Overview presentation on mobility in rural America and examples of transportation innovations for smaller areas 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. Agenda
INTRODUCTION
RURAL MOBILITY
MOBILITY EXAMPLES
HANDOUTS

3. Why Rural?

4. Rural Mobility

5. Cost of Mobility
Housing
33%
Transportation
17%
Food
13%
Healthcare
8%
Entertainment
5%
Clothing
3%
Insurance& Pensions
11%
Other
10%
Consumer Spending by Category
Source: 2019 Consumer Expenditures. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Note: In 1917 transportation was 2% of the budget, or the 6th highest expense

6. Cost of Mobility
Annual Cost to Own & Operate a Car
Source: AAA Your Driving Costs 2019 Edition
Annual
Mileage
Small
Sedan
Medium
Sedan
Large
Sedan
Small
SUV
Medium
SUV Minivan Pickup Avg.
10,000 $6,060 $7,487 $8,994 $7,182 $8,743 $8,705 $9,163 $8,048
15,000 $7,114 $8,643 $10,403 $8,394 $10,625 $10,036 $10,839 $9,385
20,000 $8,185 $9,817 $11,836 $9,629 $11,819 $11,389 $12,557 $10,747
Note: Based on 250 working days,
10,000 miles equals 40 miles per day
15,000 miles equals 50 miles per day

7. Are You A One Percenter?
1/24 = 4.2%
x 25%
= 1.05%

8. Where to Start: No Simple Formula
Imagine an improved transit/public
transportation system in the area…
What does that look like?
Who does it serve?

9. Defining Terms
• Feasibility – “capable of being done or carried out”
• Need – “a strong feeling that you must have or do something”
• Necessary – “so important that you must do it or have it”
Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

10. Rural Mobility Examples

11. Active Transportation
Examples

12. Bike Share
• Koloni Bike Share
• Pocahontas, IA (pop. 1,789)
• City managed, hybrid bike share
program
• Refurbished bikes, repaired by local
volunteers
• Rental cost: $2/hr
• Since its formal launch in 2018, has
had avg. 75 riders/month
• Plans to incorporate other types of
bikes (adaptive bikes, e-scooters)
Source: Koloni

13. Bike Libraries
• Allen County Bike Share
• Allen Co., KS (pop. 12,444)
• "Bike Library" model
• Rental cost: FREE – just provide picture ID & sign
a waiver
• Available at 6 locations across 4 neighboring
communities
• Grant funded through BCBS of KS
• Maintained by local bike shop
• Millinocket Memorial Library
• Millinocket, ME (pop. 4,269)
• Bikes, Boats, Skis, Snowshoes – Gear Library
• Offers Bike repairs too Source: Thrive Allen County

14. Greenways/Trail Systems
• Granville Greenways - (Granville Co, NC –
pop. 60,443)
• Partnership between County,
municipalities, and local schools to
create a system of trails
• Adopted Granville County Greenway
Master Plan in 2006
• Proposed 22 trails throughout the County
• Funded by Eat Smart Move More NC
“How can we not love a strong greenway system which offers people a safe way to get around, whether for
transportation or pleasure, using pedal or foot power? Greenways can help preserve our environment and
open spaces and provide a connection to the rural world which is such a big part of Granville County’s
identity. I am hopeful that as the years pass, Granville County will have an exemplary greenway system that will
become a destination for others as well as serve its own residents well.”
Jackie Sergent, Commissioner City of Oxford
Source: Granville Greenways

15. Technology-Focused
Examples

16. Vamos Mobility
•San Joaquin Co., CA (pop. 762,148)
•Stanislaus Co., CA (pop 550,660)
•MaaS smartphone application
•Fixed-routes and connections to dial-
a-ride services
•Future updates - trip reservations,
buy tickets, access other services Source: Vamos

17. HealthTran
• Administered by the Missouri Rural Health
Association
• Goal to reduce missed medical
appointments due to transportation
barriers
• Works with local champions and
community stakeholders to address
mobility needs
• Provides support and coordination to
connect riders with transportation options
including creating a network of volunteer
drivers
Source: HealthTran

18. Vehicle-Based Examples

19. Via Microtransit – Wilson, NC
• Wilson, NM (pop. 49,272)
• Rural microtransit service that
replaced a more traditional
public transit system
• Trips cost a flat fee of $1.50
• Discounted for seniors and
people with a disability
• City has seen significant
mobility improvements
including better service area
coverage across the entire city
and an increase in ridership
Source: Via

20. Green Raiteros - Rideshare
• Electric rideshare program in
rural Huron, CA (pop. 7,288)
• Connects mostly rural Latino and
agricultural families in the
Central Valley to Fresno
• Volunteer drivers (raiteros)
• Riders can book a ride via phone
or at the Green Raiteros office
• Hope to expand the program
with more vehicles and a
smartphone app
Source: EVgo

21. Pelivan Transit
• Curb-to-curb rural transportation
program and tribal transit program in
NE Oklahoma
• Provides service to 7 counties and 10
area tribal jurisdictions
• Service includes employment routes
connecting area cities, a trolley loop,
education routes, and medical routes
• Provided over 172,000 rides in 2017-
2018
• Plans to go green through alternative
fuels
Source: Pelivan Transit

22. Handouts
• Short factsheets providing
descriptions of over 40 rural
mobility examples
• Links for where to find more
information

23. Interactive Mobility Map
Please share your
rural mobility
examples here:
https://bit.ly/35eYjHW

24. Add Your Mark

25. Provide a Short Description

26. Thank you!
David Kack
Executive Director - Western Transportation Institute
Director - Small Urban, Rural and Tribal Center on Mobility
dkack@montana.edu
Karalyn Clouser
Research Associate – Western Transportation Institute
karalyn.clouser@montana.edu