Food Access and Food Delivery Service: An Exploratory Study for the Role of Public Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020-2021

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created various economic, environmental, and social challenges, and public transportation was one of the primary and necessary services that were disrupted by the pandemic. Ridership demand decreased dramatically due to lockdown, many people working from home, and people at high risk of infections. In response to the negative impact of the pandemic on the transit agencies' service and food access, many agencies started a food delivery service. This study employed a mixed method approach with two national cross-sectional surveys (quantitative and qualitative) to evaluate food access in transit agencies’ service areas. In addition, the study investigates the negative impact of the pandemic on transit agencies’ operations and services and how the transit agencies responded to this interruption and decreased demand by providing a food delivery service. Results indicated that 57 of surveyed transit agencies provided food delivery years before the pandemic as one of their operational services to meet certain people’s needs. Moreover, the results from both surveys and best practices were promising for better food access and support for the local food system.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=1078
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/62766
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility
  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Al Qublan, Hamad
  • Mattson, Jeremy
  • 0000-0002-0826-5834
  • Hough, Jill
• Publication Date: 2022-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access; COVID-19; Delivery service; Food; Public transit; Surveys
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01851489
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SURTCOM 22-13
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 18 2022 9:25AM