PLANNING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED: A CLASSIFICATION OF USER GROUPS

Existing services for the transportation disadvantaged in the United States are fragmented among several providers which often do not account for the diversity of the disadvantaged population. A subdivision of the disadvantaged based upon their transportation needs is a necessary starting point for developing coordinated plans that meet the spirit of recent federal guidelines in a cost-effective manner. An alternative approach to client definition is offered which is based upon matching the characteristics of transportation service to the transportation needs of the disadvantaged. Because increasing numbers of persons drive an automobile, its availability is a primary consideration of the classification. Financial condition of the individual is considered to affect individuals who cannot afford an automobile. The disadvantaged may be further subdivided into those who can use conventional transit without extensive vehicle modification and those who cannot. Next, the availability and levels of service provided by the conventional transit system is examined. There is a small percentage of the disadvantaged population that can only be served by door-through-door service. A continuum of seven user subgroups is determined. The implementation of the proposed classification scheme can be used to plan for transportation services to the disadvantaged and would require inter-agency cooperation and an area-wide census of the disadvantaged.