http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/ucla_its_capstones/rss Recent eScholarship items from Capstone Projects Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:08:17 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0895426k This capstone evaluates the effectiveness of three residential intersection treatments, all-way stop control, neighborhood traffic circles, and mini-roundabouts, in reducing vehicle speeds, a key factor in traffic safety. In response to growing cut-through traffic on residential streets and the City of Los Angeles’ efforts through Vision Zero and the Mobility Plan, this study combines a literature review with a before-and-after analysis of 33 intersections across the city using weighted averages and paired t-tests. Results show mixed outcomes for all-way stop conversions, with some intersections showing reduced speeds and others showing little change or increases, likely due to limited driver compliance. Neighborhood traffic circles, on the other hand, consistently reduced both average and 85th percentile speeds, especially at locations with greater physical deflection, confirming their effectiveness as a traffic calming tool. Mini-roundabouts, while promising in the literature,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0895426k Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Giorgio, Nick https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8t9622kg This report examines the growing yet understudied phenomenon of urban vehicle residency, wherein economically active individuals, including professionals, retirees, and students—reside in personal vehicles due to housing constraints and shifting employment norms. Despite their stable engagement in urban economies, these residents are systematically excluded from infrastructure access through restrictive parking policies and service models misaligned with their needs. Using ethnographic interviews and spatial analysis, the study identifies three distinct resident typologies: Strategic Budgeters, Lifestyle Optimizers, and Self-Sufficient Nomads. While their motivations vary, all emphasize the need for legal, safe parking and basic infrastructure, while expressing resistance to institutionalized or service-heavy programs. The report reframes vehicle residency as a form of housing innovation and proposes the adaptive reuse of underutilized municipal parking garages as a scalable,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8t9622kg Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Han, Simon https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22c019wj This study evaluates the impacts of pedestrianizing a segment of Broxton Avenue in Westwood Village, Los Angeles. Broxton Plaza was developed as a through-block pedestrian plaza to promote walkability, support local businesses, and revitalize Westwood’s identity as a pedestrian-oriented college town, especially in lieu of the upcoming Metro D Line, and 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.For this research, a variety of methods were used including surveys, interviews, counts, and field observations between January 2025 to May 2025. The analysis focused on the plaza’s impacts on pedestrian activity, business engagement, traffic and delivery logistics, design and accessibility, transit and traffic patterns, event programming, and overall community perception.Key findings include strong support for the plaza with survey respondents rating its impact on Westwood an average of 4.45 out of 5, which indicates a highly positive perception of its contribution to the neighborhood. There... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22c019wj Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Shakeel, Eisha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/74k9b8fz Los Angeles County is experiencing a worsening housing affordability crisis, with 46.8% of renters classified as housing cost-burdened and median home prices increasing by over 40% since 2020. These pressures have contributed to rising homelessness, with 65,312 unhoused individuals counted in 2024. Concurrently, both the County and the City of Los Angeles are falling short of their Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) targets, underscoring a persistent supply-demand imbalance. However, the County’s expanding transportation system—funded through Measures R and M—presents an opportunity to advance Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as a tool for addressing housing, equity, and climate goals. TOD not only facilitates affordable housing near high-quality transit but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports mobility for low-income communities. LA Metro’s existing Joint Development Program, which aims to deliver 10,000 housing units across 20 transit sites, offers a successful... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/74k9b8fz Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Garcia Chavez, Luis R https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2f7383qj By 2027, the Sawtelle neighborhood on Los Angeles’ westside will be uniquely positioned between the existing Metro E Line and the upcoming Metro D Line. The introduction of the D Line is expected to bring changing mobility demands and travel patterns as more people enter and pass through Sawtelle. This shift, along with the city’s implementation of pedestrian and bicycle improvements outlined in its Mobility Plan 2035, creates an opportunity to prioritize safe, multimodal transportation for all Sawtelle residents and visitors. In light of these developments, the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Mobility and Environmental Committee (MEC), a standing committee of the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Neighborhood Council, partnered with the researcher to launch the Sawtelle Mobility Study. Through an online survey, pop-up events, and a walk audit, the study gathered direct input from community members about their mobility needs and priorities.Key findings from the community outreach events reflect... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2f7383qj Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Martinez Castillo, Gema https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9n83g19h California faces significant challenges related to housing affordability and climate vulnerability, especially in rural and disadvantaged communities. The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant program, administered by the California Strategic Growth Council, seeks to address these issues by funding affordable housing projects near public transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research critically examines the AHSC program’s scoring and selection methodologies, highlighting structural biases that disadvantage rural applicants due to lower scores on greenhouse gas reduction metrics. Utilizing quantitative analysis of historical application data from four recent funding cycles and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with program administrators and stakeholders, the study identifies key areas of imbalance, such as geographic allocation practices leading to suboptimal environmental outcomes and scoring methodologies inadequately capturing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9n83g19h Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Delgado, Laila Higgins, Ian Rainy Kannula, Jerusha Kumon, Yohei Seidel, Alexandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4z57s8c6 This policy brief examines the potential for land value capture (LVC) strategies to fund the completion of the Los Angeles River Bikeway (LARiverWay) through the San Fernando Valley, a critical gap in the city’s active transportation network. Despite strong regional momentum around river revitalization, several segments remain unfunded. This report analyzes three incomplete segments—4, 5, and 7—through a one-mile radius land use, demographic, and zoning study. Findings reveal divergent development patterns north and south of the river. The north side exhibits more flexible zoning, higher renter-occupancy rates, and stronger housing demand, suggesting greater LVC feasibility. In contrast, the south side is constrained by single-family zoning and lower growth. The report recommends tailoring LVC tools, such as commercial linkage fees, to fit neighborhood conditions. It also proposes reclassifying the bikeway as a transit corridor to unlock Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) incentives... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4z57s8c6 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fu, Kaitlyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xg9c6d3 The urgency of establishing a robust public Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) infrastructure in neighborhoods predominantly composed of renters is becoming increasingly critical. With the anticipated transition to electric vehicles (EVs) projected to reshape our transportation landscape, the current disparity in public DCFC access risks perpetuating existing inequities in EV adoption. This study examines the potential consequences of neglecting the needs of renters, who largely lack access to overnight charging options, thereby limiting their ability to adopt EVs and hindering economic opportunities for local communities. The current distribution of public DCFC stations across Los Angeles County reveals significant gaps, particularly in areas with high concentrations of renters. Our analysis indicates that approximately 13,492 DCFC ports are needed to meet the projected basic demand from renters. Yet, only 2,533 ports are currently available, and the existing infrastructure... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xg9c6d3 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Grellier, Quentin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9cc670pb This research assesses how the City of Oakland is meeting the basic transportation needs of its residents, defined by their ability to safely and comfortably use critical infrastructure such as sidewalks, roads, street lighting, street trees, and curb ramps. The study investigates the relationship between neighborhood demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and the quality and availability of transportation assets, aiming to determine if these resources are distributed equitably.The analysis utilized geospatial datasets on pavement condition, curb ramp ADA compliance, sidewalk integrity, and street tree conditions. These factors were mapped and compared against OakDOT’s Priority Neighborhoods dataset, which assigns each of the City’s 116 census tracts an equity priority designation. Findings reveal inequities in infrastructure quality. Issues like deteriorating pavement, non-ADA-compliant curb ramps, and severe sidewalk damage are disproportionately distributed, with many... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9cc670pb Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Yau, Laura https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7qs4112p This report evaluates the extent to which federally funded Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) projects align with restorative justice (RJ) principles, focusing on three case studies: two in Pasadena and one in San Diego. Drawing from a mixed-method approach, the research integrates a literature review of freeway-related harm, spatial analysis of displacement vulnerability, and a comparative evaluation of project merit criteria. The analysis highlights how historical infrastructure decisions disproportionately displaced low-income communities of color, producing long-term socioeconomic and environmental inequities that persist today. While federal initiatives such as RCP and Justice40 mark a significant policy shift, their effectiveness hinges on implementation.Findings from both Pasadena projects demonstrate strong alignment with community-led planning and anti-displacement strategies, though public responses revealed tensions between historical acknowledgment and present-day... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7qs4112p Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chung, Casey https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4s62m0sh This report directly supports San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)’s equity goals by identifying past inequities in service delivery, planning, and community engagement––particularly during the city’s transition from private railway companies to publicly funded municipal transit. This report focuses on the priority neighborhoods Lakeview, Oceanview, Merced Heights, and Ingleside Terraces (LOMI), home to multigenerational communities of color. Many residents in these areas are homeowners but may have limited disposable income, which can create financial challenges. To understand how access to public transportation has been shaped by past SFMTA decisions, a qualitative analysis of historical documents, books, and digital archives was conducted to analyze public transit developments in LOMI neighborhoods between 1938 and 1971. This research was complemented by ten interviews with current and former residents capturing personal narratives often absent from institutional... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4s62m0sh Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Lam, Mara Till, Jasmine Abou Zanaid, Dania Eldib, Lauren Escalante, Joaquin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4nm8f95z Bicycle boulevards, also known as neighborhood greenways, are low-speed, low-volume residential streets with traffic calming measures designed to help pedestrians and less-confident bicyclists feel comfortable sharing the road with vehicles. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) aims to incorporate best practices from other cities’ bike boulevards to incorporate into their “Stress-Free Connections” project, an effort to enhance the bicycle and pedestrian network citywide. This research analyzed the bike boulevard planning and implementation process in three cities, Long Beach, Minneapolis, and Albuquerque, by conducting nine interviews with practitioners and community advocates in combination with a review of associated plans, city council minutes, news articles, blogs, and social media posts. This research found that popular design treatments for vehicle speed and volume management as well as the facilitation of safe crossings included mini traffic circles, traffic... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4nm8f95z Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chan, Annie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4f7320x0 Transportation is often necessary for accessing food, medical care, income, and other essential services. This study examines how nine major benefit programs serving low-income households in Los Angeles County, including CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, and transportation-specific programs like Metro LIFE and Metrolink Mobility-4-All, currently support transportation access. Within each program, this analysis evaluates transportation support, enrollment accessibility, and opportunities for integrating transportation across benefit programs. The results show that seven of the nine programs offer some form of transportation benefit, but the level and nature of support for mobility needs vary widely. This analysis defines meaningful transportation access as the ability to use multiple modes of transportation and reach various types of destinations. While most programs offer some form of mobility assistance, these benefits are typically limited to a single mode or destination type, and... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4f7320x0 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 De Santos Quezada, Veronica https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1p58536m In 2016, the City of Los Angeles Planning Commission produced the Mobility Plan 2035, an element of the General Plan, which includes bicycle path projects. The city of Los Angeles has struggled to implement the Green Network (Class I Bicycle Path Network) included in the Mobility Plan 2035 and disproportionately distributes cycling infrastructure and green space to more affluent, White neighborhoods. This project aims to answer two research questions: What is the state of existing bicycle path infrastructure in the city of Los Angeles? Given the city’s goals and plans related to bicycle path infrastructure, how should the agency prioritize projects? To answer these questions, I draw on other infrastructure prioritization models and the goals of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to develop a model for prioritizing projects. The model most heavily weights the Equity, Safety, and Network Expansion aspects of projects. It also prioritizes bicycle path segments that... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1p58536m Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Hamilton, Madilynn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/54b300qj This report offers starting points for fulfilling objectives identified by Our Streets Action Committee (OSAC), a Los Angeles-based coalition of organizations focused on transportation equity and mobility justice.The report is organized around four topics:1. Indicators of Mobility (In)Justice explores data tools for visualizing the infrastructure and safety deficits we know overburden many of Los Angeles’ communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.2. Change in Paradigm: Reparative Models of Engagement lays out the shift needed to move urban planning from an extractive practice to a reparative one that builds regenerative cities, as well as examples of how planners and community organizations are accelerating this transition.3. The Funding Analysis examines how the region funds Los Angeles’ street infrastructure development and maintenance and suggests directions for increasing priority investments.4. Political Strategy for Mobility Organizing offers analysis of Los Angeles... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/54b300qj Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Angon, Zeltzin Becerra, Yesenia Chacon, Genevieve Donovan, Michael Fisher, Kimberly Leyva, Joanny Lopez, Jessica Mutoni, Divine Nahl, William D Ong, Dominique Ortega, Dilia Swint, Rebecca S Shockley, Kelsey Teves, Cristina Ventura, Ariella https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5f48f7tg Extreme commuting is increasing worldwide, especially in urban areas, driven by factors like limited affordable housing and job opportunities. In Los Angeles, individuals, particularly those in lower-income jobs, often face long commutes due to affordable housing constraints and proximity to job centers. Extreme commutes refer to spending 180 minutes or more traveling to and from work. This report expands on this concept to define ‘extreme travel,’ which aims to include travel to all destinations.This report examines how extreme travel affects economic, social, environmental, and health outcomes for lower-income people living, working, or studying in the San Fernando Valley (SFV) through a collaborative effort with Pacoima Beautiful (PB). PB is an environmental justice community-based organization primarily serving Northeast San Fernando Valley Latinx communities. The report investigates the causes of extreme travel, the impacts on socioeconomic, health, and environmental outcomes,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5f48f7tg Tue, 9 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Rios Gutierrez, Alejandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8ww9345v This paper explores the enduring impact of freeway construction on urban neighborhoods and communities, focusing on Los Angeles. The legacy of freeways in Los Angeles, often and purposefully constructed through marginalized communities during the mid-20th century for the benefit of white suburbanites, is reflected in significant social, economic, and environmental symptoms today. This paper also examines de-freeway methods to reconnect these divided communities, assessing their need and effectiveness through data analysis and case studies.The case studies presented in this paper offer a diverse range of solutions. They include the capping of I-5 for Freeway Park in Seattle, the tunneling of the Central Artery for Boston's Big Dig, the activation of I-5 underpasses for Chicano Park in San Diego, and the creation of the Ricardo Lara embankment park along the I-105 freeway in Lynnwood. These examples provide valuable insights into the processes, challenges, and successes of de-freeway... