E-Mail The routes and schedules of public transit, the presence or absence of sidewalks, the availability of different transportation options, and the design of highways that divide cities--these are examples of aspects of transportation systems that can profoundly impact underserved communities' access to basic needs like jobs, health care, education and even food. A new study by University of Michigan researchers reveals common barriers that transportation decision-makers face in considering these issues and addressing them. To conduct the study, a team from a multidisciplinary project involving engineering, public policy and data science interviewed 59 transportation practitioners in government, industry, the nonprofit sector and academia.