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National Resource
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Description
Carnegie Mellon University's RERC on Physical Access and Transportation empowers consumers, manufacturers, and service providers in the design, utilization, and evaluation of accessible informational services, transportation equipment, and physical environments.
Services Provided
Project activities build upon previous work to leverage emerging information technologies and address the need for customer-driven solutions that can be rapidly implemented and adapted to a wide range of transportation systems. Project outcomes include: (1) enabling technology and universal designs that support independent and efficient multi-modal travel in everyday life, including for employment and social participation; and (2) providing greater professional capacity in the domain of accessible transportation. Research and development activities provide new tools, research findings, guidelines, and products that advance the accessibility of transportation and the first/last mile (the distance between home and the nearest transportation pick-up and drop-off spot). These include: (1) research findings from a deployed, mobile transit information test bed application; (2) knowledge on how emerging transit service delivery models and automated vehicles can address first/last mile challenges; (3) new software for personalized transit information and daily travel planning; and (4) standards and regulations, reference designs, and vehicle interior concepts ready for commercialization by the autonomous vehicle industry. These products are developed with ongoing and extensive input from disability stakeholders, vehicle manufacturers, service providers, and transit agencies.