Insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19 responses on transportation facilities

Boniphace Kutela; Tabitha Combs; Rafael John Mwekh'iga; Neema Langa

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2022.103463

Insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19 responses on transportation facilities

Transp Res D Transp Environ. 2022 Oct:111:103463. doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2022.103463. Epub 2022 Sep 19.

Authors

Boniphace Kutela¹, Tabitha Combs², Rafael John Mwekh'iga³, Neema Langa⁴

Affiliations

¹ Roadway Safety Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 1111 RELLIS Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807, United States.
² Dept. of City & Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
³ Ibra Contractors Limited, P.O.BOX 20881, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁴ Department of Sociology/African American Studies, University of Houston, 3553 Cullen Boulevard, United States.

Abstract

The impacts of COVID-19 on transportation sector have received a substantial research attention, however, less is known about localized COVID-19 responses that provided safe space for mobility and other daily activities. We applied logistic regression and text mining approaches on the Shifting Streets COVID-19 Mobility Dataset to explore the long-term outcomes of the localized responses. We explored the purpose, affected space, function, and implementation approach. We found that responses instituted for economic recovery and public health are less likely to be long-term, while responses meant to improve safety or bicycle/pedestrian mobility are more likely to be long-term. Further, operational or regulatory responses are less likely to be long-term. Additionally, responses affecting curb space are more likely to be long-term than those affecting other right-of-way areas. Text-mining of responses' narratives revealed key patterns for both short-term and long-term outcomes. Study findings showcase the possible design and operations changes during post-COVID-19 era.

Keywords: COVID-19; Long-term impacts; Shifting streets.