Date of Award:

8-2024

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Patrick Singleton

Committee

Patrick Singleton

Committee

Brent Chamberlain

Committee

Michelle Mekker

Abstract

Nearly 13% of the US population consists of people with disabilities, yet finding an equitable and comprehensive approach to meet their travel needs remains a challenge. Our research delves into the mobility patterns of people with disabilities to understand how their daily travel—both the frequency of trips and the distance covered—compares to those without disabilities. We also explore the factors influencing their travel behaviors and how these insights can guide policymakers in improving accessibility and mobility for this community. Utilizing data from the 2022 US National Household Travel Survey, we applied a blend of statistical analysis and machine learning methods. This approach allowed us to model the travel frequencies of people with disabilities accurately and evaluate the effectiveness of different methods. Our findings highlight significant factors that influence the mobility of people with disabilities and offer a clear direction for policymakers to enhance public transportation and accessibility at essential facilities. By identifying areas with the highest daily trip rates among people with disabilities, our models provide valuable insights for creating more inclusive and accessible transportation systems. This research not only sheds light on the travel behavior of people with disabilities but also paves the way for future studies to further improve their mobility and quality of life.

Checksum

064543675ed4d9f42e62fe548e642377

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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