Transportation Equity for RITI Communities in Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Environment: Opportunities and Barriers

Sorour, Sameh; Abdel-Rahim, Ahmed; Swoboda-Colberg, Skye; Hassan, Mohamed · 2020 · ROSA P / University of Alaska Fairbanks. Center for Safety Equity in Transportation (CSET)

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Summary

This study addresses the transportation equity challenges facing Rural, Isolated, Tribal, or Indigenous (RITI) communities in Idaho, specifically examining how autonomous and connected vehicle (ACV) technologies can improve safety and mobility. The research was motivated by the rapid deployment of wireless connectivity and vehicle automation, aiming to ensure that RITI populations receive a fair share of safety benefits while identifying barriers that might prevent their full utilization. The primary goal was to document specific safety risks, assess infrastructure and resource constraints, and determine the acceptability of ACV-enabled solutions within these communities. The methodology combined administrative reviews, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and community outreach. Researchers analyzed the administrative structures of Idaho’s five federally recognized Native American Tribes and mapped communication infrastructure using data from the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Census Bureau. To gather qualitative data, the team conducted two focus groups and in-depth interviews with 46 participants, including tribal citizens, officials, and students, facilitated by Native American Student Associations at the University of Idaho and Lewis and Clark State College. These sessions assessed safety needs, barriers to technology adoption, and potential smart mobility applications. The findings revealed significant infrastructure and administrative gaps. None of the five tribes had a dedicated transportation department, though two had Information Technology services. GIS analysis showed that cellular coverage in Idaho ranged from 13% to 58% across major providers, with broadband speeds in RITI areas often falling between 8 and 100 Mbps. Community respondents identified critical safety issues, including the safety of children walking to school (29 respondents), lack of sidewalks (24), inefficient emergency response (24), and unreliable paratransit (19). Major barriers to ACV implementation included a lack of communication infrastructure (34 respondents), the cost of smartphones (34), and difficulties using digital tools, particularly among the elderly (30). Other barriers cited were insufficient electrical power coverage, privacy concerns regarding car-sharing, and a lack of local human resources to support these technologies. Despite these barriers, participants identified several smart mobility opportunities that could enhance community safety and access. High-potential applications included smart shopping (26 respondents), mobility-on-demand services (23), smart paratransit (23), school bus real-time trackers (19), and real-time roadway condition information (17). The study concludes that while ACV technologies offer significant potential for improving safety in RITI communities, widespread implementation requires addressing foundational issues such as communication infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordability. The findings provide federal, state, and tribal agencies with data to guide targeted investments and policy adjustments to ensure equitable access to advanced transportation technologies.

Key finding

Major barriers to autonomous and connected vehicle implementation in RITI communities include lack of communication infrastructure, cost of smartphone use, and challenges for elderly users, while key mobility needs involve school child safety and paratransit reliability.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 46

Provenance

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Topics

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• v2x connected vehicle