http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/ucla_its_policybriefs/rss Recent eScholarship items from Policy Briefs Fri, 15 May 2026 08:53:18 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9mk5p97z Ensuring the resilience of urban road networks is essential for public safety and economic stability, especially in cities like Los Angeles that face frequent natural hazards, such as earthquakes, wildfires, and flooding. When making capital investments in such environments, it is equally important to consider fairness in both the decision-making process and its outcomes.In this research study, we developed a data-driven framework and implemented it using a web-based software tool to identify priority road segments for investment. To do this, we rated individual roads on several key attributes, including the importance of the road in the network, level of physical deterioration, and hazard risks such as steep slopes or flood-prone areas. We complemented publicly available data on roads and their attributes with fine-grained “hyperlocal” geospatial information from sensors. Finally, we considered equity by applying socioeconomic indicators of roadway users, which prioritizes roadway... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9mk5p97z Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Jana, Debasish, PhD Malama, Sven Srisan, Tat Narasimhan, Sriram, PhD Bills, Tierra, PhD Taciroglu, Ertugrul, PhD https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40r2j6zh Personal safety is a critical issue for transit riders, particularly for women and gender minorities. Safety concerns can stem from experiences of sexual harassment that those who identify as women frequently face. However, most incidents go unreported, leaving transit agencies without information about the magnitude of the problem. UCLA graduate student researchers worked with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) staff to conduct and analyze a survey on their transit system (Muni) of riders’ experiences with harassment, feelings of safety, and potential policy responses. This effort collected 1,613 responses over a two-week period in February and March 2023 through a partnership with the Transit App, a downloadable service for real-time schedule and location tracking of buses and trains. Similar to previous studies, harassment was common: two-thirds of respondents experienced harassment themselves, and around the same share witnessed it. Safety perceptions... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40r2j6zh Thu, 5 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Wasserman, Jacob L. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Brozen, Madeline https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4231-8298 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia, PhD https://escholarship.org/uc/item/060723b4 Differences in how men and women travel have long been a focus in transportation research. Many studies have explored how socially-defined gender roles influence travel decisions and behaviors, consistently highlighting disparities between men’s and women’s travel patterns. For example, compared to men, women tend to make more caregiving and household-related trips, have shorter commutes, and are more likely to combine multiple destinations or purposes into a single tour. This body of research often concentrates on standard measures of travel—such as the number of trips taken, how far and for how long people travel, and travelers’ experiences— while also considering the influence of neighborhood design. However, travel patterns also are shaped by broader social structures and inequalities, which are not captured by these traditional measures https://escholarship.org/uc/item/060723b4 Thu, 5 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Siddiq, Fariba https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-6594 Yao, Zhiyuan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7601-8704 Blumenberg, Evelyn https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-2686 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6dr4196z California’s large metropolitan areas, particularly greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, are each served by dozens of distinct transit operators. This fragmentation creates a disjointed experience for many riders—who face different fares, schedules, and route maps—and can create inefficiencies in service delivery. Accordingly, we reviewed international and U.S. studies of organization and coordination for insights on the most effective governance structures for public transit. Specifically, we examined whether consolidating transit agencies into larger entities or coordinating specific functions across existing agencies can improve ridership, cost-efficiency, and equity. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6dr4196z Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ding, Hao, PhD Taylor, Brian D., PhD Gahbauer, John Schank, Max https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22t184bb In 2022, California became the first state to eliminate parking requirements in certain neighborhoods. Assembly Bill 2097 (AB 2097) prohibits, in most circumstances, local governments from imposing parking requirements within a half-mile of an existing or planned major transit stop such as a rail station, ferry terminal, or the intersection of frequent bus routes. We examined how cities are responding to this new statewide law and draw out lessons for parking policy as well as other types of state preemption of local land use regulations. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22t184bb Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, Amy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4736-1482 Millard-Ball, Adam Manville, Michael https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4218-6427 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3rn5v4wh Transit agencies across the country are rethinking how to improve the customer service and safety experience for riders. One promising approach is the use of transit ambassadors that provide a visible, customer-focused presence at stations and on vehicles. Ambassadors help riders navigate the system; answer questions about schedules, routes, and fare payment; and help riders access assistance when needed. Los Angeles Metro launched its transit ambassador program as a pilot in 2022, initially contracting with two private firms to deploy ambassadors across its system. Within a year, the program expanded to roughly 300 ambassadors systemwide. Figure 1 illustrates LA Metro’s public safety ecosystem at the time of the program’s launch, showing how ambassadors fit alongside other unarmed and enforcement-based teams in supportingrider safety. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3rn5v4wh Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Wasserman, Jacob L. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Brozen, Madeline https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4231-8298 Chiu, Phoebe https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5689-3422 Lugo, Adonia, PhD https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6806-219X Koohian, Arman https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1828-1594 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gk9f8qf The Equity and Policy Implications of Long-Distance Commuting in California and the Greater Los Angeles Region Research Brief https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gk9f8qf Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn Taylor, Brian D. Ding, Hao Speroni, Samuel Siddiq, Fariba https://escholarship.org/uc/item/51c957gm California’s goal of transitioning all vehicles sold in the state to zero-emission models by 2035 is pivotal to addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice. However, achieving this transition equitably requires targeted efforts to address the financial and social barriers that low-income and disadvantaged communities face. As a leader in clean transportation initiatives, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has long offered several benefit programs that support residents with the transition to electric vehicles, including the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program (CVAP) and Access Clean California (ACC). CVAP, which operated from 2018-2024, provided grants and loan financing to help low-income households purchase or lease electric vehicles. ACC, launched in 2018, uses an extensive statewide community outreach network of community-based organizations (CBOs) to connect eligible residents with a range of clean transportation and energy benefits. