Design & Analysis of a Multimodal Pedestrian Bridge Over US-29; Equity and Accessibility in Bridge Design: How Engineering Decisions Shape Social Outcomes 12 views

Transportation infrastructure does more than move people; it determines who can access opportunity and who remains excluded. The capstone project focuses on the design of a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 29 in Charlottesville, a corridor that currently acts as a barrier for pedestrians and cyclists. The project was undertaken to develop a technically feasible and cost-effective bridge design that reconnects communities while meeting engineering standards and constraints such as right-of-way limitations and utility conflicts. In parallel, the STS research paper examines how similar pedestrian bridge projects across the United States reflect broader social inequities in transportation systems. This research was motivated by the recognition that engineering decisions are not purely technical but shape accessibility and mobility for different social groups. The capstone project addresses the severe mobility barrier that the high-volume U.S. 29 corridor creates for pedestrians and cyclists in Charlottesville. To design an economical alternative to previous proposals, we iteratively analyzed three bridge alignments using Civil3D, GIS for right-of-way mapping, and VDOT cost data. We optimized the bridge’s spatial and financial viability by evaluating land acquisition costs, utility conflicts, and material options. Finally, we used mathematical modeling to verify the structural capacity of the selected PCBT-53C prestressed concrete girders and circular columns against AASHTO and VDOT standards. The overall conclusion of the technical project is that a highly functional, ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge can be achieved at a reduced cost by strategically selecting its alignment and materials, as demonstrated by the selection of an optimized design alternative that minimizes right-of-way impacts, reduces utility relocation needs, and utilizes an economical prestressed concrete superstructure while maintaining structural safety and user accessibility. The STS research paper investigates the question: how do design decisions regarding cost, right-of-way, and ADA compliance influence which social groups benefit from pedestrian bridge projects? The study is significant because it challenges the assumption that infrastructure is neutral, instead framing it as a sociotechnical system that distributes benefits and burdens across different populations. A qualitative comparative case study methodology was used, analyzing multiple pedestrian bridge projects across the United States. The research is guided by the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework and transport justice theory, which together provide tools to evaluate how engineering decisions are shaped by competing stakeholder priorities and how they impact equitable access. The findings of the STS research reveal that cost minimization, constrained right-of-way negotiations, and minimum ADA compliance often result in infrastructure that technically meets standards but fails to serve the populations most in need. Case studies show that these design choices frequently disadvantage low-income, elderly, and mobility-impaired users by limiting practical accessibility, even when legal requirements are satisfied. However, examples of equity-centered design demonstrate that more inclusive outcomes are achievable when community needs are prioritized early in the design process. The research concludes that engineering decisions inherently carry ethical implications and that achieving equitable infrastructure requires integrating social considerations into the core of the design process rather than treating them as secondary constraints.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Pedestrian Bridge Design; Transportation Equity; Sociotechnical Systems; Civil Engineering

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technical Advisor: Osman Ozbulut STS Advisor: Pedro Augusto Francisco Technical Team Members: Tal Gamburg, Grace Perry, Tanner Rock, Logan Stapleton

English

All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)

2026-05-06