book/book chapter

Mobility 10X: Accelerating Transportation Innovation in California

Publication Date

January 28, 2026

Author(s)

Abstract

The magazine features 10 stories that highlight the breadth and impact of RIMI’s work across the UC ITS campuses— Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, and UCLA. It also draws on related research funded through the UC ITS SB1 program, established by California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, along with additional studies by UC ITS scholars and the broader research literature. Together, these efforts demonstrate how targeted research can achieve a 10x impact— shaping policy, influencing practice, and scaling solutions to California’s complex transportation challenges, from decarbonization to bolstering public transit and road safety. For policymakers, planners, and agency leaders, this magazine provides a roadmap for translating research into long-lasting, system-level improvements.

white paper

A Blueprint for Improving Automated Driving System Safety

Publication Date

July 1, 2024

Associated Project(s)

Safety Considerations for Automated Vehicles

Author(s)

Mollie Cohen D'Agostino, Cooper Michael, Marilia Ramos, Camila Correa Jullian

Areas of Expertise

Intelligent Transportation Systems, Emerging Technologies, & Big Data Safety, Public Health, & Mobility Justice

View white paper

Abstract

Vehicle automation represents a new safety frontier that may necessitate a repositioning of the safety oversight systems. This white paper serves as a primer on the technical and legal landscape of automated driving system (ADS) safety. It introduces the latest AI and machine learning techniques that enable ADS functionality. The white paper also explores the definitions of safety from the perspectives of standards-setting organizations, federal and state regulations, and legal disciplines. The white paper identifies key policy options building on topics raised in the White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, outlining a Blueprint for ADS safety. The analysis concludes that potential ADS safety reforms might include either reform of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), or a more holistic risk analysis “safety case” approach. The analysis also looks at caselaw on liability in robotics, as well as judicial activity on consumer and commercial privacy, recognizing that the era of AI will reshape liability frameworks, and data collection must carefully consider how to build in accountability and protect the privacy of consumers and organizations. Lastly, this analysis highlights the need for policies addressing human-machine interaction issues, focusing on guidelines for safety drivers and remote operators. In conclusion, this white paper reflects on the need for collaboration among engineers, policy experts, and legal scholars to develop a comprehensive Blueprint for ADS safety and highlights opportunities for future research.

Related Publications

policy brief

Vehicle Automation May Require New Safety Policies

policy brief

Understanding Today’s Used Car Buyers Can Help Grow the Market for Used Electric Vehicles

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Assessing the Total Cost of Ownership of Electric Vehicles among California Households

Author(s)

Debapriya Chakraborty, Theodora Konstantinou, Julia Beatriz Guiterrez Lopez, Gil Tal

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View policy brief

Abstract

New car sales is the primary metric for measuring electric vehicle (EV) adoption, however, monitoring transition to EVs overall will require knowing more about what is going on in the used car market. While there is limited research on used EV buyers, examining the characteristics and vehicle costs of individuals who currently purchase used vehicles could provide some helpful insights. This research explored the financial impact of a household that typically purchases a used car, choosing a used EV instead. To do this, the study analyzed consumer survey data that tracks households’ expenditure on vehicle purchasing and operations on a national scale to identify why households opt for new versus used vehicles and the consequent cost of vehicle ownership.

Related Publications

policy brief

Multifamily Households Across California are Paying A lot More to Charge their Electric Vehicle

research report

Assessing the Total Cost of Ownership of Electric Vehicles among California Households

policy brief

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Drayage Trucks Can Advance California’s Climate Goals and Provide Health Benefits for Front Line Communities

Publication Date

February 3, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Developing a Lifecycle Emissions and Economic Analysis Tool for Hydrogen Production and Distribution Pathways for Road Transportation in California

Author(s)

Timothy Lipman, Stephanie Collins, Arpad Horvath

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View policy brief

Abstract

California has ambitious goals to introduce zero-emission technologies across various transportation sectors. Significant progress has been made over the past decades in deploying battery electric light-duty trucks, but heavy-duty diesel trucks are harder to “decarbonize” due to their operational demands and duty cycles, even though the benefits of replacing heavily polluting diesel trucks are significant. Front line communities where diesel vehicles operate the most, especially those near seaports and warehouses, bear the brunt of the pollution from these vehicles and stand to benefit the most from their electrification. Hydrogen fuel cell technology represents a promising approach for transitioning these trucks to zero-emission but the costs and benefits over time must be carefully considered. One way to do this with regard to environmental impacts is using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, which analyzes and accounts for the various impacts of fuel production and use, including overall energy use, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), emissions of other air pollutants, and soil and water impacts.