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/51c957gm Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Connolly, Rachel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0728-1779 Pierce, Gregory https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8164-5825 Morales, Viviana https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0xk7v8g8 Open-loop payments systems allow riders to pay fares using general-purpose payment methods like credit cards, debit cards, or mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), rather than being limited to a single transit agency’s own payment system. Broad adoption of open-loop payments offers major benefits for public transit, including lower costs, greater convenience for riders, and improved operational efficiency. The California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP) has helped pave the way for transit agencies interested in this technology by providing resources, guidance, and hands-on support. Cal-ITP works directly with transit agencies to address known challenges and identify solutions to emerging barriers. Understanding how agencies decide whether to adopt open-loop and other technologies is key to ensuring the effectiveness of programs like Cal-ITP. To explore this, we surveyed transit agencies in California to identify the factors that influence adoption of open-loop payments. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0xk7v8g8 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Pike, Susan, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6558-3479 Matute, Juan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4598-5889 Reginald, Monisha https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2244-0592 Saphores, Jean-Daniel, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9514-0994 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0pk982hz Evaluating All-Way Stops, Neighborhood Traffic Circles and Mini-Roundabouts in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0pk982hz Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Giorgio, Nick https://escholarship.org/uc/item/11c7b3bj Like much of the developed world, the U.S. is aging. Between 1920 and 2020, the number of people 65 and older in the U.S. grew almost five times faster than the population as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010, the 65+ population grew from 15.1 percent of the U.S. population to 16.8 percent (to 55.8 million people) between 2010 and 2020 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). Given this substantial growth, the mobility patterns of older travelers are consequential but have only been lightly studied post-pandemic. To address this gap, we analyzed data from the National Household Travel Surveys (NHTS) for 2001, 2009, 2017, and 2022 on the travel behavior of older adults in their 60s, 70s, and up compared with middle-aged and younger travelers. The NHTS contains information about trips taken by all household members on a designated survey day for a representative set of U.S. households. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/11c7b3bj Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chiu, Phoebe https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5689-3422 Hwang, Yu Hong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3791-352X Siddiq, Fariba, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-6594 Taylor, Brian D., PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/16n4300x Balancing Climate Goals and Housing Needs in California https://escholarship.org/uc/item/16n4300x Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Seidel, Alexandra Delgado, Laila Higgins, Ian Rainy Kannula, Jerusha Kumon, Yohei https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6b42f860 Who’s Missing a Ride? Unequal Mobility Support in Los Angeles County’s Social Programs https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6b42f860 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 De Santos Quezada, Veronica https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2521d1d6 Investing in the LA RiverWay: Aligning Development with Community Benefits https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2521d1d6 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fu, Kaitlyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5r32p66p Past Pathways, Present Inequities: Historical Transit Access in San Francisco’s Lakeview, Oceanview, Merced Heights and Ingleside Terraces Neighborhoods https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5r32p66p Tue, 1 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Lam, Mara Till, Jasmine Abou Zanaid, Dania Escalante, Joaquin Eldib, Lauren https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3c68j3kb Closing Gaps in EV Fast Charging for Urban Renters in Los Angeles County https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3c68j3kb Tue, 1 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Grellier, Quentin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7k6981vw Broxton Plaza: An Avenue for Revitalization and Mobility in Westwood Village https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7k6981vw Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Shakeel, Eisha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6jz4c0rr Improving walkability, bikeability and transit connections in Sawtelle https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6jz4c0rr Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Martinez Castillo, Gema https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hb5w1fp Beyond Removal, Toward Repair: An Assessment of Restorative Justice and Gentrification Prevention in Reconnecting Communities Pilot Projects https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3hb5w1fp Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chung, Casey https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3b87z6bn Learning from Bike Boulevards in Long Beach, Albuquerque, and Minneapolis https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3b87z6bn Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chan, Annie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2z31k9g1 Racial Segregation, Freeways, and Institutional Mechanisms in Pasadena https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2z31k9g1 Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ong, Paul M. Pech, Chhandara Chung, Casey Wasserman, Jacob L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2hs038b3 Beyond Transit Discounts: Comparing L.A. Mobility Wallet and Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) Programs https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2hs038b3 Thu, 8 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kim, Sang-O Brozen, Madeline Wander, Madeline Butler, Tamika Blumenberg, Evelyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6zs4q8ck Early Results on Individual Life Outcomes from the L.A. Mobility Wallet Phase I Pilot Program https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6zs4q8ck Mon, 5 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Brozen, Madeline Butler, Tamika Wander, Madeline Blumenberg, Evelyn Kim, Sang-O https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6w9384kn Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most workers were tied to fixed locations and schedules, often necessitating long, stressful commutes that researchers have linked to reduced productivity, and lower overall well-being. During the pandemic, the need for social distancing, together with ongoing advances in communication technologies, led many firms and employees to embrace remote and hybrid work arrangements. Now, in the post-pandemic era, many employees prefer these arrangement and are resisting employers’ “return-to-office” mandates. What is the state of working from home and commuting post-pandemic? We examined this question using data from the 2022 National Household Travel Survey. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6w9384kn Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Siddiq, Fariba, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-6594 Taylor, Brian D., PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3bp2q1rr During the COVID-19 pandemic, daily travel per person declined significantly in the U.S as activities that required leaving home were increasingly replaced by information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as smartphones, personal computers, streaming services, and social media. Trips for most purposes declined drastically in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic, and public transit use in particular plummeted. With most of the disruptions of the pandemic over by early 2022, we investigated whether the travel effects of COVID-19 have persisted, especially among young adults (defined as those between the ages 15-29). We focused on youth, as any long-term shifts in their travel behavior might persist for decades. These younger travelers are transitioning to adulthood by obtaining drivers’ licenses, joining the workforce, living independently, and so on. Youth travel may be affected differently by the pandemic than older adults as they are more likely to substitute... