Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America’s Heartland

This report looks at transportation challenges in rural America. It begins with a review of the importance of transportation infrastructure to the rural economy. A lack of connectivity between rural communities and the Interstate Highway system is a challenge which negatively impacts economic activity. Rural roads also have safety challenges including high fatality rates and a lack of safety features. Data includes the States with the most fatalities in crashes on non-Interstate, rural roads and number of fatalities on rural, non-Interstate roads from 2005 to 2012. Possible safety improvements for rural roads are outlined based on costs. Poor road conditions are also a safety factor and data includes percentage of poor roads by State and percentage of structurally deficient bridges by State. The report concludes with suggestions to improve connectivity, traffic safety, and road and bridge conditions.

• Record URL:
  http://www.tripnet.org/docs/Rural_Roads_TRIP_Report_July_2014.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  TRIP

  3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 208
  Washington, DC  United States  20008
• Publication Date: 2014-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 39p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Economic impacts; Fatalities; Highway maintenance; Highway safety; Rural areas; Rural highways; States; Traffic crashes
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01539459
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 2014 9:56AM