Health and Transportation Equity Issues in Rural Areas of the Texas Megaregion

Authors

Gwendolyn C. Goodwin

Abstract

This study examines health and transportation inequities affecting rural residents within the Texas Triangle megaregion, focusing on the US 290 West and I-10 East corridors. While urban residents benefit from proximate hospitals, public transit, and specialized care, rural communities face physician shortages, hospital closures, and long travel distances for essential services. Data from the American Community Survey and HRSA reveal disproportionate disability rates among seniors and people of color, particularly in counties such as Jefferson and Orange. Transportation costs further burden low-income households, with rural residents traveling longer daily distances and spending a greater share of income on vehicle ownership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, limited rural testing sites required residents to drive up to 88 miles for care, underscoring structural inequities. The findings highlight the urgent need for collaborative planning between rural and urban MPOs to expand equitable access to healthcare and mobility services across the Texas megaregion.

First Page

30

Last Page

48

Recommended Citation

Gwendolyn C. Goodwin, . 2026. "Health and Transportation Equity Issues in Rural Areas of the Texas Megaregion." The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc. 43, (1):30-48. https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/griot/vol43/iss1/10