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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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Toms River, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older adults in Ocean and Monmouth Counties often miss routine medical care because they cannot drive and lack affordable transportation. The Healthy Hop program tackled this gap by offering free, accessible rides to appointments. In six months, more than 1,000 people enrolled and over 2,100 rides were completed, supported by volunteers and community partners. The effort eased isolation and improved health access while sparking collaboration among local groups. "Thank you so much for getting me to my appointment, I don't know what I would do without you," one participant said, underscoring the program's impact and plans to expand for people with disabilities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Baton Rouge's fragmented transit system left riders and operators without reliable service, forcing older adults and low-income residents to endure long waits and limited access to jobs and resources. The project organized community meetings to unite riders and operators, began developing a regional dashboard for transparency, and launched a video chronicling a day on local transit. Strong turnout and commitments from transit agencies marked a major step toward collaboration, laying the groundwork for a master plan and long-term improvements in service.
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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