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8ww9345v Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Handel, Hudson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8gd2p9z3 Los Angeles County's 15-year initiative to overhaul its transportation infrastructure aims to reduce car reliance and promote public transit, walking, and cycling through dense, transit-oriented development (TOD) near stations. Despite significant investment, numerous challenges remain including bureaucratic obstacles, declining per capita ridership, and concerns about displacement and gentrification. The study evaluated LA Metro rail stations' impact on nearby communities, using ACS data from 2009 to 2022 to analyze demographic, housing, and mode choice changes within a half-mile radius of stations built between 2010 and 2020.Findings indicated increased population density, racial diversification, and higher education levels near stations. Median household income and housing costs surged, signaling economic growth and gentrification. Urban renewal was evident with increased construction activity, rising rent and home values, and rise in remote work. Decline in public transportation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8gd2p9z3 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Stauber, Adria https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cq440z3 This project focuses on carless and car-deficit households in the Westlake-MacArthur Park and Pacoima-Panorama City neighborhoods that have experienced challenges in traveling to their destinations due to their limited access to household vehicles. Car ownership in the U.S. is causally linked with positive economic outcomes such as being employed, gaining employment, working additional hours, and earning higher wages (Brown, 2017). In the U.S., however, “carless” households, or zero-car households, make up 7% of all households, and “car-deficit” households, households with fewer cars than drivers, make up 15% of all households (Blumenberg et al., 2020). Those who do not own a vehicle or do not always have access to one due to financial and health/age constraints, however, are left to navigate on modes other than the private vehicle to meet their transportation needs.Using quantitative and qualitative methods, I find that carless and car-deficit respondents from Pacoima-Panorama... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cq440z3 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Suzukawa, Alyssa https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r3286pg In this study, I explore the potential of Sidewalk Autonomous Delivery Robots (SADRs) to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce emissions, with a particular focus on the on-demand food delivery industry. As online food delivery continues to expand, the number of delivery vehicles on urban roads has increased, exacerbating traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. SADRs, characterized by their small size, fully electric operation, and primarily sidewalk-based movement, are emerging as a promising technology to mitigate these issues. However, past research on the traffic and environmental impacts of SADRs within the context of on-demand delivery services remains limited.To address this research gap, I utilized data from Coco Delivery, a SADR company based in Los Angeles. Combining these data with continuous approximation (CA), the EMFAC2021 data, and the eGRID dataset, I estimated the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and emissions of conventional human-operated delivery vehicles under... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r3286pg Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chu, Yu-Chen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2m1257zm The travel experiences of unhoused women in Los Angeles present a critical yet underexplored aspect of urban mobility and homelessness. This report aims to fill the gap in literature addressing the unique travel patterns and challenges this group faces, emphasizing the need for solutions tailored to their mobility needs. Interviews with unhoused women in Los Angeles were conducted to gauge their travel patterns and primary safety concerns. Interviews took place in Van Nuys and Little Tokyo to reflect the differences in travel experiences between the suburbs and the inner city. Homelessness resources are more concentrated in Central City Los Angeles, where Little Tokyo is located, providing a model for what could be possible in terms of mobility, safety, and access to public transportation. Conversely, in Van Nuys, resources are sparse and spread out, compelling unhoused women to travel greater distances and optimize their travel time by multitasking.Key takeaways include reliance... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2m1257zm Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, DaYoung https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2b76k03c This project aims to improve public transportation in Siskiyou County through data analytics, case studies, and innovative transportation models, with goals to increase ridership, optimize route coverage, and enhance system efficiency. The approach includes quantitative data analysis using LODES, Google Maps POI, and STAGE transit data, alongside a comprehensive literature review and an assessment of current system accessibility. Semi-structured interviews with local planners, city officials, and transit professionals provide additional insights. The access analysis reveals significant gaps in coverage for lodging, tourist attractions, home locations, and work locations. Proposed interventions include a South County Hub-and-Spoke System, Siskiyou Seasonal Explorer Programs, partnered and subsidized rideshare, and community engagement initiatives. Identified grant opportunities, such as the FTA Section 5310 program, the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2b76k03c Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lewis, Mia https://escholarship.org/uc/item/273819w7 California has set the goal of being carbon neutral by 2045 to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Transportation continues to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state and even with a shift to zero-emission vehicles, the path to climate neutrality requires a reduction in per-capita Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). To meet these goals, various road pricing strategies have been proposed and are being implemented across the state. This report aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of what road pricing can and cannot achieve, and how different projects align with the state’s goals of reducing VMT and greenhouse gas emissions. The study involved interviews with 14 officials from city, regional, and state agencies, and analyzed case studies of existing and proposed road pricing projects.Findings indicate that road pricing can effectively reduce congestion along a corridor and generate revenue. However, differences in perspectives exist between state... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/273819w7 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Florin, Alexandria https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1rz9q7z9 This report assesses the current and near-future conditions related to the disposal of Battery Electric Buses, specifically their batteries. The report begins by explaining the reasons and legislation in the current day which is pushing the adoption of zero emission buses as well as the growing interest in exploring new reuse and recycling methods. The subsequent section consists of interview responses from various transit agencies currently planning on electrifying their fleet, cataloging their concerns and options for disposal that are currently being considered. Following is a section with interview content from bus manufacturers on the current state of battery design and policies, as well as an exploration of future services possibly offered by these companies. The report then focuses on summarizing general trends in the US battery recycling and reuse market, as well as resources for transit agencies, to determine which disposal strategy is right for them. Finally, the report... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1rz9q7z9 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Cribioli, Matthews https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hs0r43v This report aims to investigate the community engagement process so planners can more effectively work with communities and reckon with the historical trauma caused by planners in the past. Planning as an industry is responsible for the forceful removal of communities under the name of “urban decay” and is a direct cause of why some communities remain impoverished today. This history has not been long forgotten; it continues to live on in the communities directly affected, and trust when working with public agencies is low. Public agencies must understand this trauma as they work with these communities to build a better future. This report chronicles the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station joint development process by interviewing Little Tokyo residents and other stakeholders involved with the process and examining archival documents. While relatively small, Little Tokyo has a long history of asserting its autonomy in community development issues. I highlight the history of community-based... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hs0r43v Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Kohaya, Brian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6d073173 This research is intended to support the implementation of a program led by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to support new transportation-related pilot projects in the region through 2026. Although pilot projects have become popular in transportation planning and other policy sectors, often to test new technologies or ideas before fully committing to them, agencies are struggling to turn their successful pilots into permanent programs. To further analyze the use of transportation pilots in the U.S., 15 interviews with practitioners were conducted and seven case studies of specific projects were analyzed. Findings revealed many shared experiences across agencies, despite their unique circumstances. Identifying long-term funding and adequate staff capacity were some of the most commonly cited challenges, but pilots can also come up against unexpected external barriers. Pilot-operating staff must be adaptable and willing to make significant adjustments or... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6d073173 Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Dine, Jo https://escholarship.org/uc/item/91p6c5zv In Los Angeles, bus shelters are a crucial source of relief from the heat and lighting after dark, but shelters are inadequately and inequitably distributed throughout the City. Although the City is making significant progress towards increasing the number of shelters and distributing them more equitably, there is limited understanding of how site constraints may limit shelter installation at priority locations or how other aspects of the built environment affect the distribution of adequate shade and nighttime lighting. To address these gaps, this project assessed the adequacy of shade and lighting at bus stops in Los Angeles, the alignment between the current locations of bus shelters and priority bus stops, and the magnitude and spatial distribution of site constraints that create obstacles to the installation of bus shelters. It combined an in-depth analysis of three neighborhoods (Sawtelle, Sun Valley, and Watts) that used original data collected during 202 nighttime site... