Enhancing Rural Public Transportation Through Community Engagement and Technology

Rural public transportation in the United States faces persistent challenges due to low population densities, inadequate infrastructure, and limited mobility options. This project aims to address these issues by leveraging advanced technologies, including digital twins and mobile applications, to enhance transit planning, scheduling, and efficiency. The study will focus on rural Texas, exploring innovative transportation models that incorporate a mix of fixed-route transit, autonomous vehicles, transportation network companies, and on-demand services tailored to meet community needs. A key component of the project is the development of a digital twin, a virtual representation of the rural transportation network, to simulate and optimize transit operations. By integrating real-time data from mobile platforms, the digital twin will enable planners to test different service configurations, predict ridership patterns, and enhance accessibility, particularly for older adults and individuals with disabilities. This approach will facilitate cost-effective, demand-responsive transit solutions that enhance mobility and improve quality of life. Community engagement is central to the project, ensuring that transportation solutions align with the needs of residents. Public meetings and stakeholder discussions will guide decision-making, while performance metrics, including user adoption, service coverage, and cost efficiency, will assess the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. The outcomes of this study will provide a replicable framework for rural mobility solutions, demonstrating how digital tools and participatory planning can transform public transit systems in rural and low-density areas.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $100,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348329

• 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:

  Center for Efficient Mobility

  1111 Rellis Parkway
  Bryan, Texas  United States  77807
• Project Managers:

  Ocon, Monica

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Sanchez, Tom

• Start Date: 20250601
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Source Data: 02-11-TTI

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Digital twins; Public participation; Real time information; Rural transit; Transportation planning
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01976231
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348329
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 13 2026 3:14PM