Project Description:

In addressing the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and transportation equity, the project aims to repurpose school buses for workforce transportation. This strategy emerges against a backdrop where low-income individuals frequently face limited access to efficient transit options and are more vulnerable to climate change and environmental pollutions. The objective is to reduce dependency on private vehicles and the associated carbon footprint and air pollutions, while broadening job access for these communities. The method involves the strategic rerouting of school buses during off-peak hours to serve as a bridge between home and work. Outcomes of this innovative approach are expected to include a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutions, enhanced access to employment, and the promotion of equitable transportation options within underserved areas. This sustainable mobility model offers a blueprint for communities nationwide to improve transit access while also contributing to broader environmental goals.

US DOT Priorities:

This project supports three US DOT strategies goals as follows:

1. Climate and Sustainability. The proposed mobility solution stands as a significant stride toward the United States' goal of achieving net-zero emissions. By decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution related to commuting, it contributes directly to national efforts to curtail the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the strategy has the potential to deliver pronounced environmental and public health benefits. Low-income communities, which often bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences of climate change and air pollution, could see substantial improvements in air quality and health outcomes as a result of reduced emissions. 
2. Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness. By decreasing the reliance of low-income workers on private vehicles, there are substantial savings in terms of direct car ownership costs and commuting expenses. This shift is likely to alleviate some of the dissatisfaction associated with long commuting distances and the high costs tied to personal vehicle use and provide a reliable public transit option opens up job opportunities for those without access to a car, which could help alleviate labor shortages that many industries are currently facing. Looking to the future, if school buses were to be electrified, we could expect even further savings in fuel and maintenance costs over their operational lives. Such savings could redirect funds towards educational activities, enhancing the quality of education and, subsequently, the workforce. 
3. Equity. The limited access to public transportation within low-income communities contributes significantly to high transportation costs and restricts job opportunities. The proposed solution is poised to address these disparities by improving the accessibility of public transport. With the benefit of GHG emissions and air pollutions reduction, this project also contributes to the health and well-being of those most vulnerable.

Outputs:

This research project is anticipated to yield innovative outputs that stand to revolutionize sustainable transportation practices. The primary result will be a new transportation model that integrates school and work schedules with work shift reschedule and route optimization to enhance the efficiency of bus fleets. Additionally, we will develop cutting-edge algorithms designed for route optimization, taking into account unpredictable and stochastic conditions such as fluctuating traffic patterns and variable travel times. 

The project will produce an extensive database of demonstrating the current commuting patterns, transportation needs, as well as the current commuting environmental impacts with a focus on low-income workers from Central Texas area. The project can also reveal the potential environmental impacts of the proposed innovative transportation strategy. This project will also produce a report detailing the potential challenges for the implementation of this sustainable mobility solution and discuss the necessary actions to overcome the challenges. The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, webinars, workshops, ensuring that the knowledge gained reaches a wide audience.

Outcomes/Impacts:

The transportation model proposed in this research aims to repurpose school buses during their idle hours to serve low-income workers, reducing the reliance on personal vehicles and underutilized public buses. The implementation of this model requires significant policy changes, including clearances for using public assets like school buses, partnerships between private enterprises and school districts, and potentially new regulatory frameworks. The model's success also depends on adapting safety standards and possibly altering vehicle designs to accommodate adult passengers.

The environmental benefits are substantial, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, improved air quality, and public health. The model also addresses transportation equity, improving job accessibility for individuals without personal vehicles, potentially boosting economic prosperity in low-income communities.