An empty bus stop on a sunny day, rural public transportation. (By evannovostro for Adobe Stock)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently awarded Florida A&M University (FAMU) $2.97 million in research funding to establish the Mobility Equity Research Center at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
This new initiative, titled Advancing Community-Centric Equitable Systems and Solutions in Mobility (ACCESS-M), is part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to expand accessibility and mobility for underserved communities.
This first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to support communities that face transportation challenges, including people with disabilities, older Americans, Tribal Nations, and rural and disadvantaged populations. The center’s mission aligns with USDOT’s goal of enhancing transportation equity by addressing barriers limiting mobility and accessibility.
“By focusing on the root causes of transportation inequity, we aim to deliver actionable, research-driven solutions.” – Yanshuo Sun, ACCESS-M Lead Researcher
Led by Yanshuo Sun, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, the research center will focus on identifying innovative solutions to empower transportation-disadvantaged individuals and communities. ACCESS-M is grounded in the principle that limited transportation access often leads to poor health outcomes, reduced social engagement, and a lower quality of life, especially for marginalized groups.
The main objective of ACCESS-M is to eliminate these mobility disparities through cutting-edge research and effective community engagement.
“By focusing on the root causes of transportation inequity, we aim to deliver actionable, research-driven solutions,” Sun said.
Collaborative Effort to Drive Change
The joint college leads this initiative in collaboration with three other prominent academic institutions: Arizona State University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Utah. In addition, the project will receive support from a network of community partners, including the Zephyr Foundation, the City of Dallas, TX, and IT Curves, a transportation technology company based in Gaithersburg, MD.
“Mobility and accessibility are at the core of good transportation, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring these values are upheld for people of every age, ability and location,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will help develop solutions that improve mobility and accessibility in communities nationwide.”
Three-Pronged Research Approach
The Mobility Equity Research Center will address transportation challenges through a three-pronged approach, focusing on policy, technology and operations. This core research strategy will allow the center to develop comprehensive solutions that can be implemented across diverse regions and communities.
“Now is the time to ensure our research and technology investments are used to better serve the communities that need it most,” said Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Science Officer at USDOT. “This award will drive innovation to address the nation’s inequities in transportation access.”
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering’s Unique Role
The USDOT grant establishes the Mobility Equity Research Center at the joint engineering college for Florida A&M University and Florida State University (FSU), the only shared engineering program of its kind in the nation. This award positions the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering as a national leader in mobility equity research, focusing on improving transportation infrastructure for historically underserved communities.
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