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3bp2q1rr Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fung, Andy https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4795-6148 Siddiq, Fariba Hwang, Yu Hong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3791-352X Taylor, Brian D. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3b81t7bm The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an ongoing trend of Americans spending more time at home and less time engaged in activities away from home. This shift in travel behavior has significant implications for cities, transportation systems, economics, and even mental health. To better understand this trend, we examined how people in the U.S. spend their time pre-pandemic, mid-pandemic, and post-pandemic using data from the American Time Use Survey, with a focus on work, leisure, and travel behavior. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3b81t7bm Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Morris, Eric A. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8690-6644 Speroni, Samuel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-6162 Taylor, Brian D. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1xz8g17k California is unlikely to meet its climate goals if it doesn’t reduce vehicle travel. So far, however, state and local efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) have fallen short of expectations, even as cities grow more compact and public transit funding has increased. To better understand the role of highway expansion in meeting California’s climate goals, we analyzed whether a simple model that only considers road capacity and population growth can predict VMT as well as traditional transportation models. We also looked at the share of recent VMT growth that has been caused by expanded road capacity, and the reductions in VMT from transit and other projects funded by California’s climate investments. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1xz8g17k Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Millard-Ball, Adam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2353-8730 Rosen, Michael https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wk7t932 Automobiles can greatly enhance access to employment and other opportunities. However, many households do not have the resources to purchase a vehicle outright and must rely on automobile loans. This increases the total cost of owning a vehicle, particularly for non-white consumers who may have to pay higher purchase prices and/or higher interest rates due to discriminatory lending practices. The effects of high household debt—of which automobile loans are one component—are magnified in lower income neighborhoods, leaving residents with fewer resources to invest in the local economy. Our team used the University of California Consumer Credit Panel, a dataset from Experian, which tracks every loan and borrower in California, to examine how and why automobile loan debt varies from place to place in the state and its consequences. We specifically tested whether total automobile debt, debt burden (the ratio of automobile debt to income), and automobile loan delinquencies in 2021 disproportionately... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wk7t932 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-2686 Speroni, Samuel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-6162 Siddiq, Fariba, PhD Wasserman, Jacob L. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/29k730kk Most car buyers use some form of financing to purchase a vehicle, and almost half of all California borrowers carry some amount of automobile debt. While automobile loans enable lower-income households—who might otherwise be priced out of vehicle ownership—to make payments over time, this debt can significantly strain household budgets. The COVID-19 pandemic elevated the importance of owning a private vehicle as concerns over viral person-to-person transmission made traveling by car an even more attractive compared to communal transportation (e.g., public transit). Moreover, a host of pandemic-related services, including testing and vaccination, were either only or best accessible by car. To better understand how COVID-19 impacted car ownership, we explored whether automobile loans (and in turn debt) in California—particularly in communities of color where workers were more likely to work outside of the home—increased during the pandemic. We drew on a one-percent sample of the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/29k730kk Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-2686 Siddiq, Fariba, PhD Speroni, Samuel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-6162 Wasserman, Jacob L. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3wx1q2v4 Shelter is a basic human need. Yet more than half a million individuals experience homelessness every single night in the U.S. In the last decade, homeless counts have risen in many U.S. metropolitan areas, despite efforts and funding to address the issue. The limited capacity of shelters and other social service agencies to meet the needs of a rapidly growing homeless population has forced many individuals experiencing homelessness to look for shelter in various public spaces. Without other options, many turn to transit vehicles, bus stops, and transit stations. Many also use transit to reach destinations such as workplaces, shelters, and community service centers. With affordable housing scarce in some metropolitan areas and the scale of the homelessness crisis often surpassing the capacities of existing safety nets, transit operators face the crisis in their work. They must implement policy measures from realms beyond transportation to address them. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3wx1q2v4 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-4751 Wasserman, Jacob L https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Ding, Hao Caro, Ryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98n0x7hh Spanning more than six decades between the 1940s and early 2000s, the construction of the U.S. federal Interstate Highway System perpetuated racial inequality, weakened social institutions, disrupted local economies, and physically divided neighborhoods. Systemic racism embedded within housing, educational, and labor systems depressed land values, hindered homeownership, and made neighborhoods of color more vulnerable to selection for freeway routes. Unequal political power in the decision making process also disadvantaged people of color, who often were excluded from participatory planning processes. Additionally, unlike white Americans, people of color had significantly less ability to relocate to rapidly expanding suburbs if displaced by freeway construction. Expanding on prior work conducted by researchers at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies and Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, this study incorporates three additional case studies in California: South Colton... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98n0x7hh Thu, 6 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ong, Paul Pech, Chhandara Wasserman, Jacob L. Ramirez, Andres F. Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5n138149 The California High-Speed Rail (HSR) project stands to significantly change transportation across the state, but questions remain about who will benefit most from this massive infrastructure investment. While previous analyses have focused on the aggregate economic benefits of HSR in California, we provide a more nuanced understanding of these benefits for communities across California using a spatial economic model previously developed by members of our team. This model captures the direct potential travel benefits of the HSR project (such as quicker and sometimes cheaper transportation) for commuters, business travelers, and leisure travelers. It also captures wider economic benefits such as higher wages and land values stemming from greater concentration of employment in more productive areas. We examine how these benefits would be distributed across California regions and socioeconomic and income groups. By understanding the potential disparities in the impact of the HSR project,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5n138149 Thu, 9 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fajgelbaum, Pablo, PhD Gaubert, Cecile, PhD Tauzer, Matthew, PhD https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zm5t77t The California High-Speed Rail (HSR) project aims to transform transportation in the state. To understand the impact of this project as it “rolls out” across the state, we analyzed its economic benefits across each of its plannedphases, complementing official projections from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). Our analysis is based on a spatial economic model of the rail system model previously developed by members of our team. This model captures the direct potential travel benefits of the HSR project, such as quicker and sometimes cheaper transportation, for commuters, business travelers, and leisure travelers. It also captures wider economic benefits such as higher wages and land values stemming from greater concentration of employment in more productive areas. