Jones Adu-Mensah, a doctoral student in Taubman College’s urban and regional planning program, was awarded the Patricia F. Waller Scholarship to fund a thesis that proposes a new perspective on how we think about travel time. 

The scholarship, overseen by the U-M Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), is awarded to students across the university who are interested in research focused on making transportation policy more equitable and safe for people.

Adu-Mensah’s project proposes a community-centered approach to travel time, an important factor in assessing the benefits of transportation infrastructure investments. Currently, the value of travel time is measured by monetary benefits, which Adu-Mensah said overlooks the impact of travel times on individuals, especially low-income travelers. 

Instead of looking at financial benefits, Adu-Mensah proposes focusing on “use-value of travel time,” which considers how people use and value their travel time. This perspective would emphasize how shorter travel times can enhance people’s quality of life and well-being, helping planners develop more equitable transportation policies.

The scholarship will allow Adu-Mensah to fund any expenses associated with his thesis and to support his tuition and salary. Once completed, he will present the project at UMTRI’s student research symposium.