# U-M dashboard: none of 99 top US transit systems rate high on all four accessibility areas

- Published: 2026-11-13 13:34 UTC
- Section: Power & Energy › Transport
- Tags: public transit accessibility, riders with disabilities, 99 transit systems, 85 US cities, Erica Twardzik, inclusive mobility, transit data
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-14e565f1bb26e3f9b59deb2f_u_m_dashboard/

**University of Michigan researchers built a national dashboard that rates 99 public transit systems in 85 cities for riders with disabilities across four areas of accessibility.**

![U-M dashboard: none of 99 top US transit systems rate high on all four accessibility areas](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/c6897371a896c7b3.jpg)
*byeangel from Tsingtao, China, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0*

The University of Michigan has developed a national database, the U-M Public Transit Accessibility Dashboard, according to newswise.com. It shows that none of the top 99 federally funded public transportation systems in the United States rated high on all measures of accessibility for people with disabilities. [1] The dashboard evaluates 99 transit systems across 85 cities. [1]

Erica Twardzik, assistant professor at the U-M School of Kinesiology and director of the Center for Inclusive Mobility Environments, is the first author of the study behind the project. She said data on the accessibility of U.S. public transit has been sparse, not integrated nationally and rarely communicated in plain language. [1]

## Four areas of assessment

The dashboard scores each system in four areas: adjacency, availability, affordability and acceptability. [1] Adjacency means transit is nearby and can reach many destinations. Availability is the frequency of service relative to demand. Affordability is measured as average fare revenue per trip. Acceptability is how comfortable riders are with the provider. [1]

Together, these areas cover the travel experience from finding information on a website to reaching a destination. [1] Twardzik said that for a rider with a disability, one barrier can make the entire trip impossible, so the tool looks beyond single features such as ramps or elevators. [1]

## City rankings and design

The highest-performing cities overall were Washington, D.C.; Phoenix; and San Diego. The lowest-performing were Hampton, Virginia; Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Anchorage, Alaska. [1] Top-ranked cities performed well across several measures, while the lowest-ranked performed poorly in one or more areas. [1] The overall status, ranging from optimal to inadequate, reflects the weakest link in the public transportation experience. [1]

Among three Michigan cities examined, Grand Rapids ranked 39th of 85, Detroit 50th and Flint 71st. [1]

The dashboard was developed with input from disabled riders, community advocates, researchers and other stakeholders. Their feedback shaped features that let users compare cities, view maps and download data. [1] Twardzik said advocates, researchers and transit agencies can use the data to push for improvements, and that every city has room for improvement. [1]

## Sources

1. [newswise.com](https://www.newswise.com/articles/riders-with-disabilities-face-roadblocks-when-finding-public-transportation)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-14e565f1bb26e3f9b59deb2f_u_m_dashboard/