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Closing the Gap: A Comparative Study of Transportation Accessibility for Adults with Disabilities in Urban and Rural California - This research addresses the critical issue of transportation accessibility for individuals with disabilities in both urban and rural settings. Approximately 25.5 million Americans with disabilities face significant barriers to travel outside their homes, impacting essential aspects of life such as healthcare, employment, housing, and social interactions. Despite the prevalence of disabilities, there is little research on the challenges faced by these individuals, particularly in considering the difference in accessibility in urban and rural settings. This research aims to understand the constraints on travel for those with disabilities and their consequences. People with disabilities – those who have hearing, visual, cognitive, or physical limitations – make fewer trips and travel fewer miles than the general population (Brumbaugh, 2018). We will address the following questions: 1) what is the accessibility gap for populations with disabilities relative to the general population, 2) how do individuals navigate the transportation system, and what needs and challenges do they face, and 3) what are the impacts on social exclusion and well-being? The research will have two parts. The first part will generate accessibility measures to compare the accessibility of those with disabilities with those who do not have mobility constraints. The second part will conduct individual interviews to understand the lived experiences and transportation challenges of those with disabilities including impacts on social exclusion and well-being. The research will be conducted in two California counties, Los Angeles and Tulare, to include a broad range of populations, local geographies, and support services
