Innovations in Mobility: Research and examples presentation from September 20, 2021 Rural and Small Urban Mobility Innovations Workshop hosted by NADO Research Foundation, Montana State University Western Transportation Institute, and National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP).

1. Innovations in Rural Mobility

2. Topic Areas
1) Elements to Support Walking & Biking
2) Door County, Wisconsin: Mobility-on-
Demand
3) Deep East Texas Council of
Governments’ Transportation Voucher
Program

3. Source
• Part of an on-going University Transportation
Center (UTC) research study, Case Studies of
Communities of Less Than 10,000 People with
Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrastructure.
• Findings (by February of 2022):
https://westerntransportationinstitute.org/researc
h_projects/case-studies-of-communities-of-less-
than-10000-people-with-bicycle-pedestrian-
infrastructure/

4. Elements to Support Walking &
Biking
• Roadway Crossings
• Bridges for Non-Motorized Travel
• Curb Extensions
• Parklets/Pocket Parks
• Non-Motorized Cut Throughs
• Demonstration Projects
• Art/Murals
• Walking Tours

5. Roadway Crossings
Pelican Rapids, MN
Pipestone, MN
Calvert City, KY

6. Bridges for Non-Motorized Travel
Corbin, KY
Arcadia, FL
Pelican Rapids,
MN
Wilder, VT

7. Curb Extensions
Arcadia, FL Arcadia, FL

8. Parklets/Pocket Parks
Morrisville, VT
White
River
Junction,
VT
Morehead, KY
Corbin, KY

9. Non-Motorized Cut Throughs
Pipestone, MN
Pipestone, MN

10. Demonstration Projects
Pipestone, MN
Pipestone, MN

11. Art/Murals
Fair Haven, VT
Pelican Rapids, MN
Pelican Rapids,
MN
Pipestone, MN Corbin, KY
Corbin, KY

12. Walking Tours
Morehead, KY
Morrisville, VT
Morehead, KY;
downtown
walking trail
Morehead, KY

13. Door County
• A case study within a report currently
under review, Emerging Technologies and
Opportunities for Improved Mobility and
Safety for Rural Areas

14. Door County’s Mobility-on-
Demand
• As early as 1998, transportation was identified as a
critical need
• Door-Tran is an overarching mobility-and-demand
provider coordinating a network of programs

15. Transportation Services
• Door2Door: an on-demand, shared ride service operated by the county, has
wheelchair-accessible vans. It provides rides in five zones across the peninsula, and
fares are based on the number of zones traveled through.
• ADRC bus: The Door County Aging and Disability Resource Center
(ADRC) bus is also operated by the county. It is a demand response service geared
toward serving older adults, but it is being rebranded for broader public use.
• Connector buses: comprise a private, regularly scheduled fixed-route
service from six small communities to the City of Sturgeon Bay. This service is
designed for and primarily serves clients of a nonprofit organization for people with
special needs.

16. Transportation Services
 Half-price voucher program: allows users to buy discounted
rides with private transportation vendors like cabs and shuttles.
 Half-price gas program: designed to assist financially at-risk
people with personal transportation costs so they can continue to travel to their jobs.
 Vehicle purchase/repair loan program: provides short-
term loans of up to $3,000 for low-income residents who need support to drive to
school or work.
• Volunteer driver program: provides rides to medical
appointments and other essential needs for residents regardless of income. Another
program with volunteer drivers provides rides for veterans to the Veterans
Administration hospital.

17. Transportation Voucher
Program
• More information about the Deep East Texas
Council of Governments (DETCOG)
Transportation Voucher Program can be found
here:
https://westerntransportationinstitute.org/researc
h_projects/nado-usda-deep-east-texas-voucher-
system/

18. Why a Transportation Voucher
Program?
• Funding sources would not provide transportation for
people to get to places for basic needs (i.e. grocery
store, bank, post office) and for social visits.
• People were living in a transportation desert

19. Transportation Voucher
Program Details
• 60 years or older
• Maximum of $150/month ($1800/yr)
• Targeted 40 participants
• 5 county focus (Jasper, Newton, San
Augustine, Sabine, Tyler)
• Trips can be used for:
– Medical appointments, grocery stores,
personal care appointments, bank, post office

20. Trip Purpose