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Many citizens living in rural areas don't have fixed route services available to them. Many citizens living in urban areas may be surrounded by fixed route options, but are unable to access them due to physical or cognitive limitations. The need for coordinated transportation is not limited to a specific socio-economic category, geography or age. Mobility issues are particularly challenging in rural areas. Service areas tend to be much larger than their urban and suburban counterparts. Low residential densities, lack of fixed route transit including commuter rail, and limited medical, employment, therapeutic and other critical destinations result in lengthy average ride lengths/ride times, and lower opportunities to share, or group, riders with similar origins, destinations and travel times. In addition, any federal or state funding formula using a per capita basis puts rural areas at a financial disadvantage. Overall, transportation dollars spent at the national level on rural areas is a fraction of total transportation funding. |