Practices In Promoting Sustainable Transportation: Bridging The Gaps In Pedestrian Safety, Public Transit Resilience, And Electric Vehicle Adoption

Climate change presents an urgent challenge, with transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting for approximately 30% of total emissions. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that enhances fuel efficiency, promotes alternative fuel types, and reduces vehicle miles traveled (VMT). While advancements in fuel efficiency and electric vehicle (EV) adoption contribute to sustainability, their benefits can be offset by rising VMT, a trend driven by factors such as increasing suburbs/sprawl. Sustainable transportation strategies must therefore integrate both sustainable mobility, which includes fuel efficiency and vehicle technology, and sustainable built environment strategies that focus on VMT reduction through active transportation and transit investments. This research explores three interconnected studies that address key components of sustainable transportation. The first study examines pedestrian safety in rural areas. Safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure is foundational to promoting walking and reducing reliance on automobiles. By identifying safety challenges and potential interventions, this research supports the broader objective of increasing non-motorized transport as a viable alternative. The second study assesses the resilience of public transit systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Transit plays a crucial role in reducing VMT by offering an efficient alternative to personal vehicle use, yet ridership declines and service disruptions during the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the system. This study seeks to understand how transit agencies responded to these challenges and to identify strategies for strengthening transit resilience, ensuring that public transit remains a viable component of sustainable urban mobility. The third study investigates the equitable adoption of EVs by addressing barriers to home charging. As EVs play an increasingly vital role in reducing GHG emissions, disparities in access to charging infrastructure could limit their widespread adoption. This research explores the financial and spatial constraints that hinder home EV charging and EV adoption and examines potential policy interventions to support a the transition toward electrified transportation. Together, these studies offer a holistic perspective on sustainable transportation by addressing pedestrian safety, public transit resilience, and EV adoption. By integrating insights from these three areas, this research provides valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and transportation professionals working to enhance access to sustainable transportation systems. Ultimately, these findings contribute to shaping a future where transportation systems effectively balance environmental responsibility, accessibility, and resilience.