Reconnecting Communities Across America
The Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI) is a technical assistance center that helps communities expand economic opportunity and mobility through transportation reconnection projects. Learn more about RCI.
Helping Communities Lead the Way
RCI provides project readiness and development support to communities scoping, planning, and implementing transportation reconnection projects. We encourage innovative best practices in reconnection project scoping, planning, financing, delivery, and monitoring.
Through tailored one-on-one assistance, group and peer-based learning, and on-demand tools and resources, RCI helps communities address transportation barriers and improve outcomes across mobility, economic opportunity, health, safety, and community-driven decision making.
What is a Reconnection Project?
Reconnection projects are transportation planning or capital construction projects that address mobility barriers caused by transportation infrastructure.
Examples of barriers include high-speed roads, viaducts, transit and rail lines, and other transportation infrastructure that create safety and mobility challenges. Reconnection projects address these barriers to help people safely move within communities and connect with jobs, recreation, education, and other opportunities. Learn more about RCI.
Transportation Reconnection Project Spotlight​
The West Broad Street corridor (a portion of US 40) runs between downtown Columbus and Prairie Township, Ohio. It is one of the most dangerous roadways in the state, with the highest number of pedestrian-involved crashes.​ In 2023, the Central Ohio Transit Authority received a US DOT grant to transform 9.3 miles of West Broad Street into a bus rapid transit corridor with 5 miles of dedicated lanes, 4 miles of mixed traffic, and 17 stations. The project is expected to enhance safety and mobility and generate significant economic growth in the coming decades.