Date Approved

9-29-2022

Embargo Period

10-2-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S. Civil Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

College

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

Advisor

Mohammad Jalayer, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Yusuf Mehta, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Mahbubur Meenar, Ph.D.

Subject(s)

Local transit accessibility; Transportation--Camden, New Jersey

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Transportation Engineering

Abstract

The first/last mile (FLM) is defined as the distance a transiting person should complete before boarding or after alighting at a transit station. The FLM trip is one of the major barriers to access transit, which significantly affects individuals' accessibility to critical services. Specifically, this is prevalent in underserved communities in which public transportation constitutes the major mode of travel. As a case study, the current study discusses the FLM barriers in Camden City, NJ. The study comprehensively reviews the existing literature of the FLM practice to identify the lessons learned from previously conducted plans and programs. To supplement the theoretical knowledge from the literature review, interviews with selected transportation agencies implementing studies on the FLM were performed. A thorough data inventory for Camden City was conducted to understand the city components, including demography, transportation, services (health, education, work), and other aspects. Accordingly, an advisory board was formed to facilitate data accessibility for the city. To expand the current understanding of FLM transit in the study area, robust community engagement activities (surveys and stakeholder meetings) were conducted to obtain insights from Camden's residents. This study concludes with an evaluation of the FLM barriers in the study area and provides recommendations for a rigorous FLM solution plan that can be replicated in other underserved regions.

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