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zm5t77t Thu, 9 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fajgelbaum, Pablo, PhD Gaubert, Cecile, PhD Tauzer, Matthew, PhD https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8wd5t945 In Los Angeles County, buses carry 70% of LA Metro customers. Traffic congestion greatly affects the efficiency and reliability of Metro’s bus system, which has resulted in a 12.5% drop in average speeds over the last 25 years. As a solution, transit agencies have begun implementing mixed-use bus lanes, or curbside bus lanes that operate in the same right of way as general traffic, and give buses the opportunity to bypass traffic, which can improve service reliability and travel speeds. In LA County, there are 27 miles of mixed-use bus lanes; however, these lanes are largely passively enforced through roadway striping and signage. As a result, most of the lanes in LA County have high vehicle intrusion rates. A particularly notorious location for vehicle intrusion is a mixed-use bus lane on Wilshire Boulevard, which was fully installed in 2015 and is not actively enforced by police or parking officials. A preliminary study of Wilshire Boulevard found that lane intrusions occur... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8wd5t945 Tue, 3 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Halls, Cassie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/77n4q56p The city of Los Angeles adopted a Vision Zero policy intending to eliminate fatal traffic deaths by 2025, but this vision will be difficult to fully achieve without lowering cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods. To this end, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has implemented traffic-calming measures throughout the city, recognizing that collisions may not be entirely preventable but can be reduced in likelihood and severity through roadway design. The department has a process whereby residents can apply for speed humps quarterly but the program is oversubscribed. Traffic calming is in high demand; however, few studies address the issue in Los Angeles within the past few years. This policy brief summarizes a study that addresses the safety outcomes of traffic-calming measures installed throughout the city in recent years, with a sensitivity toward the cost of implementation, an important constraint that Los Angeles is bound by given its size and sprawling... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/77n4q56p Tue, 3 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Patel, Asiya https://escholarship.org/uc/item/60q3d3fd Although a large body of literature has examined the rise in suburban poverty, relatively little is known about the causes and consequences associated with growing suburban economic distress. For example, it is possible that both push and pull factors have encouraged a spatial redistribution of poverty, with poorer households leaving urban communities and settling in suburban neighborhoods. However, downward economic mobility may also be a component of this shift, with incumbent suburban residents experiencing increasing financial vulnerability in recent years. Regardless of these potential causes, low-income suburban households face unique challenges, particularly with regard to transportation. The car-centric nature of many suburban areas means that low-income suburbanites must negotiate the challenges of automobile ownership — and its attendant costs — to a far greater extent than their urban counterparts https://escholarship.org/uc/item/60q3d3fd Tue, 3 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Schouten, Andrew https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3k9018wk Ridehail services such as Uber and Lyft have revolutionized how people access cars. The closest historical analog to new ridehail services are taxis, which have a history of discrimination, particularly against black riders and neighborhoods. Ridehail services may discriminate less than taxis and extend reliable car access to neighborhoods underserved by taxis. Or they may not. While a 2016 study in Seattle suggests that discrimination may occur against black ridehail users, no research has yet evaluated potential biases against riders of other races or ethnicities, or evaluated ridehail services alongside taxis https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3k9018wk Tue, 3 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Brown, Anne E. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5009-8331 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m96s0hw Air pollution near highways is a public health concern, especially in densely populated urban areas. Exposure to roadway pollutants is associated with negative health outcomes, raising concerns for sensitive areas like homes, schools, and parks located next to highways. Roadside barriers are a mitigation strategy commonly used to reduce the exposure of nearby communities to air pollution. Barriers, like sound walls and vegetation, generally divert and disperse emitted pollutants, resulting in lower pollutant concentrations behind the barriers. The effectiveness of a barrier in reducing pollutant concentrations depends on a number of factors, including physical characteristics of the barrier. While studies have shown that traditional solid barriers reduce pollutant concentrations downwind of the barrier by upwards of 50 percent compared to open road values, the impacts of unconventional barriers are less clear. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m96s0hw Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Paulson, Suzanne https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0855-7615 Ranasinghe, Dilhara Zhu, Liye https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5qj936bf Local option sales tax (LOST) revenue accounts for a large and growing share of local transportation spending in California and throughout the United States. However, research has yet to explore how these measures fare when implemented. To enhance their popularity at the voting booth, LOSTs almost always include an expenditure plan detailing how revenue will be spent during the lifetime of each measure. Local authorities charged with administering LOST measures are often able to amend these expenditure plans — and, therefore, project lists — during implementation, raising important questions concerning the degree to which local transportation authorities are accountable to the public. While some flexibility is needed to respond to unforeseen circumstances (i.e., lower-than-expected revenue), too much flexibility may allow local officials to implement projects or programs inconsistent with the will of voters. This project explores the tensions and balance between local transportation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5qj936bf Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Marks, Jeremy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2644-5257 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3296x53z In Los Angeles, the percentage of unsheltered people living in vehicles is estimated to be almost 50% of the region’s homeless population. Over the past few years, those living in cars, vans, and RVs/campers has increased in line with the affordable housing crisis and rising unemployment and poverty rates. While studies on homelessness are vast, little attention has been paid to the high percentage of unsheltered individuals living in cars, vans, and RVs. However, relative to the alternatives — sleeping in public spaces or reliance on temporary shelters — vehicles provide safe, stable, and secure shelter. Vehicular dwelling enables individuals to avoid street violence, policing, and criminalization; it provides freedom against strict rules and curfews of the shelter system.. During the pandemic, living in a car has provided social distancing to reduce the likelihood of contracting and spreading the virus. Finally, operational vehicles can support people’s access to jobs, schools,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3296x53z Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Giamarino, Christopher https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-0399 Brozen, Madeline Blumenberg, Evelyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2x47b3x2 During the 2018–19 school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) provided bus service to more than 37,000 students. Currently, LAUSD’s routing team designs routes manually. The team must balance the cost and quality of service while adhering to several constraints, such as ride-time limits, bus capacities, and school-bell times. Of particular interest to LAUSD are the most efficient ways to handle “mixed-load routing,” in which students from multiple schools are picked up along the same route. This practice is particularly beneficial when routes for different schools need to traverse similar paths. In this project, the researchers developed computer algorithms, a software implementation, and a user interface that automatically generates bus routes and allows users to edit them. