organizations
• Websites & Tools
• Maps
• Funding
• News
• Events
• Success Stories & Lessons Learned
• Terms & Acronyms
• About this Guide

Transportation

Trains, planes, automobiles; to some in urban settings, dependable transportation is a choice, not a concern. However, in rural settings, the availability of transportation is often limited if provided at all. Reliable transportation is critical to helping rural communities and community members remain healthy and productive, it is what binds communities together and supports economic growth. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that 89% of rural residents live within the coverage area of intercity air, bus, ferry, or rail transportation (2010).

Rural residents need to receive medical care, get to work, access child care, purchase food and household items, attend school events, and access many other services just as their urban counterparts. Frequent accessibility is restricted or limited because of the distance to those services or opportunities, and the lack of public and private transportation. Oftentimes, special needs that can be alleviated through medical facilities, social service agencies, and educational programs are forgone because of the distance to be traveled.

Transportation is also a pivotal factor in determining whether the disabled and aged populations are able to remain in their homes and their communities. Enhancing transportation opportunities for a rural community can improve economic growth and community development that will ensure quality of life for residents in rural environments.

Source:
The U.S. Rural Population and Scheduled Intercity Transportation in 2010: A Five-Year Decline in Transportation Access

Contacts

For funding, planning, and technical assistance regarding transportation projects:
Charles A. Rutkowski, Assistant Director
Community Transportation of Association of America
E-mail: rutkowski@ctaa.org
Telephone: 800.891.0590 x719

CTAA Technical Assistance Specialist
800.527.8279 x732

National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)/American Public Works Association
E-mail: nationalrtap@apwa.net
Phone: 202.408.9541

Easter Seals Project ACTION
E-mail: project_action@easterseals.com
Phone: 800.659.6428

United We Ride Technical Assistance Resources
Offers a list of technical assistance agencies.

For assistance in finding local transportation programs and services:
VirtualCAP Community Action State Association Directory

VirtualCAP Local Community Action Agency Directory

National Community Action Foundation
Telephone: 202.842.2092

National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP State Directory)
E-mail: nationalrtap@apwa.net
Phone: 202.408.9541

There are more organizations related to Transportation in the organizations section.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What resources are available to provide operating and capital assistance for public transit services in rural areas?
• What local resources are available to assist my community in planning and developing or expanding public transit services?
• What transportation services can rural communities provide for people with disabilities?
• What federal agencies support human service transportation projects in rural areas?
• What is United We Ride?
• Is there a federal program targeted specifically to assist the transportation needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities?
• Where can I find information about transportation programs in my area that will assist the elderly and the disabled to get to work or to a medical appointment?
• Are there programs or grant opportunities to help tribal communities improve transportation services?
• Can Medicaid or TANF funds be used to subsidize transportation?
• How would a community begin to implement a transportation program to serve the transportation needs of the elderly and the disabled, and rural transportation in general?
• Are there funds that would enable health and social service providers to obtain and operate transportation services?
• Where can I find technical assistance and training programs for the implementation of a transportation service in my area?
• Are there types of accommodations rural transportation providers must support to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
• What is ADA complementary paratransit service and who is eligible?
• How is "disability" defined using the rules of the ADA for purposes of transportation?
• How do the transportation rules of the ADA define "wheelchair?"

Last Reviewed: 11/29/2012