Transportation is the infrastructure of opportunity — it connects people to jobs, healthcare, education and the services they depend on. Comprehensive, accurate, current geospatial data has become a critical tool for the planning that makes that access real and equitable.
What accessibility means
The US Department of Transportation defines transportation accessibility as the ability of all people to reach the destinations they need, with a clear emphasis on equity and non-discrimination. Yet inaccessibility remains widespread: USDOT research found nearly a quarter of transit stations nationwide reported as inaccessible, compounded by missing or inadequate sidewalk infrastructure.
Where GIS helps
Detailed geospatial data is essential to closing that gap — but many MPOs and DOTs struggle to obtain and maintain it. With AI-extracted layers of sidewalks, crossings, kerb ramps and transit access, agencies can evaluate infrastructure objectively and target the interventions that widen access the most: identifying underserved communities, auditing ADA compliance, planning safer routes and prioritising investment where it counts.
