USDOT seeks public input on rural transportation initiative

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Dec. 19 issued a request for information to receive feedback from the public and industry stakeholders to help shape the department's Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative.

"We want to hear from rural communities how the Department of Transportation can better support their critical transportation infrastructure," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a press release.

The ROUTES Council will use the responses to guide the evaluation of rural projects and improve funding options, said Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Joel Szabat.

Rural transportation networks are critically important for domestic production and export of agriculture, mining and energy commodities, according to USDOT.

Two-thirds of freight rail originates in rural areas, and nearly half of all truck vehicle-miles-traveled occur on rural roads. Yet rural transportation infrastructure has significant challenges, department officials say.

The ROUTES initiative aims to address the challenges by assisting rural stakeholders to better understand how to access USDOT grants and financing products, and developing data-driven approaches to assess needs and benefits of rural transportation projects.  

The initiative will be coordinated across the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Rail Administration and Federal Aviation Administration.