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2x47b3x2 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Porter, Mason A Spencer, David Hung, Cu Hauw https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14w0m0bq How did America and the Golden State come to mass produce urban freeways, particularly Interstate Highways, in the three decades following World War II? How did we finance this massive public expenditure, which at the time was the largest infrastructure project the world had ever seen? And what role did finance play in the system’s successes and failures? The answers to these questions hold lessons for transportation finance and planning today. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14w0m0bq Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Taylor, Brian D. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 Morris, Eric A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/12k769c5 Thirty years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities still face significant barriers to transportation access. Nearly one-third of disabled people describe inadequate transportation as a problem in their lives, and many major transportation systems have large accessibility gaps. In the San Francisco Bay Area, home to Silicon Valley and the 2010s tech boom, new mobility services are particularly widespread. TNCs, for example, make up approximately 25% of peak-hour traffic in Downtown San Francisco. San Francisco also has a well-established bike-share system and was among the first cities in the country to see hundreds of scooters on its streets and sidewalks. In light of the prevalence of these services and the significant transportation needs of the disability community, this project examines perceptions of new mobility among disabled people in San Francisco and makes recommendations for improving transportation access for people with... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/12k769c5 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ruvolo, Maddy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sx8s7k7 California emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with a renewed commitment to sustainable, functional transportation. In some ways, the pandemic itself offered a glimpse of what a system built on those goals might offer. Driving plunged during the COVID lockdowns, and congestion and pollution fell alongside it. Parking spaces were repurposed for dining, revealing the vast amount of space cities had used to store empty vehicles. Traffic was lighter, the air was cleaner, and in at least some regards the streets were livelier. Can the state keep or recapture some of these benefits going forward? If so, how? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sx8s7k7 Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Manville, Michael https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4218-6427 Ding, Hao https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5286-3367 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xq526f6 Revitalizing Rural Transit in Siskiyou County: Strategic Interventions for Improved Accessibility and Efficiency https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3xq526f6 Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lewis, Mia https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9r50384c Battery Electric Bus Disposal Strategies: Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9r50384c Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Cribioli, Matthews https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rn1426w The Transit Effect: A Decade of Change at LA Metro Rail Stations  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rn1426w Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Stauber, Adria https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9018894n The Road to Climate Neutrality in California is Paved with Good Intentions (and Priced Appropriately)  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9018894n Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Florin, Alexandria https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qn1n07q Gender Equity in Transportation for Unhoused Women https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qn1n07q Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, DaYoung https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0099k9mr Traveling Without a Car in Los Angeles: Mobility Challenges Faced by Carless and Car-Deficit Households  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0099k9mr Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Suzukawa, Alyssa https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7js819jm Improving Community Engagement in Little Tokyo https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7js819jm Mon, 8 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Kohaya, Brian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0bp4x90k Bridging Los Angeles: Leaning Into the Reconnecting Neighborhoods Movement https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0bp4x90k Mon, 8 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Handel, Hudson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7sk3b7xc Collaborating with Artists for Reparative Transportation Planning https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7sk3b7xc Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Winkler-Schor, Lilith https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73j988xz Can sidewalk autonomous delivery robots reduce traffic and battle climate change?  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73j988xz Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chu, Yu-Chen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9228119b From Pilot to Permanent: Evaluating and Scaling Transportation Projects https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9228119b Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Dine, Jo https://escholarship.org/uc/item/86f650pb Improving Economic, Social, Health, and Environmental Outcomes for Extreme Commuters https://escholarship.org/uc/item/86f650pb Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Rios Gutierrez, Alejandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7n8997r7 From Freeways to Boulevards: Lessons from Rochester, New York https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7n8997r7 Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Pugh, Carolyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5zb208gz Advancing Shade and Lighting Equity at Bus Stops in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5zb208gz Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Reginald, Monisha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/19129397 As California is in the process of building its high-speed rail (HSR) network, reviewing the experience from other established HSR networks abroad can help understand the potential economic and development impacts of HSR and the prerequisites to realize them. HSR systems involve large financial investments and infrastructure projects, which have the potential to deeply change the regions where they are deployed. However, little attention has focused on the potential of the California HSR to impact economic activities and urban development. This study reviews relevant literature and analyzes case studies from HSR station-cities in France (Le Creusot, Vendôme, Le Mans, Reims), Spain (Galicia Corridor, Valladolid, Zaragoza), and Italy (Reggio Emilia) to provide insights into these topics. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/19129397 Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia Circella, Giovanni https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1832-396X Lecompte, Maria Carolina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9333-2394 Rossignol, Lucia https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5hw3k20k Decisions & Distance: Assessing the Relationship Between Child Care Access and Travel  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5hw3k20k Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn Wander, Madeline Yao, Zhiyuan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3646g53p Mobility, Accessibility and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: Assessing Diversity in Transportation Related Needs and Opportunities https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3646g53p Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ong, Paul M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0wj6c129 Public transit operators have a complex job that involves more than just driving a vehicle. Operators collect fares, answer questions, give directions, mind the safety of their passengers, help passengers with disabilities, keep order, de-escalate altercations, serve in place of a police officer or social worker when one is not available, monitor their surroundings while in motion, navigate stressful traffic, communicate with supervisors, make detours as needed, and much, much more. This work can be rewarding, satisfying, and secure. Frontline transit work offers a public service role with high unionization rates, clear career progression, and the opportunity to see many places and interact with and help people. Transit operator and mechanic jobs may also offer competitive pay for the work and qualifications. However, difficult working conditions and median pay stagnating or even slightly declining over time — especially since the pandemic — has led some transit operators to leave... