The Arizona State Transportation Board finalized and approved the 2022-2026 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program with plans for major corridor improvements, pavement upgrades, and more for highways. The next five years will include highway improvements from widening highways to improving safety that will cost $1 billion annually.

To serve the community of individuals with disabilities, many state and local governments and some private companies have established paratransit transportation options. Paratransit transportation is meant to supplement public fixed-route bus and rail systems for individuals with severe impairments. From a taxi-like service to a semi-defined route, paratransit services often have varying levels of flexibility.

An accessible world is crucial for people of all abilities to work, live, and play. However, even in the most progressive cities, people with disabilities struggle to live their lives, which only gets worse in the suburbs and rural areas.

With an estimated one billion people to become urban-dwellers by 2050, many cities recognize the need to shift to more accessibility. Beyond the physical difficulty of navigating city and suburban obstacles, many individuals with disabilities must deal with a level of fear as they try to move through a world that is more or less inaccessible.

One result of population growth within cities is something called urban expansion, which is the unrestricted growth of housing, businesses, and roads without any specific planning. Urban expansion influences cities’ social and environmental dynamics, causing a number of disadvantages, including longer commutes, higher transportation costs, pollution, and loss of countryside.

The Americans with Disability Act outlines the standards required to make a parking lot ADA compliant, specifically when it comes to restriping the parking spots. Over time, the paint in parking lots fades, and it becomes more and more difficult to determine the parking spots. At this point, businesses are required to restripe their parking lot and to ensure that the parking lot is ADA compliant.

When it comes to climate change, the most offending contributor to the increasing carbon emissions is the transportation industry. From cars to trains to planes, Americans love their independence and ability to travel on a whim. Data shows that vehicle miles have increased to 1.58 trillion during the first half of 2018, and researchers believe that airline travel will double over the next two decades.

Traveling with a disability comes with unique opportunities and challenges, often requiring more research to find the best disability travel tips. No one should have to stay home due to a permanent or temporary condition. In fact, accessible travel is on the rise.

The travel industry offers more services and accommodations than ever before to individuals with impairments. With the internet on hand, individuals with disabilities often travel and share their own tips for getting around and exploring the world.

City planners and researchers claim that more and more people are moving into cities, which is contributing to something called urban density. This term refers to the number of people within an urban area. It’s a crucial factor for city planning — understanding how the city is functioning based on economics, health, geography, and sustainability.

An ideal bike pathway is seamlessly incorporated into city infrastructure, easily serving cyclists and pedestrians without hampering motor vehicle traffic. Preferably in bright contrast with its surroundings, this bike pathway stands out from the pavement to provide recognizable traffic patterns that keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.  

Urban planners have explored many options for bike pathways in order to determine the best option for commuters. 

Most people equate tourism to traveling, but the internet has offered a new possibility to wannabe travelers by bringing other countries to your living room and personal device. Companies are experimenting with their offerings and content to share with individuals. So is it possible to travel without traveling?

Digital tourism offers travelers the ability to get an often 360-degree digital tour of the place they want to see in real life without actually going. This is powerful because it opens up a world of possibilities for individuals with mobility issues.

An accessible city benefits all individuals who live, work, and play in that city. This means that the public spaces must be accessible to all, no matter their level of ability. When urban planners design the infrastructure for a city center, several problems and corresponding solutions must be considered to benefit the city as a whole.