Improving Livability: Identifying Operational and Access Barriers to Active Transportation in Connecticut Communities

"Improving Livability" is a comprehensive research initiative focused on identifying and addressing disparities in walking and biking conditions across Connecticut communities. The project is motivated by rising pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, often tied to historical development patterns and uneven infrastructure investment. This research will include a literature review and data analysis to examine differences in transportation safety related to factors such as race, ethnicity, and income. It will assess variations in access to safe infrastructure for active transportation and develop methods to evaluate safety outcomes, accounting for both reported and underreported incidents. The project includes two phases: the first involves gathering and preparing data using crash records, U.S. Census demographic information, and land use data; the second phase, proposed for Year 2, will develop econometric models to identify key influences on pedestrian and cyclist safety and create a risk index to highlight high-risk areas in Connecticut. The project will provide practical insights for planners and other stakeholders, including toolkits and strategies to improve mobility and safety. Graduate research assistants will support the work, gaining experience while contributing to the project’s overall goal of making active transportation safer and more reliable for all communities.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Active
  • Funding: $119000
  • Contract Numbers:

    69A3552348301

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

    University Transportation Centers Program
    Department of Transportation
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Managing Organizations:

    University of Massachusetts, Amherst

    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    130 Natural Resources Road
    Amherst, MA  United States  01003
  • Performing Organizations:

    University of Connecticut, Storrs

    Connecticut Transportation Institute
    270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
    Storrs, CT  United States  06269-5202
  • Principal Investigators:

    Chacon-Hurtado, Davis

    Ivan, John

    Shirani, Niloufar

  • Start Date: 20240101
  • Expected Completion Date: 20251231
  • Actual Completion Date: 0
  • USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
  • Subprogram: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01904669
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
  • Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
  • Files: UTC, RIP
  • Created Date: Jan 16 2024 12:18PM