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0wj6c129 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wasserman, Jacob L https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Padgett, Allie Do, Keenan Ky-An https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31s100mv Transportation systems are undergoing a fundamental transition toward electrification. The shift to electrification, characterized by the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the expansion of charging infrastructure, and the integration of renewable energy sources, has the potential to yield significant societal benefits. These include climate change mitigation, alleviation of air pollution, and enhancements in overall human well-being. However, the existing infrastructure related to transportation electrification, particularly in the domain of public chargers, remains inadequate to support this sweeping transition. This insufficiency has led to inconvenient EV charging experiences, impeded the establishment of a comprehensive nationwide charger network, and resulted in disparities in charging accessibility across diverse communities https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31s100mv Tue, 6 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Zhang, Ning He, Yueshuai Jiang, Qinhua Ma, Jiaqi https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cg12850 In this study, we examine the relationship between housing affordability and commute distance within two adjacent and diverse Southern California metropolitan areas: the Los Angeles-Orange MSA (characterized by higher costs, coastal location, older, more urban) and the Riverside-San Bernardino MSA (marked by lower costs, inland location, newer, more suburban). Drawing on data from the 2015 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics dataset and the 2017 5-year American Community Survey, our research centers on the role of “jobs-housing fit,” whether the commutes of low-wage workers are shorter in neighborhoods with a higher ratio of low-wage jobs relative to the number of rental units affordable to low-wage workers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cg12850 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wander, Madeline https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1708-7037 Blumenberg, Evelyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9qs524sb Over the past century, surface transportation planning and programming gradually evolved from a largely ad hoc, locally funded affair to a highly formalized intergovernmental process, guided by both federal and state policy and supported mostly by fuel tax revenues. Metropolitan planning organizations, like the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Southern California Association of Governments, grew out of requirements that federally funded transportation projects be part of a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative planning process. In California today, numerous state regulations require that transportation projects advance air quality, climate, equity, and public participation goals. Over the past several decades, however, this carefully constructed federal-state partnership has been reverting back toward greater local decision-making, driven by an increasing reliance on local revenue sources. Researchers at the UCLA Institute of Transportation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9qs524sb Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Garrett, Mark Manville, Michael Taylor, Brian D. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22c5g90w Access to Child Care: Does it Vary by Neighborhood Type? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22c5g90w Mon, 8 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-2686 Yao, Zhiyuan Wander, Madeline https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8mq3r3sd Each day, youth in Los Angeles venture out on their own to move to and from home, school, and after-school activities. Their travels represent important pathways to autonomy, agency, and urban citizenship, which a city can support with safe, pleasant paths that offer reassuring familiarity and opportunities for socializing. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8mq3r3sd Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Nelischer, Claire https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9496-9178 Cuff, Dana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2587-0523 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-4751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h07x68q The California 100 Initiative is exploring California’s future across many realms of public life, and they tasked the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies with mapping plausible futures of California’s transportation and land use systems. As part of this work, we developed a modified Delphi method and conducted a series of surveys and panel discussions with 18 experts. We presented panelists with four possible scenarios — two distinct land use futures intersecting with two transportation futures. Their consensus opinion was that the most desirable scenario (“Easy to Get Around without a Car”) is also the least likely to materialize, due to faults in the political planning process. Despite promising state policies to increase transportation choices, problematic local land use politics and patterns appear likely to yield a future scenario (“Lots of Travel Choices, but Most Will Drive”) that continues car dependence and chronic congestion, absent a significant rebuilding of government... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h07x68q Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Gahbauer, John Wasserman, Jacob L. Matute, Juan Taylor, Brian D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/02k9d06g Initially, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to inflict severe and lasting damage to public transit systems in California. Some experts feared that agencies would lay off workers; shutter lines for months, if not permanently; strand essential workers who depend on transit; and even go bankrupt. However, thanks to federal financial relief from three stimulus bills and strongerthan-expected bounce-back of tax revenues from state and local sources, transit agencies in 2022 have avoided that abyss — but still face an uncertain financial future. Meanwhile, operational challenges and, increasingly, workforce issues have hampered returns to regular service, potentially affecting transit budgets. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/02k9d06g Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Wasserman, Jacob L https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Siddiq, Fariba Taylor, Brian D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8943b1xm After a century of almost continuous growth in vehicle travel in the U.S., the first decades of the 21st century saw vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita fall slightly, from 9,963 in 2003 to 9,937 in 2019. While some of the decline can be attributed to the Great Recession of 2007-2010, VMT did not fully rebound following the economic recovery. A much slower recovery from the recession among young people, more stringent driver’s licensing rules, rising preferences for dense urban living, high gas prices, an aging population, rising environmentalism, and the near saturation of vehicle ownership1 have all been proffered as possible explanations, but these don’t tell the whole story. In a new study, researchers at Clemson University and the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies suggest we may be seeing a fundamental change in the demand for out-of-home activities that drive vehicle travel. Using data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) collected between 2003 and 2019, the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8943b1xm Thu, 9 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Morris, Eric https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8690-6644 Morris, Samuel A. Taylor, Brian D. Garrett, Mark https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72j1z9dk In the spring of 2020, daily travel collapsed as public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic kept most people at home. Streets were suddenly and eerily empty in cities around the world. Since then, rates of driving, biking, and walking have largely rebounded, roughly returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, public transit use, particularly in the U.S., has been slow to recover and remains mostly well below pre-pandemic levels. The effects of pandemic-influenced changes in activity and travel are not always intuitive. Working from home may reduce the number of commute trips (especially on public transit), but may induce longer commutes when they do occur. Working from home may also free up time for running errands and chauffeuring children. Similarly, online shopping may reduce trips to the store, but it also generates more commercial delivery trips. