UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

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; Hamburg, Germany; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and San Diego County, California. Applying lessons learned from these early adopters, I recommend principles to guide FASTLinkDTLA’s approach to the mobility hub program design and development in Los Angeles County. These recommendations include: developing public-private sector champions; piloting multiple hub design and operational models; layering digital platforms onto exceptional physical amenities; conducting public engagement throughout design, testing, and operations; and securing local funding for hub network expansion and operations.