UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 2 Research Projects

Project Number: CY2-OSU-07
Project Title: Preparedness of Autonomous Transportation in Rural and Tribal Communities
Performing Institution: Oklahoma State University
Principal Investigators: Anirudh Paranjothi and Joshua Q. Li
Proposed Start and End Date: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
Project Description: Rural and Tribal communities in the United States face significant transportation challenges, including limited access, safety concerns, and economic barriers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than half of all rural census tracts rank in the 81st percentile or higher for transportation insecurity. This metric underscores the difficulties individuals in these areas face in consistently, reliably, and safely accessing necessary destinations for their daily lives. Despite only 19% of the U.S. population residing in rural areas, these regions account for 47% of all roadway fatalities and 34% of all public highway-rail grade crossing fatalities, with a fatality rate on rural roads twice that of urban roads. Emergency response times are also more than twice as long in rural areas, and nearly 25% of Americans aged sixty-five and older live in these communities. The advent of autonomous vehicles (AVs) presents an opportunity to address these issues, but their successful integration hinges on a comprehensive understanding of community readiness and infrastructure preparedness.
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