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/91p6c5zv Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Reginald, Monisha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3v1245pc This project is a mixed-methods case study of a completed freeway-to-boulevard project in Rochester, New York. To spatially assess potential benefits to quality of life, I compared the years before and after the project was completed in the area surrounding the Inner Loop East using a combination of census data, air quality estimates, asthma ED-visit rate data, traffic volume data, and bicycle/pedestrian counts. I also interviewed planners, community advocates, and residents about the project. Evidence from the interviews was supplemented with document analysis of news coverage, social media commentary, public meeting notes, and city planning documents. Through this case study, I found that the Rochester Inner Loop East Transformation project succeeded in improving mobility and connectivity and creation of new affordable housing units, but that it likely also contributed to gentrification in the area and displacement of Black and low-income residents. I identified key lessons... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3v1245pc Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Pugh, Carolyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hd6x856 Re-Inventing the Bus Stop: Design Guidelines and Analysis for Transit-Friendly Parklets in Alameda County https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8hd6x856 Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Kaufman, Ben https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7qr125bt This project analyzes various decision-making frameworks for climate adaptations within the context of streetscape cooling interventions. By focusing on the streetscape, the project brings together the complex issues facing governance, climate science, and community to analyze a specific hazard within an important component of the urban environment. Our goal was to find the contributing factors of the streetscape to the UHI and understand non-carbon impacts of the UHI and how to address those impacts. We determined three primary contributors to the UHI at the streetscape: impervious surfaces; vegetation (or lack thereof); and anthropogenic heat generation. With these in mind, we discuss three major cooling interventions for streetscape: cool pavement; transit shelters; and, tree canopy. Focusing on reducing the contributing factors to UHI (impervious surfaces, vegetation, and anthropogenic heat), we may be able to avoid the single metric of success thinking that has slowed cool... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7qr125bt Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Sims, Madeleine https://escholarship.org/uc/item/18t247ft In 2019, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s (LADOT) micromobility program brought together the agency, scooter operators, and other stakeholders to create a holistic regulatory framework that established operational requirements and expectations to promote the safe and effective use of micromobility scooters, primarily dockless e-scooters, and e-bikes. While the program has effectively expanded the usage of micromobility and mitigated externalities associated with dockless vehicle programs, it has been less effective at ensuring access, particularly in underserved neighborhoods such as the Equity-Focused Mobility Development Districts. In a mixed-methods approach, we combine micromobility data from LADOT, interviews with private operators and community-based organizations, and case studies of micromobility equity programs in other US cities to inform our three policy recommendations for LADOT. The three key policy levers are a reduction in the number of operators allowed... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/18t247ft Fri, 7 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Cheung, Abraham Murillo, Alberto Chang, Chia Yun Ishikura, Masamichi Perloff-Giles, Nicholas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7kh529nv Transportation financing has historically relied on revenue from the gas tax. In recent years, however, the gas tax has faltered in its ability to support transportation projects. Policymakers and planners are currently searching for options to either supplement or replace the gas tax, one of them being a road user charge (RUC). With RUC being a reasonable solution to the funding crisis, many states, including California, have implemented pilot programs to explore its feasibility. While pilot programs and research often mention electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in their scope, most do not acknowledge how carbon emissions may change when adding a price to driving, since EVs do not currently pay for their road use. In order to address this gap, this project relies on a carbon model with three financing scenarios. Results indicate that the optimal funding solution to address funding and climate goals is a dual funding scheme (Scenario 2), which yields the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7kh529nv Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Seiberg, Rachel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q10k2tt As California aims to curb its transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, policymakers and planners are implementing strategies to disincentivize single occupancy vehicle (SOV) use. Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a global non-profit organization specializing in community development and design. KDI was interested in understanding the most gender and racially-equitable approaches to disincentivize driving, given Los Angeles' dispersed development pattern and decentralized job centers. This capstone research project aims to better understand whether one proposed method of reducing SOV use—pricing parking—disproportionately affects people of color and female and gender minority drivers. The project uses a mixed-methods approach, beginning with a review of relevant academic literature to understand travel behavior, the theory behind pricing parking, and the equity implications of raising transportation costs. The research design also includes an analysis of the USC Understanding... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q10k2tt Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Savignano, Elena https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3p17j577 Despite cuts to bus service in Los Angeles, bus ridership has remained high compared to other cities, showing LA’s reliance on the bus. Bus riders deserve better service, and transit agencies have been turning to the bus lane as a low-cost and reliable way to improve bus service. This study answered the research question through case studies of bus lane implementation in Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Sydney. This study found that pilot project bus lanes, also known as tactical lanes, provide immediate low-cost benefits while also collecting public input from riders and motorists. Bus lane implementation can be a political battle, and often hinges on the support of key political and transit agency players. Matching the type of bus lane to the corridor requires consideration of physical space and political realities. Automated bus lane enforcement through cameras is low cost and avoids interactions between police and people. Bus lane designs that prevent drivers from parking or... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3p17j577 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Liu, Kevin R https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9p54s4w8 Mayor Garcetti launched the temporary Al Fresco Program in the City of Los Angeles to allow outdoor dining to support economically distressed eateries in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and stay-at-home orders. Since the program's inception, the City of Los Angeles has had a goal of a 50% participation rate in disadvantaged communities. The report aims to explore barriers disadvantaged communities face to apply to the L.A. Al Fresco program and finds solutions to increase program participation in these communities. The researcher conducted an eligibility survey of 7 and from that group 5 in-depth interviews with food and beverage establishment owners to understand the barriers to participating in the L.A. Al Fresco Program and the impact of COVID. Along with qualitative analysis, the report found that 27% of active eateries in the City of Los Angeles currently participate in the L.A. Al Fresco program. Interviewees expressed how they are still recovering economically from COVID-19,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9p54s4w8 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Montaño, Brittany https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95h3g0pz Cities are continually turning towards more sustainable modes of transportation as many adopt initiatives and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase quality of life. Active transportation is positioned at the center of this shift as many cities continually untether themselves from car travel and turn to walking/cycling as an alternative.One of the most effective alternatives to vehicular travel are bicycles, specifically electric bicycles (E-bikes). Cycling offers several mental and physical health benefits, and E-bikes dramatically reduce physical barriers to cycling through the addition of an electric motor that aids the user in propelling their bicycle. Bike Share programs have been active in North America for decades and have historically been the most accessible option for bicycle access to those who do not want the costs and responsibilities associated with ownership. As the need for public funding in Bike Share increases, some cities are turning to alternative... