TY - JOUR

T1 - Low volume roadway network improvements and the accessibility of public facilities in rural areas

AU - Zografos, Konstantinos

AU - G Cromley , Robert

PY - 1988

Y1 - 1988

N2 - A very important factor that affects the integrated development of rural areas is the underlying transportation network. An argument is made in this paper that the development and structure of a low-volume roadway network that serves rural areas should be coordinated with the location and accessibility of the socioeconomic services that are provided in those areas. An integrated methodology is introduced to examine the relationship between the development of the roadway network and the location of public services in rural areas. A variety of indices that measure the connectivity of the roadway network and the accessibility of public facilities are introduced. A scheme for rationalizing the improvements in low-volume roadway networks is also presented. Critical roadway segments that contribute more than others to the accessibility of the area are identified, and various improvements are suggested to increase the travel speeds on those road segments. These improvements are then evaluated in regard to the need for more locations for public facilities. The methodology described in this paper is illustrated by a case study that examines the relationship between the location of health care centers and the roadway network in a rural area of Greece. The study shows that improvements in the travel times of crucial roadway segments can reduce the number of health care centers required to serve that area effectively.

AB - A very important factor that affects the integrated development of rural areas is the underlying transportation network. An argument is made in this paper that the development and structure of a low-volume roadway network that serves rural areas should be coordinated with the location and accessibility of the socioeconomic services that are provided in those areas. An integrated methodology is introduced to examine the relationship between the development of the roadway network and the location of public services in rural areas. A variety of indices that measure the connectivity of the roadway network and the accessibility of public facilities are introduced. A scheme for rationalizing the improvements in low-volume roadway networks is also presented. Critical roadway segments that contribute more than others to the accessibility of the area are identified, and various improvements are suggested to increase the travel speeds on those road segments. These improvements are then evaluated in regard to the need for more locations for public facilities. The methodology described in this paper is illustrated by a case study that examines the relationship between the location of health care centers and the roadway network in a rural area of Greece. The study shows that improvements in the travel times of crucial roadway segments can reduce the number of health care centers required to serve that area effectively.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1106

SP - 26

EP - 33

JO - Transportation Research Record

JF - Transportation Research Record

SN - 0361-1981

ER -