Abstract
Transportation costs place a disproportionate financial burden on low-income households. Families in the lowest income quintile spend roughly 32 percent of their household income on transportation, which combined with housing costs, can consume nearly all their available budget. Transit affordability is typically addressed by providing discounted public transit fares. But transit alone cannot meet every trip need, and without access to a car or other affordable alternatives low-income travelers may forgo trips — reducing social connections, limiting employment opportunities, and eroding their well-being. To address this gap, Los Angeles’ Mobility Wallet Pilot Program, administered by LA Metro and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, provided 1,000 low-income residents in South Los Angeles $150 per month on a prepaid card. The card could be used across a range of shared transportation modes, including public transit, ridehail, carshare, bikes, scooters, and regional bus or rail. The research team interviewed 31 program participants before, during, and after the one-year pilot to understand changes in their travel patterns and the ongoing transportation challenges they face.