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95h3g0pz Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Shaw, Elliot https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4sf8b24j This research aims to prioritize safety on the Muni system from a gender equity perspective and inform the Safety Equity Initiative of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). A mixed-method approach was used, including a survey of Muni transit riders (n = 1,613), to explore experiences of gender-based harassment and perceptions of safety while riding Muni. The findings reveal a significant prevalence of gender-based harassment, with 67 percent of respondents reporting experiences in the last six months. Perceptions of safety are low, with only 68 percent feeling safe during the daytime and 32 percent feeling safe at nighttime. Certain populations, including women, gender minorities, transit-dependent riders, and non-white riders, experience higher levels of harassment and lower perceptions of safety. Spatial analysis identifies harassment hotspots in downtown San Francisco and Mission Terrace. Reporting incidents is often hindered by reluctance, lack of awareness,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4sf8b24j Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Cowan, Greer Liu, Pearl https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1mt202kt Adopted in April 2021, the City of Beverly Hills Complete Streets Plan includes a holistic bicycle network that has since been in the works for implementation. The vision prioritizes an accelerated installation of crucial east-west and north-south low-stress bicycle facilities to provide access to schools, parks, commercial areas, and the Metro Purple Line stations, connected with existing bikeways within and outside the City of Beverly Hills.However, the recommended holistic network was developed pre-Covid. The City would like to establish whether the existing bicycle network and proposals presented in the Complete Streets Plan would still produce a low-stress network, or if the network should be revised with different streets or bicycle facility types.For this analysis, I developed a research design that prioritized utilizing traffic data in tandem with best practices identified with the guidelines examined in my literature review. I began my research through a collection of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1mt202kt Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Lin, Kaitlyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14p2d8v0 The intercity and intercounty public systems in the Southern California region still need to be fully integrated, which presents challenges to riders, like paying fares and accessing fare discounts, receiving real-time travel information, and making seamless intermodal transfers. Los Angeles County alone has 26 municipal transit agencies. Los Angeles Metro's (Metro) position as the primary and largest transit agency serving Los Angeles gives it the influence to lead integration efforts. Outside of Los Angeles County, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Riverside Transit Agency (RTA), San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), and Metrolink operate services that provide transit access between LA County and destinations in the Southern California region. Yet, the organization of these transit providers creates a complex transit system governance structure that challenges coordination across operators –limited coordination results in a fragmented regional transit... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14p2d8v0 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Garvanne, Isabelle https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3j95x9xc Within the US, Los Angeles has been at the forefront of making efforts to factor gender inclusivity into transportation planning. In 2021, LADOT released Changing Lanes: A Gender Equity Transportation Study, which found that LA’s current transportation system is not adequately serving low-income and BIPOC women, girls, and gender minorities. To address these inequities, LADOT is taking the next steps to implement gender-inclusive transportation infrastructure design strategies. This capstone, Designing Streetscapes for Gender Inclusivity, presents case studies on infrastructure that supports walking, biking, rolling, and waiting and strategies that can improve comfort and safety in transportation environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with planners from five transportation agencies: the Seattle Department of Transportation, the New York City Department of Transportation, TriMet (Portland Region), the Minneapolis Department of Public Works, and the Austin Transportation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3j95x9xc Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Frank, Sophie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/10g54017 The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) initiated the Slow Streets program to create opportunities for multimodal transportation and outdoor recreation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The program initially used low-cost barricades and signage to demarcate Slow Street segments before upgrading to six new traffic calming measures, or countermeasures, in Phase 2 that were designed to reduce speeds. This report evaluated their effectiveness through analyzing StreetLight speed data and employing a custom formula comparing speed changes on Slow Street segments to estimate each countermeasure’s speed-reducing effect. Nearly half of the segments experienced speed increases after countermeasure installation. Though it was difficult to attribute these speed increases to any reasons with certainty, we speculate that the countermeasures may not have caused great enough changes in street geometries to significantly alter driver behaviors and reduce speeds. Drivers may be using Slow... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/10g54017 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Zeng, Jackson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93d092ht Removing a center turn lane from a three-lane road does not appear to interfere with safety goals. In fact, in some cases, it appears it may improve safety. I compared streets with a center turn lane to those that once had a center turn lane, but later removed it. The streets that once had center turn lanes — but later removed them in favor of treatments such as bike lanes — registered an average of 42% fewer crashes per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) than the comparison streets with center turn lanes. Furthermore, the additional safety benefits held up when measuring across a selection of sub-crash groups, such as fatal and severe crashes and pedestrian and bicycle collisions. While a before-and-after analysis suggested that part of this effect can be attributed to lower crash densities on our treatment streets, this did not invalidate the fact that these streets still observed absolute reductions in crash rates after the removal of a center turn lane, suggesting that center... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93d092ht Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Rosen, Michael https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58819232 Curb parking is notoriously difficult to find in certain parts of New York City (NYC). NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering implementing demand-responsive pricing for its passenger metered spaces to manage parking demand. This is a pricing mechanism whereby the price of curb parking fluctuates spatially and temporally in accordance with expected or actual demand. This report assesses successful permanent citywide implementations of demand-responsive curb pricing in San Francisco and Seattle to determine the most effective strategies for NYC DOT: these include using meter transaction data and historical occupancy data to estimate current parking occupancy and exploring possibilities of vehicle-mounted license plate recognition technology. To help make demand-responsive pricing more efficient and politically acceptable, the city can implement additional policies such a two-tier system for disability placards to target placard abuse or parking benefit districts to... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58819232 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Kapshikar, Purva https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1p53w0bx The temporary L.A. Al Fresco outdoor dining program provided crucial support to restaurants, bars and cafes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research performs an economic analysis of the program, comparing parking meter revenue with sales tax revenue and compares treatment corridors with Al Fresco to control corridors without Al Fresco. Results show the program has been successful in keeping more than 80% of businesses open during the pandemic. Treatment corridors with Al Fresco generated an increase of $12 million in gross sales in 2022 compared to 2019. The City of Los Angeles stands to benefit economically and socially by transitioning into a permanent L.A. Al Fresco program. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1p53w0bx Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Rossmore, Graham https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fx2c8pn This research project analyzes the distribution of bus shelters at Los Angeles Metro bus stops and the process for funding, building and maintaining bus shelters in unincorporated areas. The study employs quantitative methods using data from Metro, the County, and other publicly available data to measure distribution along three geographies (Supervisorial Districts, unincorporated areas, and Supervisorial District 2), and four equity measures to characterize neighborhoods with unsheltered bus stops (heat exposure, access to shade, wait time, and socio-economic and transit-related conditions). The study also uses qualitative methods to examine Public Works’ process for implementing bus shelters in unincorporated areas. The analysis shows that Supervisorial District 2 has the greatest bus shelter need compared to other County districts. In addition, Public Works is at a critical moment for bus shelter development in unincorporated Los Angeles County as it seeks to replace all ad-shelters... