Modeling and Simulation Testbeds: A Sandbox for Analysis of New Mobility Deployed at Scale

2025-01-16T23:02:13-08:00

In the absence of extensive real-world data on operational strategies and new mobility solutions, including automated vehicles and emerging mobility options, the adoption of modeling and simulation testbeds emerges as a pivotal tool for evaluation at scale. However, while there is a substantial body of research on modeling and simulating new mobility solutions, much of this work remains theoretical and disconnected from the practical needs of practitioners and policymakers. There is a critical need for more applicable, robust, and validated simulation testbeds that can bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. These testbeds should be designed to meet the specific requirements of practitioners and policymakers, enabling them to evaluate new mobility solutions effectively and make informed decisions to improve accessibility, efficiency and sustainability of transportation systems.   

Modeling and Simulation Testbeds: A Sandbox for Analysis of New Mobility Deployed at Scale2025-01-16T23:02:13-08:00

Will New Mobility Services Fill Transit Service Gaps? (Phase 1)

2025-01-16T16:46:34-08:00

Transit accessibility remains an issue for many residents, particularly in low-income and minority areas. Additionally, empty buses run during off-peak or late-night hours and in suburban areas to meet coverage requirements, often resulting in inefficient resource allocation. This project will assess the potential for new mobility services (e.g., AVs and micromobility) to fill gaps in transit service and improve operational efficiency. 

Will New Mobility Services Fill Transit Service Gaps? (Phase 1)2025-01-16T16:46:34-08:00

Accessible Rendezvous with Automation at the Curb

2025-01-16T16:46:36-08:00

Autonomous vehicles, both individual and shared shuttles, offer significant mobility benefit to people with disabilities and others who lack use of a personal vehicle. However, they may also exacerbate existing barriers to human-driven shared ride services, such as policy violations, rendezvous failures, and poor curb location selection. We seek to address these barriers by identifying considerations for decisionmakers and service providers.

Accessible Rendezvous with Automation at the Curb2025-01-16T16:46:36-08:00

Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA)

2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00

AV deployments are rapidly expanding across multiple urban environments, yet current AV operations and planning are often hindered by limited access to standardized, real-time municipal data. Cities produce a wide range of data that could critically inform AV routing and decision-making, including 911 call logs, real-time street closures, construction activities, and emergency response events. However, these data are rarely available in a consistent standardized format suitable for AV consumption. The Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA) project aims to close this gap by identifying key municipal data sources, evaluating existing data standards, and developing a scalable, standardized data-sharing framework that can be integrated into AV operational systems. Through stakeholder engagement and data standards analysis, the project will enable AVs to proactively avoid potentially problematic areas (e.g., emergency incidents or active construction zones), thereby reducing conflicts with first responders, improving roadway safety, and optimizing traffic operations. Ultimately, the DATA project will foster replicability, support widespread industry adoption, and ensure that AVs can leverage city data efficiently and equitably, avoiding a fragmented “patchwork” of standards across different regions.

Data for Autonomous Transportation Awareness (DATA)2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00

Optimizing urban mobility: A data-driven approach to strategic Mobility Hub placement

2025-01-16T16:46:37-08:00

Cities desirous of developing a multi-modal mobility platform would need to provide travelers with seamless information about and access to a range of emerging mobility options, such as fixed-route or flex-route public transit, micro-transit, ride-sharing, car rentals, bike-sharing, scooters, moped, and walking routes. Those options altogether have potential to improve accessibility to essential resources regarding employment, health care and food. This research acquires mobility service data to understand travel behavior in choosing mobility options, optimize design of such a platform by optimally placing mobility hubs with multiple mobility options, with the ultimate goals of improving accessibility, sustainability and efficiency for underserved populations.

Optimizing urban mobility: A data-driven approach to strategic Mobility Hub placement2025-01-16T16:46:37-08:00

Scalable V2X Options into the Future: A Los Angeles Case Study

2025-01-16T16:46:37-08:00

Scalable Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions are essential for enhancing road safety and traffic efficiency in our communities. This project investigates scalable V2X options by considering global advancements and diverse technological ecosystems, utilizing all forms of V2X connectivity—including Cellular V2X (C-V2X), Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), and cellular networks—with Los Angeles serving as a case study. Currently, there's no comprehensive plan to implement these advanced vehicle communication technologies. Our aim is to develop a strategic plan to deploy V2X technology in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, and preparing for major events like the 2028 Olympic Games. By engaging with various stakeholders and building a practical plan, we hope to create a reference that can inform future deployments by Caltrans or other cities across the U.S.

Scalable V2X Options into the Future: A Los Angeles Case Study2025-01-16T16:46:37-08:00

Understanding transit, ridehail and micro mobility use among low-income mobility wallet recipients

2025-01-16T16:46:31-08:00

LA Metro is providing financial support to 1,000 low-income people to support their use of transit, ridehailing, scooters, bicycles, and other shared services as a part of their universal basic mobility efforts. In the previous pilot phase, most funds went towards transit and ridehailing services, raising concerns about whether ridehailing may replace transit trips. Collecting and analyzing observed data about participants' travel behavior is needed to understand this relationship.

Understanding transit, ridehail and micro mobility use among low-income mobility wallet recipients2025-01-16T16:46:31-08:00

Stakeholder Engagement Campaign with LA and Austin

2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00

The successful integration of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and new mobility solutions into urban environments faces challenges due to the complex interplay of technological advancements, diverse stakeholder interests, and unique local contexts. A lack of coordinated planning and collaboration among key stakeholders can lead to: - Fragmented approaches that lead to inefficient deployments, incompatible technologies, and missed opportunities to maximize the benefits of AVs and new mobility services. - Unforeseen consequences for land use, traffic flow, social impacts, and public acceptance. - Missing opportunities to use new automated vehicles and new mobility to address critical transportation challenges and achieve broader urban development goals. This project addresses this problem by facilitating collaborative, place-based planning processes that bring together stakeholders to develop comprehensive AV and new mobility strategies tailored to the specific needs and priorities of individual cities.

Stakeholder Engagement Campaign with LA and Austin2025-01-16T16:46:29-08:00
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