Roadblocks to Rural Health: State Transportation Policies' Impact on Health Care Access in Virginia's Rural Communities: 2021–2022.

This article focuses on how transportation policy, specifically Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) signage restrictions on limited-access highways, created an unexpected barrier to accessing a rural federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Brunswick County, Virginia, thereby affecting cancer screening rates. Through a community-based participatory research project called Project COALESCE (2021–2022), stakeholders successfully advocated for the installation of directional signage and road naming, which coincided with substantial increases in colorectal and cervical cancer screening rates at the clinic. The study highlights that over 60% of Virginia's FQHCs are located near limited-access highways and may face similar barriers, suggesting broader implications for health care access. It underscores the importance of cross-sector collaboration between health and transportation agencies to address regulatory obstacles and improve health equity in rural communities.