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72j1z9dk Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Speroni, Samuel Siddiq, Fariba Paul, Julene Taylor, Brian D. Hwang, Yu Hong https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58c6n6dm Stockton, California, underwent spatial restructuring in the decades following World War II. State and local government contributed and responded to these changes by implementing connected freeway and urban renewal programs. Xenophobia and racism placed Asian American communities in their path. A major economic hub for California’s agricultural sector, Stockton and the surrounding region had a racially and ethnically diverse population in the mid-1900s, with people of color restricted to the lowest rungs of society. Asian Americans played a major role in the city’s development but were socially, economically, and politically marginalized. Since the mid-1800s and into the 1970s, Asian Americans were targets of multiple forms of discrimination, some shared by other people of color and others unique to Asians, including xenophobic immigration restrictions, prohibitions against owning land, and mass internment. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58c6n6dm Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Ong, Paul M. Pech, Chhandara Wasserman, Jacob L. Do, Christopher-Hung Yoon, Anne https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81t0n3jr Transportation Equity Through Bikeshare https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81t0n3jr Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Shaw, Elliott https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8f8762cm Envisioning a Bus Lane Future for Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8f8762cm Fri, 4 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Liu, Kevin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5813s67v Creating Transit Connections: Recommendations for Enhanced Fare Integration and Seamless Transfers in Los Angeles County https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5813s67v Fri, 4 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Garvanne, Isabelle https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6tx8h19r Centering Unhoused Communities in Transit-Oriented Development https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6tx8h19r Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Deloso, Katrina Jang, Audrey Y https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32f7t0f8 Micromobility Equity in Los Angeles: Increasing E-Scooter Deployment in Underserved Communities https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32f7t0f8 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Cheung, Abraham Murillo, Alberto Chang, Chia Ishikura, Masamichi Perloff-Giles, Nicholas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2mg5x6bg Designing Streetscapes with Gender Inclusivity in Mind https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2mg5x6bg Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Frank, Sophie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vw7g47p Improving Bicycle Connectivity in Beverly Hills https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vw7g47p Fri, 7 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Lin, Kaitlyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7z3487tz How Slow Are Slow Streets? Countermeasure Effectiveness at Reducing Vehicle Speeds on Los Angeles Slow Streets https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7z3487tz Thu, 6 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Zeng, Jackson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mc285zn Understanding the Barriers to Outdoor Dining in Los Angeles Neighborhoods https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mc285zn Thu, 6 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Montaño, Brittany https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3x88j9mg Exploring the Equity of Market-Priced Parking in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3x88j9mg Thu, 6 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Savignano, Elena https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53j732n2 L.A. Al Fresco: Converting Parking Spaces for Outdoor Dining During COVID-19 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53j732n2 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Rossmore, Graham https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3ns8b47j To Price or Not to Price: Determining the Future of Road Financing in an Era of Climate Change https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3ns8b47j Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Seiberg, Rachel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/33g1m2mz Learning From San Francisco and Seattle: How to Implement Demand-Responsive Curb Pricing in New York City https://escholarship.org/uc/item/33g1m2mz Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Kapshikar, Purva https://escholarship.org/uc/item/25j1w20d Three Lanes Good, Two Lanes Better? An Analysis of Unconventional Road Diet Typology in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/25j1w20d Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Rosen, Michael https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1w14r34w An Analysis of Safe Routes to School Programs in Eastern Missouri https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1w14r34w Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Zhang, Jin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1nc3q3k2 Rethinking safe transit spaces for women and gender minorities https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1nc3q3k2 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Cowan, Greer Liu, Pearl https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1bv441qx Bus Shelter Inequity in Unincorporated Los Angeles County https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1bv441qx Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Yoon, Anne https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jm2d235 Four Case Studies on the Effects of Freeway Siting on Neighborhoods of Color https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jm2d235 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia Handy, Susan L. Ong, Paul M. Wasserman, Jacob L. Barajas, Jesus M. Pech, Chhandara https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9b33q9f8 During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health and transit agency officials recommended that people drastically curtail their interactions with others to slow the spread of illness. On public transit, where strangers congregate on large vehicles and travel together, the decline in riders was especially dramatic. While walking, biking, and driving, which enable social distancing, substantially recovered in 2021 to pre-pandemic levels, transit use remained – and remains – depressed. But transit use neither fell nor recovered uniformly over the course of the pandemic. While ridership declined in most places, it did so unevenly across neighborhoods and users. Our research suggests that in the early part of the pandemic, transit use declined more dramatically among higher-income people, who were more likely than lower-wage workers to work from home. Because people who owned automobiles could travel about without coming in close contact with strangers, and because vehicle... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9b33q9f8 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Paul, Julene https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3683-718X Taylor, Brian D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rd4f3x4 The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have caused significant financial uncertainty and distress for most transit operators in California (and, indeed, nationwide). Emergency measures taken early on to protect drivers and passengers meant increased operating costs at the same time that ridership and revenues — especially from fares — plummeted. In the face of this crisis, the federal government provided transit agencies with unprecedented operating support through three pandemic stimulus bills, which proved essential in filling budgetary gaps, stabilizing finances, preventing layoffs, and maintaining service. Other transit subsidies such as local option sales taxes (LOSTs) bounced back robustly after an initial decline. