Mobility, Land Use, and Urban Planning

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.

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared mobility gain traction, there’s an urgent need to quantify their land use impacts and reassess zoning requirements. The demand for traditional auto-serving facilities like gas stations, repair shops, and car dealerships is expected to wane, while the need for new types of spaces, such as fleet servicing centers and storage, will rise. This shift also redefines the layout and size of freight logistics areas to accommodate the integration of AV technology. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for urban planners and policymakers as they adapt zoning regulations to meet the evolving needs of urban landscapes. This research aims to provide concrete data on land use changes and identify zoning adjustments that support the transition towards a future where AVs and shared mobility solutions are prevalent, helping cities prepare for a sustainable and efficient transformation in urban land utilization.