Mobility Snapshot: Trends in Rural Transportation Design
Infrastructure is the foundation on which economic growth is built. Maintaining and continuing improvements are key for stability and growth in rural communities.
Rural Communities Face Infrastructure Challenges
As America’s infrastructure continues to age, rural communities and municipalities are recognizing the economic benefits of reinvesting in their roadways, town centers, and historic districts. Many rural communities are eligible to receive state and federal grants to improve overall community mobility, address road safety concerns, and extend access to public transportation.
Building Blocks To Rural Community Infrastructure Design
These transformations do not happen overnight. They first start with basic road widenings, auxiliary lane extensions, intersection and sidewalk improvements, and roadway rehabilitation projects. Oftentimes, the pathway forward can seem overwhelming for a small community. What may seem like small improvements, such as the addition of curbs and gutters, and developing bicycle paths and sidewalk systems are really the building blocks of a stronger foundation for a community to continue to scale.
Grant Funding and Rural Community Resources
With licenses in several states and a highly accredited staff, the ClearCourse team has consulted on a wide variety of project types including state and municipal projects that have included TIA and TAP graWith licenses in several states and a highly accredited staff, the ClearCourse team has designed and consulted on a wide variety of project types including state and municipal projects that have included TIA and TAP grant funding, as well as Locally Administered Projects (LAP) overseen by the Department of Transportation (DOT). In fact, ClearCourse engineers have over 30 years of experience working with rural municipal leaders and government agencies. Our transportation engineers are responsible for designing countless miles of public infrastructure and have led infrastructure improvement projects all throughout the Southeast.
Economic Growth For Rural Communities
Communities investing in road improvements, bicycle paths, specialized public transit programs, sidewalks, and broadband systems are finding themselves well-equipped to see explosive economic activity in the coming years. These resources also help to attract new businesses and talent to these small, yet bustling communities. Rural does not mean a lack of activity. With more residents seeking simpler routines, the need to transform small town Main Streets into vibrant, walkable, community centers is more relevant than ever. These prospering rural communities are demonstrating that it’s possible to provide citizens in rural areas with options to enhance their quality of life, all the while retaining the essence of the ever-so cherished rural lifestyle.
ClearCourse engineers have experience in communities throughout Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia, as well as other parts of the Southeast and east coast.
Infrastructure and Transportation Design Support
At ClearCourse, the goal for every project is to relieve the stress of daily traffic congestion and unsafe commutes for the traveling public. Our approach begins with identifying opportunities to increase overall traffic flow and improve safety. Partnering with ClearCourse allows our clients access to a dynamic support and service network, spanning across a wide range of industry sectors. Such partners include multidisciplinary engineering partners like W&A Engineering, who have an extensive background working with rural communities to address a wide range of infrastructure needs, and Subsurface Utility Engineering experts like GroundHawk, providing crucial utility location and mapping services.
The ClearCourse staff is known for bringing safe and innovative mobility solutions to each project they touch.
PROJECT RESULTS
- The Objective: This project required a road widening design plan that adjusted the alignment of the roadway.
- The Challenge: The community needed to retain as much of the existing roadway as possible within the existing right-of-way.
- The Solution: The engineer introduced curbs and gutters in locations where ditch sections would require additional right-of-way.
- The Benefit: Innovative solutions like these eliminate project challenges that could otherwise result in costly and time-consuming project delays
From road widenings and state route improvements to multi-use paths in rural South Georgia, communities like Columbia County, Georgia are one of many that have benefited from similar upgrades to their infrastructure. For example, as part of one project in Columbia County, the ClearCourse team created a road widening design plan that adjusted the alignment of the roadway to retain as much of the existing roadway as possible within the existing right-of-way. The team also introduced curbs and gutters in locations where ditch sections would require additional right-of-way. Innovative solutions like these eliminate project challenges which could otherwise result in costly and time-consuming project delays. Additionally, a multi-use trail was designed to blend with the adjacent properties and existing terrain. Roundabouts were also considered as an alternative method of effectively improving single-lane intersections and tying in existing sidewalks and proposed pedestrian paths to connect to neighborhoods, new developments, and retail districts.
Innovative Transportation Partnerships
ClearCourse engineers understand the processes and requirements needed to complete successful transportation and pedestrian improvement projects on time and on budget. We lend our expertise to project teams across the Southeast, addressing complex and challenging roadway initiatives every day.
Learn more about our transportation design capabilities and services by visiting the ClearCourse Resource Library. To discover how the ClearCourse team can help your community take the next step towards improving your roadways, please fill out our contact form or contact our team at info@clearcourse-ts.com to schedule a time to chat with one of our experienced transportation engineers.
