Strengthening Access to NC Ferries to Support Coastal Community Resiliency, Health, and Mobility

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This plan investigates barriers to multimodal access at ferry terminals in coastal North Carolina, focusing on how transportation infrastructure, service gaps, and demographic vulnerabilities shape mobility for rural communities. Using county-level demographic analysis, ferry terminal site evaluations, and plan content review, the project identifies challenges including limited transit integration, poor pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and high dependence on private vehicles. Developed as part of a broader research effort led by the UNC Highway Safety Research Center for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, this project provides targeted recommendations for improving terminal facilities, expanding mobility services, and integrating multimodal access into future transportation planning. By highlighting the role of first- and last-mile barriers, the findings offer insights for planners and policymakers seeking to strengthen rural mobility networks and better support underserved coastal populations.</span>