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Town of Chapel Hill (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Transportation Systems Change
└ Transportation Systems Change
Frequent crashes on high-injury corridors put pedestrians, especially older adults, at risk when walking to transit or community centers. To address this, the town piloted traffic calming measures including modular refuge islands, a traffic circle and a chicane near key locations. It also hosted a Vision Zero Community Safety Festival and outreach events to educate residents and gather input. These efforts improved safety and accessibility, energized community engagement and accelerated adoption of an updated Traffic Calming Policy, laying the foundation for broader Vision Zero initiatives.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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McLoud, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older adults in the tribe faced isolation and limited mobility in a rural area with few transportation options. To reconnect tribal elders with cultural traditions and community life, the tribe organized trips, including transportation for 52 participants to the Meskwaki Powwow and a community viewing of Killers of the Flower Moon. These events revived cherished traditions and strengthened social ties. "Without this... I would not have been able to take a trip and see my old friends in Iowa," one elder said. The project prompted policy changes to fund future trips and inspired similar efforts by neighboring tribes.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Long Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older adults in Long Beach faced severe transportation barriers that kept many from medical care and social programs, deepening isolation after the pandemic. The Healthy Aging Center provided more than 1,000 free taxi rides for appointments, pharmacies and grocery trips, helping residents regain independence and reconnect with community resources. "This program brought me back to life... getting out of the house again after staying at home these past few years has been a blessing," said one participant. The service also improved compliance with health plans and sparked advocacy for sustainable transportation options.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Cincinnati, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Transportation barriers limit independence for older adults in southwestern Ohio. To improve access, COA launched the Passenger Portal, enabling online trip booking and management. The rollout included tutorial videos, a direct mail campaign to 35,000 residents and five outreach events. Early adoption brought 61 registered users and 187 free rides. One caller shared how the service let her brother join Thanksgiving dinner, calling it a "sense of independence" that strengthened family ties. The portal now offers a lasting tool for autonomy and efficiency in specialized transportation.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Orange County, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Many bus stops in rural Orange County lacked shelters or a place to sit. To address this, the Orange County Department on Aging worked with the county's public transportation department to install new seats at 15 bus stops. Designed to maximize space at stops without enough room for a transit shelter, the seats accommodate two people and are attached to the bus stop sign. Project organizers say the seats increase accessibility in rural parts of the county, where no bus stop sign was in place. Following installation of the seats, the public transportation department committed to building permanent bus shelters in high-traffic, rural areas.
Durham, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Pedestrian Safety
Description: Bike Durham addressed a longstanding safety challenge on a downtown corridor where older adults and other residents faced fast traffic and limited protection while walking or biking. The Move-A-Bull City Open Streets event closed the route to cars and showed people what safer design looks like, including protected intersections and shorter crossings. Seven themed zones offered wellness activities, demonstrations and places to safely try new ways of moving through the city. The event prompted stronger support for traffic calming and protected lanes and helped residents imagine permanent improvements. Many left wanting more frequent Open Streets days, showing how powerful the experience felt.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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