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American Indian Transportation Issues In South Dakota, Tracey Mcmahon

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper provides an overview of tribal transportation obstacles. My primary focus is on the quality of reservation roads and its relationship to funding and politics. The Indian reservation road system is one of the most underdeveloped transportation networks in the United States. A majority of these roads are dirt and gravel and, therefore, dangerous for traveling. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives between ages one and 44 (Hamilton 2003). Because federal funds for tribal transportation fall short of transportation needs, tribes do not have enough money for either road construction …