Identification of priority areas for inclusive automated vehicle infrastructure investment

Source abstract

Highly automated vehicles (AVs) have the potential to improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities. Planning for AVs requires substantial infrastructure investments, but limited resources make simultaneous upgrades impractical. Understanding how potential mobility gains differ by locations is useful for targeting investments, yet little is known about these differences. To address this gap, this study uses propensity score matching with moderation analysis to examine how built environment characteristics moderate the potential impacts of AVs on trip frequencies of older adults and people with disabilities using two Australian datasets. Findings suggest that potential mobility gains vary by location. Potential mobility gains for people with disabilities are larger in areas with low density, public transport accessibility, diversity, and high cumulative accessibility; whereas those for older adults are greater in areas with high cumulative accessibility and road connectivity. These findings provide guidance for prioritising AV-related infrastructure investments to promote social inclusion.