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fx2c8pn Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Yoon, Anne https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g45289f Since the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2021, high schools and nonprofits are now (re)eligible for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding. This capstone’s client, Trailnet, is an active transportation non-profit based in St. Louis, Missouri, where the capstone project will center its work. Trailnet has tasked this project with addressing three questions: 1) why there is a lack of programmatic funding in the St. Louis region 2) how current successful/engaged SRTS programs around the nation are operating and 3) how Trailnet could practically support local school districts. In pursuit of these questions, this capstone followed a three-prong approach. By conducting informational interviews with national SRTS practitioners, working with a local school district (Bayless), and researching funding evaluation criteria in the region, we were able to highlight both challenges and opportunities for kids walking and biking to school in St. Louis. Specifically, we address the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g45289f Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Zhang, Jin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sh96890 Bus lanes in Los Angeles have rapidly increased in the past ten years. Bus lanes are lanes designated exclusively for buses on general traffic streets. Understanding if bus lanes make streets safer for all users is imperative, especially in a city like Los Angeles where traffic fatalities are rampant. This study considers if there are differences in severe and fatal traffic collisions among streets with all-day bus lanes, peak hour bus lanes, and no bus lanes. A descriptive statistical analysis of crash data revealed that collisions increased on all studied bus lane corridors except one peak hour bus lane. Collisions became less severe and less fatal on all studied bus lane corridors. Collisions either stayed constant or decreased on corridors with no bus lane, but fatality and severe-injury outcomes were mixed. Site visits to corridors with a decrease and increase in collisions found similarly accommodated bus lanes, but other key differences that may have contributed to their... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sh96890 Thu, 14 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Felix, Erik https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53z583bt Los Angeles has adopted a “Vision Zero” policy to eliminate, or at the very least meaningfully reduce, fatal and severe traffic collisions. A road diet, also known as a “lane reconfiguration”, consists of converting vehicle travel lanes to other uses in order to serve safety or transportation-related goals. It is a tool that can help achieve the Vision Zero policy goal by discouraging speeding and reducing risky lane changes to improve road safety. This report studies the safety impacts of high ADT road diets to determine whether the existing 20,000 ADT threshold should be revisited. I compared collisions and speeds on five high ADT road diet corridors to 16 similar multi-lane, untreated streets segments in Los Angeles. Collision rates in the high ADT road diet corridors were 44% lower than in the comparison corridors. Fatal injuries were 200% lower and severe injuries were 37% lower. The average vehicle travel time for the comparison corridors was only about 11 seconds faster... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53z583bt Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Venegas, Kimberly https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4x04003s The COVID-19 pandemic has left future travel to work behavior uncertain since most office employees have not yet returned to commuting to five days per week. This uncertainty underscores the precarious future of American commuter rail, with existing rail service narrowly focused on connecting suburbs to downtown employment centers. The goal of this project is to answer the following question: what factors motivate travelers to switch from driving alone to riding commuter rail? The recommendations of this study were informed by a literature review, two surveys conducted with existing and potential Metrolink riders, and a review of other commuter rail agencies’ pandemic ridership and recovery efforts. Research focused on how to incentivize mode shift through a behavioral science perspective has provided ideas that broadly fall into three categories: “try transit” exposure programs; technologies that are either gamification-based apps or trip planning tools that provide information... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4x04003s Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Owen, Elizabeth https://escholarship.org/uc/item/49w2j9cn Access to safe, affordable, and reliable vehicle transportation in Los Angeles (LA) is not equitably distributed. Low-income and households of color often have private vehicle access rates far lower than city-wide averages. Carsharing, the practice of users renting cars for short periods of time, has the potential to greatly improve private vehicle transportation equity in LA while also bringing other key benefits to the city.The client for this report, the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance, specifically wanted to examine how a peer-to-peer (P2P) carshare pilot program could be designed to maximize the benefits for LA. To research this topic, the authors of this report did an extensive literature review, conducted interviews with key stakeholders, reviewed both public and private documents from carshare companies, and performed a statistical analysis on trip data from carshare operators. The City of LA continue and expand its partnership with the station-based carshare... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/49w2j9cn Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Byrd, Michaela Diaz, Richard King, Steven Luong, Ha Seto, Atsushi https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0np6b5sn As city and regional officials aspire to promote multimodal transportation, meet environmental sustainability goals, and reduce personal vehicle dependence, mobility hubs are gaining in popularity. Mobility hubs are centralized locations where travelers can conveniently access a growing number of public and private mobility options – including shared bicycles, scooters, and cars, and shared rides delivered by ridehailing and microtransit services. These hubs extend the reach of public transportation networks, safely connect people from one travel mode to another, and make it easier to consider options other than driving alone. Featuring people-focused infrastructure design, these hubs can also serve as focal points for accessing goods and services by centering safety and accessibility for vulnerable travelers, including women, people with disabilities, and BIPOC travelers. This report details lessons learned from mobility hub programs in four geographic areas – Columbus, Ohio;... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0np6b5sn Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Arseneault, Doug https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32f652h4 People without adequate transportation can often have trouble getting to medical appointments and miss or delay their care (Syed et al., 2013). In 2017, 5.8 million people delayed or missed medical appointments due to a lack of transportation options (Wang 2021; Wolfe et al. 2020). This report evaluates the transportation challenges faced by patients seeking care at one of the Saban Community Clinic (SCC) locations. SCC is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides healthcare to patients who are underinsured or without insurance to a predominantly Latinx population. This report explored SCC patient transportation needs by examining the spatial patterns of patient residential locations, surveying patient transportation needs, and evaluating an SCC effort to reduce transportation barriers by offering free Lyft rides to patients. Findings reveal that unreliable transportation options in addition to lack of affordability and limited accessibility results in transportation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32f652h4 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Rios Gutierrez, Nataly https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vx6g2sb Access to opportunity is the idea that people have the means and ability to reach a destination that would in turn benefit them in a positive manner - this can include jobs, education, healthcare, and recreation. The purpose of this report is to inform and advise Los Angeles Metro and their stakeholders on ways in which access to opportunity can be measured and analyzed to improve services to positively impact marginalized communities. The guiding research questions of this project seek to identify how Metro can effectively and practically communicate and implement future programs in Los Angeles County and how Metro programs and projects impact access to social services, economic opportunities, and mobility options for communities throughout Los Angeles County. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6vx6g2sb Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Jacobo, Arturo Mora Camacho, Aurelia Parnes, Danielle Cruz, Luis Daniel Tirado Escareño, Paola Lu, Rachel Long, Zhendong https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4bn8h7n7 Cities and transit agencies, including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), are interested in shifting travel from solo driving to more sustainable modes, including transit, biking, walking, and other non-auto modes. As LA Metro and other agencies collect more data about their system and its users, there are many opportunities to apply that data to productively improve the system and drive policy. In this project, our primary goal was to identify a set of specific indicators Metro and other agencies could use to measure their success in the creation and provision of a high-quality non-auto mobility system for both existing users reliant on these modes as well as future users who shift from driving. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4bn8h7n7 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Mead-Newton, Miranda Guirguis, Paul Murshed, Antara Phan, Karen Schwartz, Ellen Silverstein, Ben https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4bd2t5sz The purpose of my research was to understand the transportation needs for residents living at the Century Villages of Cabrillo (CVC) in terms of increasing transportation access to groceries, and recommend interventions that would improve grocery access for residents. CVC is a 27-acre residential community located in the western part of Long Beach that caters to formerly-unhoused folks and veterans. The surrounding land uses and existing transportation conditions make it potentially challenging for community members without access to a car to get groceries. My research question therefore was ‘what are the transportation needs of community members of the Century Villages at Cabrillo to ensure they have access to groceries’. To answer this question, I used a quantitative approach where I surveyed 69 residents throughout the community about how they got to the grocery store, transportation challenges that they faced, and solutions they wanted to see CVC implement.The results revealed... