Increasing Capacity In Rural Communities: Planning for Alternative Transportation

Megan Smith, University of Oregon

Co-investigators:

Summary:

This technology transfer proposal linked service learning with rural multimodal transportation planning through a collaborative partnership between University of Oregon (UO) experiential learning programs and three rural Oregon communities. As this planning and technical support to rural communities occurred, lessons learned were gathered and will support future servicelearning projects focused on transportation planning. The primary products for this project are the: (1) Completion of multimodal transportation planning projects that increase rural community capacity; and (2) a website with resources for communities, faculty and students. Three further outcomes were: (1) Increased capacity for transportation planning in rural communities; (2) Increased capacity in existing transportation planning professionals working in rural communities; and (3) Increased capacity in young planning professional and graduate students. This project was be led by the Community Service Center (CSC) at the UO and engaged two programs of the CSC. Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE), founded in 1994, is a field based service learning program, affiliated with the UO’s Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). Each year RARE places 20 graduate level participants in rural Oregon communities where they live for 11 months while working for local agencies on planning and community development projects. Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an experiential learning program also affiliated with PPPM. Established in 1977, CPW is campusbased, with teams of graduate students working on projects for public and non-profit organizations.

Project Details

Project Type:
Technology Transfer
Project Status:
Completed
End Date:
December 31,2008
UTC Grant Cycle:
OTREC 2008
UTC Funding:
$50,069