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rd4f3x4 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Wasserman, Jacob L https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-5798 Gahbauer, John Taylor, Brian D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52z8w5pb The COVID-19 pandemic turned American work life outside-in. Before March 2020, nearly all workers worked outside of the home all or most of the time. In the spring of 2020, at least half worked at home as a result of stay-at-home recommendations and orders and enabled by advances in online video-communication technologies. Telecommuting is not new; it grew slowly in the four decades leading up to the outbreak. From 1980 the share of California’s workforce working primarily at home rose from just under 2% to 6%, similar to national trends. It peaked at 62% in May 2020, but was back down to 37% by the end of the year. But fully two years later the average was roughly 30%, a five-fold increase over pre-pandemic levels. Remote work appears here to stay. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52z8w5pb Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Speroni, Samuel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-6162 Taylor, Brian D. Garrett, Mark https://escholarship.org/uc/item/56b0r9f3 Driving has a host of known negative consequences, including traffic congestion and pollution, that planners and policymakers often aim to mitigate by encouraging people to use alternative modes of transportation or through disincentives such as gas taxes and tolls. The housing practice of “bundled parking” does the opposite, actively encouraging driving by including the cost of a parking space in the rent or sales price of a unit and presenting it as “free.” https://escholarship.org/uc/item/56b0r9f3 Wed, 8 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Pinski, Miriam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9544-9964 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93p7h6dv Free- and reduced-fare (FAR) programs have most commonly been targeted at specific groups of riders, like students or seniors. FAR programs may reduce the costs of collecting fares. Because they are, essentially, flat fares, FAR policies limit the ability of operators to charge different fares based on trip costs rather than traveler characteristics. Even so, FAR programs are increasingly being touted by advocates in recognition of transit’s important social service role in providing mobility to those unable to afford or otherwise access private mobility, such as older adults who may face both physical and financial barriers to automobile use. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93p7h6dv Fri, 3 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 King, Hannah Taylor, Brian D. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-2751 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4zr2x79n Most DOTs report frequent encampments on their land and encounter operational and legal challenges as a result. On public transit, a comparable transportation setting, those taking shelter tend to be more likely to be chronically unhoused and disadvantaged along other axes than their unhoused peers elsewhere. Freeway environments may offer certain advantages for those seeking shelter, but proximity of encampments and debris to traffic and infrastructure is dangerous to drivers, neighbors, and the unhoused individuals themselves. To investigate the challenges and strategies state DOTs have with regards to homelessness, we reviewed the websites of every state DOT, conducted interviews or received responses from staff at 13 DOTs that are responding to homelessness and/or particularly face it, and interviewed staff at eight relevant nonprofits, service providers, and external stakeholder organizations and partners involved in issues of homelessness. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4zr2x79n Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia Wasserman, Jacob L Ding, Hao Nelischer, Claire https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5nk4n1rc This study aims to answer the following questions: 1) how the deployment of CAVs impacts people’s travel behaviors in Southern California; 2) to what extent the changes in people’s travel behavior can affect the travel demand; 3) how well can the increased roadway capacity help alleviate the strain on the network with CAV deployment; and 4) will the CAV technologies contribute to the travel accessibility of underserved groups? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5nk4n1rc Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 He, Yueshuai https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5794-7751 Jiang, Qinhua Ma, Jiaqi https://escholarship.org/uc/item/35p6w3sc Across the country, many large metropolitan areas face an acute shortage of housing, which is driving up housing prices. Anecdotal evidence suggests that households priced out of expensive urban neighborhoods are moving to the outer reaches of metropolitan areas, where they find cheaper housing but have longer-distance commutes. Growing commute distances may negatively affect the health and economic mobility of workers and, if cars are involved, have deleterious effects on the environment. In this study, UCLA researchers investigated the merits of this anecdotal evidence. The study examined the relationship between housing availability near workplaces and commute distance for lower-, medium-, and higher-wage workers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, including Los Angeles and Orange counties. Lower-wage workers have monthly wages less than $1,250; middle-wage workers have monthly wages between $1,251–$3,333; and higher-wage workers have monthly wages greater than $3,333. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/35p6w3sc Mon, 5 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Blumenberg, Evelyn https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-2686 Siddiq, Fariba https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-6594 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2cd888nq Community college students spend more on transportation than their counterparts at public and private four-year colleges, partly due to the lack of on-campus or nearby affordable housing. Recent research highlights how transportation challenges are an overlooked but basic need for community college students (Access, Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, 2021). While the empirical evidence is somewhat limited, there are established connections between transportation access and educational outcomes. For example, a quasi-experimental study with Rio Hondo Community College in the Los Angeles region found that students who received deeply discounted transit passes had higher student success rates than their comparative peers (Clay and Valentine, 2021). This evidence suggests that transportation investments for California’s community college students are worthwhile to explore in efforts to boost community college completion rates. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2cd888nq Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Brozen, Madeline https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4231-8298 Hussain, Rasik Matteson, Nicole https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2jp3h3s4 Limited-access freeways physically divide urban neighborhoods, creating “severance” or “barrier effects.” In these cases, streets that would otherwise be continuous dead-end at a freeway. Unless the freeway is elevated or in a tunnel, crossings are limited to dedicated bridges or underpasses, often creating lengthy detours for pedestrians and cyclists and making walking and cycling less feasible for many trips. Previous research shows that high school students in Davis, California, are less likely to bicycle if they have to cross the freeway, partly because the available routes are indirect. Pedestrians and cyclists may find their access to transit impeded by freeways as well. Even at freeway crossings that do exist, physical severance can be exacerbated by poor or missing sidewalks, lighting, or bicycle lanes, and by fast-moving traffic entering or exiting the freeway. In the case of pedestrian bridges over the freeway, steps or circuitous ramps may hinder mobility as well. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2jp3h3s4 Tue, 8 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Millard-Ball, Adam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2353-8730 Silverstein, Benjamin Kapshikar, Purva Stevenson, Sierra Barrington-Leigh, Chris