Maybe building better transport infrastructure so the area is not as isolated would help? Crazy thought, I know.

Nah, that's not really the problem. The problem is that good public transport is in opposition to the profit motive that privatization and capitalism enforce. You will always have population centers that bring you a lot of revenue, and a lot of small places that have few means of transportations and small population (not necessary poor even), that will only incur costs.