PATH recently took part in “Listening & Storytelling for Inclusive Transit: Understanding Older Adults’ Transportation Needs in Region 10” a project organized by AARP Livable Communities – Technical Advisor Program in collaboration with the members of Charlottesville Area Alliance and MPact Lab.
The initiative set out to collect and amplify the voices of older adults across Region 10 in order to better understand their everyday transportation experiences, challenges, and unmet needs. By sharing these personal stories, the project aimed to humanize transit users, build greater openness to using public transportation among older residents, and identify practical ways to reduce barriers that prevent them from taking advantage of existing transit options.
Meaningful Conversations Across the Region
Throughout the project, PATH and its partners conducted 25 one-on-one interviews and facilitated two focus group sessions, bringing together a total of 23 participants. These conversations provided a unique opportunity for current and potential transit users to share their reflections, experiences, and suggestions regarding transportation in the Charlottesville area and surrounding counties.
Participants spoke candidly about the obstacles they face, such as accessibility issues, limited service hours, and difficulty navigating information systems, as well as the positive impact that reliable transit can have on staying connected to community life.
Shaping the Future of Transit
The findings gathered through these discussions offer valuable guidance for improving transportation systems in Region 10, making them more inclusive and responsive to the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.
A detailed summary of the project’s outcomes, key insights, and recommendations can be found in the final Project Report (PDF).