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4bd2t5sz Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Fellague Ariouat, Aziz https://escholarship.org/uc/item/75j473v5 In order to uptake of electric vehicles (EV) into last mile delivery, we recommend the deployment of a combination of novel and existing policies to both encourage widespread EV uptake and discourage the use of diesel-based freight through zero emission delivery zones and purchase subsidies. Our research is composed of three methods: Interviews, Quantitative Modeling, and Quantitative Modeling. The interviews and quantitative analysis revealed that the burden on delivery companies is greater than the social benefits such as GHG reductions due to the large investment in EVs. The effectiveness of the policy combination was also confirmed. Using the three criteria of Political Feasibility, Efficiency, and Equity, we evaluated the policies using the Criteria-Alternative Matrix and concluded that the voluntary ZEDZ is the most effective stand-alone policy. Since no one pollutant reducing policy can meet all criteria effectively we recommend packaging various policies together. Our... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/75j473v5 Thu, 9 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Abe, Ryota Forbes, Matthew Marshall, Emily Navid, Marium Shepard, Karleigh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5949q7vf Every year, more than 200 people are killed in Los Angeles while walking, bicycling, or driving. In 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti launched a citywide Vision Zero initiative, which set a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2025. One key tool the city can use to improve traffic safety on dangerous roads is the road diet, a reconfiguration of lanes that removes vehicle travel lanes. Road diets often face opposition, though. This opposition typically stems from fear of increased traffic congestion and neighborhood cut-through traffic as well as doubt that road diets actually improve traffic safety. My project analyzes crash data, traffic count data, and bluetooth travel data on two similar streets in Northeast Los Angeles to gauge whether road diets have these effects. One of the streets underwent a road diet in 2016 while the other didn’t, making them an effective test case. My analysis of shows no evidence that the road diet caused unacceptable traffic conditions or additional neighborhood... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5949q7vf Thu, 9 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Graveline, Bryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/374794nn The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) cut back service at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and has been slowly rebuilding its service since. The SFMTA Board asks staff to conduct an equity analysis after each service change. To measure equity, SFMTA calculates the number of jobs that can be reached in a 30-, 45-, and 60-minute commute from specified “equity neighborhoods,” selected based on the percentage of households with low incomes, low rates of private vehicle ownership, and race and ethnicitydemographics.My research is the first step in automating these analyses in order to build a tool to optimize SFMTA service for job access from equity neighborhoods. I use open-source tools to build a model of transit across the Bay Area and calculate the number of jobs available within the specified commute times from each equity neighborhood. I find that although this tool is planned to help SFMTA improve its service, proximity to BART is the greatest predictor... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/374794nn Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Caro, Ryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/36k282c2 Despite significant focus from engineers and planners on the issue of traffic congestion, much less consideration has been given to the converse issue – at what point is too much land allocated to paved streets? This study was prompted by concerns about the negative fiscal, environmental, equity, and safety impacts of excess pavement in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. For streets with low utilization relative to traffic volume, repurposing some of this public space could improve fiscal sustainability, environmental resiliency, and equity in transportation infrastructure, and reduce traffic violence. The analysis defines and identifies streets segments in the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) planning region with the lowest ratio of vehicle traffic to design capacity, categorizing the lowest decile as having excess pavement. The most urban counties in the region (Dallas and Tarrant) have the highest share of excess pavement. Dallas County is particularly overrepresented,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/36k282c2 Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Jarnagin, Andrew https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34p9f3ww California has set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prompting stakeholders in the transportation sector to research ways to reduce vehicle miles of travel (VMT) through possible pricing strategies to incentivize less driving. The current transportation funding mechanism relies on the state gas tax. This tax is not a sustainable source of revenue since increases in the fuel economy of vehicles—absent an increase in the tax—will reduce revenue generation. One potential strategy for resolving this is a mileage-based user fee, also called a VMT fee. Rather than taxing the use of gasoline, a VMT fee directly taxes driving based on the number of miles driven. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is interested in understanding the equity implications of adopting a VMT tax since one concern that needs to be addressed before introducing a VMT fee is how the program might affect low-income drivers. This study draws on data from the 2017 National Household Travel... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34p9f3ww Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Park, Shinah https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0qn4n2sd Since its passing in 2017, Senate Bill 1 (SB1) has launched thousands of infrastructure projects across the state. Over the next decade, this $54 billion investment will work to achieve safety improvements, reduce traffic delays, improve goods movement, and increase options for transit. Identifying their significant role in transportation, this report posits social equity and climate change response as the main goals and objectives of SB1 projects. After analyzing program data, this report refocuses on the Local Streets and Roads (LSR) program, explaining the role of local roads in individual transportation choices, as well as defining them as a site to advance social equity and climate change goals. This analysis shows that the LSR program largely does not address key components of advancing social equity and climate change responses. This report recommends four actions that Caltrans staff can do to improve the rigor of program evaluation across SB1: (1) Establish Evaluation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0qn4n2sd Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Bressette, Ben https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7pk425v7 Charging Infrastructure Strategies: Maximizing the Deployment of Electric Drayage Trucks in Southern California https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7pk425v7 Wed, 6 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Bradley, Libby https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sc0v4pt Over the past decade, public transit operators in the Los Angeles region started experiencing steep declines in ridership, whilePasadena Transit was adding riders. More recently, however, Pasadena Transit’s ridership plateaued and then started todecrease. The Transit Division of the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation (“the Client”) is therefore interested inunderstanding what may be causing transit ridership to decline in its jurisdiction, what are the circumstances driving these changes, and what these causes and circumstances suggest for ways to make the system more attractive to riders. This projectaims to answer these questions by contrasting ridership trends with possible causal factors: vehicle access, commuting patterns, demographic changes (e.g., age), economic indicators (e.g., income), homelessness, and housing-market conditions. Increased vehicle ownership and use were discarded from the onset, since Pasadena residents, contrary to their L.A. County and Californiacounterparts,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sc0v4pt Wed, 6 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Peraza, Jesus https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9vw1j49n Where They're Coming From and How They're Getting Here: A Mobility Assessment on Little Tokyo’s Nonresident Population https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9vw1j49n Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Thai, Karen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9pg5f210 Designing Grand Streets in LA: Assessing Physical Design Elements https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9pg5f210 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Sanchez, Marissa https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9m14t14j Pathways to Play: Opportunities for the City of Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9m14t14j Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Kurtzman, Ryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9fv9n2bx Making Headways: An Analysis of Transit Demand on an Emerging Corridor in Vallejo, CA https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9fv9n2bx Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Marks, Christopher https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dm6r25n Measuring Risk of Residential Displacement Around LA Metro's New Light-Rail Stations  https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dm6r25n Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Stewart, Camille https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98h0n1xw Bicycle Parking in Residential Developments: A Dialogue Between Planners and Developers https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98h0n1xw Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Yu, Jenny https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97p7f680 Who Wins When Streets Lose Lanes? An Analysis of Safety on Road Diet Corridors in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97p7f680 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Martinez, Severin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9128n6tb Planes, Trains, and Storm Drains: The Effects of Transportation Infrastructure on Water Runoff in Los Angeles County https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9128n6tb Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Kleinman, Aviv https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qs8k259 Culver CityBus Ridership Analysis: System and Line-By-Line Ridership and Productivity Analysis Before and After the Opening of the Expo Line Phase 2 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qs8k259 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 He, Nicole https://escholarship.org/uc/item/88p8g43n Toward Zero Baltimore: An Analyzing of Intersection Related Pedestrian Crashes in the City of Baltimore https://escholarship.org/uc/item/88p8g43n Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Jain, Shikha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7tj7n7vh To Live and Ride in LA: Are Bike Lanes Making Angelenos Safer? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7tj7n7vh Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Taylor-Gratzer, Ryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7g49m16t Best Practices for Evaluating Vision Zero Projects https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7g49m16t Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Piethe, Colin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7c23j1ds Reclaiming the Road: Reshaping Transportation in Playa Vista https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7c23j1ds Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Callaghan, Cat https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6rw9878s Reducing Air Emissions Through Clean Ship Incentive Programs https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6rw9878s Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Labelle, Christophe Matsubayashi, Takuma Setyawati, Farah Titova, Anya Yuan, Yichuan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6j58h710 Improving the LA County Metro Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit Service https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6j58h710 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Gertz, Matthew https://escholarship.org/uc/item/65m809gc Community members of the Silver Lake Neighborhood in Los Angeles have recently been complaining about a parking issue in the area. They claim that parking is scarce, especially in residential areas, and have asked the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council to resolve the issue, perhaps with a public parking structure. Additionally, the neighborhood has a reputation of having a parking issue, and visitors perceive this scarcity as a problematic as well. Numerous parties have been blamed, such as businesses not providing enough parking, or even residents. The client believes that residents are using the infrastructure inefficiently (I.E. using supplied parking with their units as storage or converting the space into an extra room) and causing a spillover of parking onto the streets. As a result, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council has initiated this study, conducted by a UCLA graduate student in the Masters in Urban and Regional Program, to determine the extent of these claims and recommend... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/65m809gc Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Liang, Brian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63n23107 Taking Health to the LA Great Streets: Measuring Walking, Biking, and Safety https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63n23107 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Tran, Jimmy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6202m1b8 Bike Share Means Business: A Case Study of the Santa Monica Breeze Bike Share System https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6202m1b8 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Gorman, Owen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5tw7p54c Closing the Gap Between the Valley and the Westside: Improving the Performance of L.A. Metro’s Valley-Westside Express https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5tw7p54c Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 MacNiven, Lance C., Jr. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58b6f9mc Fleeing the Scene: Hit and Run Collisions in Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58b6f9mc Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 McCarron, Rosemary https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4qm9587g Maintenance in Transit: What Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) Means for the Future of Transit Asset Management https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4qm9587g Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Phipps, Henry https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4dd8h1vs The Bus Stops Here: Best Practices in Bus Stop Consolidation and Optimization https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4dd8h1vs Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Berez, Daniel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3tm7324h Assessing Elderly Mobility Needs in an Ethnic Enclave: A Case Study of Little Tokyo https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3tm7324h Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 DeGuzman, Jewel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3kg1h95s Peak Hour Parking Restrictions & Traffic Safety https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3kg1h95s Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Caswell, Marc https://escholarship.org/uc/item/35g0s8tz Electric Vehicle Charging at Work: Understanding Workplace PEV Charging Behavior to Inform Pricing Policy and Investment Decisions https://escholarship.org/uc/item/35g0s8tz Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Winn, Ryan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2nh564nt LA Metro Bike Share Program User & Non-User Perceptions: A Survey & Statistical Analysis https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2nh564nt Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Su, Jacqueline https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fd9f86n 2016 Bicycle Commuting Survey Report: Examining Barriers to Biking to Campus https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fd9f86n Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Ward, Daniella https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22f2f9mg Feasibility of Form-Based Code for Transit-Oriented Development https://escholarship.org/uc/item/22f2f9mg Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Chung, Michelle https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tt852v6 Curbside EV Charging Study for the City of West Hollywood https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tt852v6 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Ye, Chenlin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1cq9w0v0 Preparing for a Driverless Future: Strategies for the City of Los Angeles https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1cq9w0v0 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, Vivian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/178125sn Commuter Rail Maintenance Contracting: Analyzing The Impacts on Quality & Costs https://escholarship.org/uc/item/178125sn Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Unruh, Zoe https://escholarship.org/uc/item/16z2m7n2 Toward a Life in Balance: An Analysis of Commuting Characteristics and Jobs/Housing Balance in Southern California https://escholarship.org/uc/item/16z2m7n2 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Malderelli, Nicholas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0xj9t9pt Assessing Transit Need for the Los Angeles Arts District https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0xj9t9pt Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Popp, Zachary https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0c36z53f Making Headways: Strategies for Implementing Dedicated Bus Infrastructure in L.A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0c36z53f Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Fraade, Jordan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/089049vm Planning for Carshare: Pricing and Parking Findings and Recommendations for the City of Los Angeles' Electric Vehicle Carsharing Pilot Project https://escholarship.org/uc/item/089049vm Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Barberena, Betty https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9fh9k30n The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has allocated significant resources (time, money, political) to rework their bus network through the NextGen initiative, the first sweeping overhaul of the bus system in 25 years. Because such overhaul of a bus system requires extensive resources, the next major restructuring of Metro’s bus routes will not occur for at least another decade or two. Thus, it is imperative that Metro aligns their bus service where people actually travel to, rather than merely supporting existing Metro routes. This project analyzes major travel patterns across L.A. County to spot any possible bus service recommendations explicitly not identified in NextGen. Major travel is assessed utilizing Metro’s location-based service (LBS) cell-phone database, Metro's ridership data, and Census “OnTheMap” data. Though our analysis corroborates NextGen’s study revealing most trips in LA County are under 5 miles, we found notable exceptions. For... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9fh9k30n Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Mejia, Edgar https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8c08844w This report presents research into the funding categories and other characteristics of active Local Option Sales Taxes (LOSTs) throughout California, with specific focus on the extent to which they make resources available for public transit and the political context that makes it so. LOSTs have grown increasingly popular as a funding mechanism for transportation in California in the context of declining funding from other sources.We find that while LOSTs are increasingly common in California, they vary widely with regards to how they fund transit. In general, LOSTs in rural areas of the state fund transit less, with some of our conversations revealing a preference for additional funds in those areas but others asserting that between LOST funding and other resources such as Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, rural transit has adequate resources, at least to provide the current level of service. In attempting to characterize which resources are available to transit from... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8c08844w Thu, 1 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Amberg, Natalie Dasmalchi, Eric