Nationwide Transit Accessibility Analysis Using Real-Life Data

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM MT

Primary Author(s)

Pratham Aggarwal

Undergraduate Student Assistant
Fresno State Transportation Institute
Fresno, CA, United States

Presenter(s)

Pratham Aggarwal

Undergraduate Student Assistant
Fresno State Transportation Institute
Fresno, CA, United States

Co-Author(s)

Kent Klann

Research Assistant
Fresno State Transportation Institute
Fresno, CA, United States
MD

Mathias Duque, n/a

Student
Fresno State
Fresno, California, United States
AM

Aly Mahmoud, n/a

To be filled
to be filled
Fresno, California, United States
Aly M. Tawfik, PTP

Associate Professor
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, CA, United States

Submitter(s)

Pratham Aggarwal

Undergraduate Student Assistant
Fresno State Transportation Institute
Fresno, CA, United States

Abstract: Public transportation plays a crucial role in serving the mobility needs of different populations everywhere, yet transit accessibility often varies by location and regional factors. Building on previous work, this research project undertakes a nationwide evaluation of transit accessibility, leveraging Python and APIs to streamline the process of computing transit accessibility using real-life data. We gathered real-time transit data for millions of addresses across all counties in the US, calculating key metrics such as transit travel times, walking distances and times, and transit-to-driving travel time ratios. Python and essential libraries were extensively used to automate geocoding, place search, directions, and data processing, allowing for an efficient, data-rich approach to measuring and comparing transit accessibility nationwide. The research project highlights how disparities in transit travel times versus driving times vary by location across the nation.
Initial findings reflect trends observed in smaller-scale studies: transit travel times remain substantially longer than driving times in most regions. These ratios, combined with other accessibility indicators, underscore significant gaps in transit efficiency that may hinder public willingness to shift from personal vehicles to public transit. By providing detailed insights into these accessibility disparities, this research project offers valuable real-time data to make policies that aim to improve transit reliability, encouraging more sustainable transportation options nationwide.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:

Identify and analyze key metrics of transit accessibility, including travel times, walking distances, and transit-to-driving travel time ratios, at the nationwide level.
Understand the disparities in transit accessibility across different U.S. regions, recognizing how these impact transit efficiency and public transit usage.
Utilize data-driven insights to inform policies that enhance transit reliability and promote sustainable transportation options across the whole nation.