The Access Across America series measures accessibility to jobs via various modes of transportation in major metropolitan areas across the United States. As of 2015, work is funded under the National Accessibility Evaluation pooled-fund study.
Accessibility is the ease of reaching valued destinations. It can be measured for various transportation modes, to different types of destinations, and at different times of day. There are a variety of ways to define accessibility, but the number of destinations reachable within a given travel time is the most comprehensible and transparent, as well as the most directly comparable across cities.
St. Croix Crossing bridge under construction (photo credit: HDR).
Overwhelmingly, transportation agencies rely on analyzing vehicle speed and delay to assess projects. Drawing on the case study of the billion-dollar St. Croix Crossing bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin over the St. Croix River, CTS’s Accessibility Observatory argues those measures are no longer enough—changes to land use and value are also essential for decision making. Accountability through Accessibility argues for the use of Accessibility measures in system performance and project prioritization for DOTs, to fully account for their decisions.
Reaching Essential Destinations in Rural Minnesota
April 16, 2025 webinar "Rural Access to Trauma Care from MN State Highways"
In rural communities, access to schools, grocery stores, health care facilities, and other essential services plays a crucial role in economic stability and overall well-being. However, the availability and accessibility of these destinations can vary significantly based on location and transportation options. Research conducted by Accessibility Observatory staff in 2024 and 2025 focuses on access to high schools, grocery stores, and trauma centers across Minnesota.
The Access in Appalachia Pilot Implementation Project explored transportation accessibility within the Appalachian Region, focusing on the ease with which residents can reach essential destinations. Commissioned by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and led by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, this project advanced our understanding of economic development, land use, and transportation infrastructure. It included multimodal access to jobs, health care, education, entertainment, and intermodal freight facilities.
Key findings highlight significant urban-rural divides in accessibility, the impact of land-use planning on economic hubs, and the presence of health care deserts in rural areas. The project aligned with regional state DOTs' missions to enhance mobility and access and aimed to inform statewide decision-making processes.
August 21, 2025, panel "How Being Disconnected is Killing Rural Americans"
In more than 200 mostly rural counties nationwide, residents lack high-speed internet and enough primary care and behavioral health care providers. Often, reliable transportation is a problem as well. That confluence of missing services makes it difficult to get care. In these places, according to an analysis by KFF Health News, people tend to die younger and live sicker lives.
Massachusetts Jobs Access Data Dashboard Massachusetts DOT created a dashboard that displays job accessibility data across the state for use in project scoring.
Trips DC The District DOT built a trip estimation generator for mixed-use developments within Washington, D.C.
Rethinking I-94 MnDOT is using accessibility data to evaluate accessibility as part of its community engagement project.
