Improving Public Transit Accessibility by Leveraging Emerging Multimodal Mobility Options

69A3551747111The rapid growth of new transportation options in the United States has been met with increasing use of these expanded modes of transportation in conjunction with traditional mass transit. However, current engineering models of mass transit systems do not reflect these trends. Existing models tend to (1) only consider traditional public transit (e.g., fix-route buses), and (2) model choices and accessibility for a representative user, with inadequate attention paid to the choices and trade-offs faced by vulnerable populations. The proposed work will advance fundamental knowledge in transportation network modeling by incorporating emerging mobility options, such as shared mobility services, micro-transit, and micro-mobility. This project will develop models, algorithms, and systems used to identify affordable, reliable, and efficient routes that leverage diverse mobility options coupled with conventional mass transit, and ultimately optimize their provisions to low-income populations to improve their accessibility to necessities and essential services