Closing the Urban-Suburban Travel Gap for Low-income Travelers

Status

In Progress

Project Timeline

October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

Principal Investigator

Project Team

Madeline Brozen, Sang-O Kim

Campus(es)

UCLA

Project Summary

Building on a previous LA Metro Mobility Wallet pilot study, this project analyzes how $1,800 in transportation subsidies distributed to 2,000 participants influences travel outcomes between urban and suburban residents. Using a mobile app, the research team will collect travel behavior data from 500 research participants, in treatment and control groups, over a 7-day period. Participants will be from both urban and suburban areas, allowing researchers to create accurate travel estimates for both groups. Results will offer insights for agencies seeking to improve equity through targeted subsidies, such as LA’s Mobility Wallet program.