Customizing Transportation Services and Technologies Based on Rural Patient Healthcare Needs

The purpose of this project is to build on previous research to better understand the various linkages between specific comorbidities, lifestyle habits and targeted public transportation-related services and technologies. In addition, the project will demonstrate how these services and technologies can be adapted specifically for rural populations to secure better health outcomes. The primary research methods for this project will be as follows: 1) obtain literature about risk factors for specific comorbidities and lifestyle habits and how they interact with healthcare system access ; 2) use data from the University of Kentucky’s Healthcare’s Center for Clinical and Translational Studies and other Southeastern health systems to create a panel analysis of health outcomes based on University of Kentucky’s patient surveys, lifestyle habits, known comorbidities and diagnoses, and patient histories; 3) review materials as needed to determine best practices and synthesize findings for transportation-based support for specific medical conditions for rural residents; and 4) work with technology transfer programs and other stakeholders to develop a tool and/or outreach materials based on project findings for technology transfer professionals to improve transportation efficiency, technology and system innovation in trainings for transit and healthcare providers. The goal is to help both health and transportation providers to implement customizable healthcare mobility strategies based on their logistical capacity and patient needs.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.cr2c2.com/research/major-research-initiatives/mri-1/project-1-2-2
• Supplemental Notes:
  • None

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $333,375.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348304

• 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 Regional and Rural Connected Communities

  North Carolina A&T State University
  Greensboro, NC  United States  27411

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center
  College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Project Managers:

  Martin, Andrew

  Leaven Johnson, Laquanda

  Lidbe, Abhay

  Zhang, Zihe

  Kaisar, Evangelos

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center
  College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281

  North Carolina A&T State University

  1601 E. Market Street
  Greensboro, NC  United States  27411

  University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

  Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
  P.O. Box 870205
  Tuscaloosa, AL  United States  35487-0205

  Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

  Boca Raton, FL  United States  33431
• Principal Investigators:

  Martin, Andrew

  Leaven Johnson, Laquanda

  Lidbe, Abhay

  Zhang, Zihe

  Kaisar, Evangelos I

• Start Date: 20251201
• Expected Completion Date: 20270731
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic impacts; Health care services; Public health; Rural transportation; Transportation planning
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01980903
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348304
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 23 2026 2:19PM