Related Publications

research report

Lifecycle Emissions and Economic Analysis Tool for Hydrogen Production and Distribution Pathways for Road Transportation in California (CA-LCA-H2)

research report

Partnering with Transportation Network Companies to Serve Low-Density Communities

Publication Date

February 2, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Optimizing the Roll-Out of the Innovative Clean Transit Rule with a Focus on Suburban Settings

Author(s)

Wesley Darling, Michael Cassidy

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

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Abstract

This study addresses the persistent challenge of delivering cost-effective, high-quality on-demand transit in low-density communities. Traditional microtransit services often struggle in such areas due to high fixed costs and limited opportunities to consolidate trips, while community partnerships with transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft are typically avoided due to concerns over data transparency and limited community control. To bridge this gap, a new business plan for cooperative TNC partnerships is proposed, in which a community-appointed service manager coordinates trip requests, distributes financial incentives to attract drivers to the community from nearby high-demand areas, and leverages the TNC’s existing digital infrastructure for driver dispatch and routing. This study evaluates this business plan through case studies of three Northern California communities presently served by microtransit, comparing microtransit’s measured performance against the predicted performance of a TNC operating under the proposed business plan using a simple metric that does not depend on the specific design of the transit system. Results show that TNCs can deliver higher levels of service and higher driver wages in all three communities and were more cost-effective than microtransit in two of the three. Applying the metric across California reveals that many communities with microtransit, and numerous other communities presently underserved by transit, would likely benefit from switching to TNC partnerships. This suggests that a large opportunity exists for using TNC partnerships to provide mobility in areas where other forms of transit are less effective.

Related Publications

policy brief

Transportation Network Companies Could Be a Cost Effective Alternative to Microtransit in Low-Density Communities

research report

Stakeholder Perspectives On the Transition to Zero Emission Off-Road Equipment

Publication Date

January 27, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Investigating Challenges and Solutions in Transitioning California to Zero-Emission Off-Road Vehicles

Author(s)

Scott Hardman, Vaishnavi Karanam

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View research report

Abstract

California has set an ambitious target to transition 100% of off-road vehicles and equipment to zero-emission (ZE) alternatives by 2035 “where feasible,” as outlined in Executive Order N-79-20. Interviews were conducted with 16 stakeholders—contractors, manufacturers, rental firms, researchers, nonprofits, and public agencies. Intervieweesacknowledged positive attributes of ZE equipment, but barriers were more numerous and included inadequate charging infrastructure, limited grid access at job sites, high upfront equipment costs, limited ZE model availability, and complications with rental-based procurement models. Social and organizational barriers such as operator resistance, climate skepticism, and inequities faced by smaller firms were also noted. Most interviewees expressed skepticism that the 2035 ZE off-road goal is realistically achievable without significant policy and infrastructure support. Commonly recommended interventions included strengthening site-level grid capacity, expanding financial incentives and public investment, aligning regulations with market realities, and improving policymakers’ understanding of construction practices.

Related Publications

policy brief

Electrifying Off-Road Equipment Remains a Heavy Lift

blog

Digging Deeper: What’s Holding Back Zero-Emission Off-Road Equipment?

policy brief

What Should Agencies Measure to Decide if Microtransit Is Working?

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Designing Microtransit Services to Complement Public Transit

Author(s)

Michael Hyland, Kari Edison Watkins, Susan Shaheen

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation

View policy brief

Abstract

California state agencies, public transit agencies, and cities have invested in dozens of microtransit pilot programs, often with the stated goals of improving access, filling gaps in fixed-route public transit service, and serving communities that are difficult to reach by traditional bus or rail. As microtransit services mature, agencies increasingly face decisions about whether to expand, modify, or discontinue microtransit services—and how to allocate scarce operating funds across competing transit priorities.Despite growing investment, there is no consistent approach to measuring whether microtransit services are delivering meaningful benefits relative to their costs, or whether those benefits are equitably distributed. Without clear and well-balanced performance metrics, agencies risk drawing the wrong conclusions about success or failure.

Related Publications

published journal article

Assessing the Complementarity of Microtransit and Public Transit for Sustainable Mobility: Evidence from Three California Cities

published journal article

Rural Microtransit Service to Replace Fixed Route Service: A California Case Study

blog

Youth-Centered Mobility Research, Decision Making, and Design: An action plan to support young pedestrians' everyday urban mobility

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Associated Project(s)

Mapping Mobilities: Opportunities for Centering Youth in Mobility Research, Design, and Planning

Author(s)

Claire Nelischer

Areas of Expertise

Safety, Public Health, & Mobility Justice

View blog

Abstract

Based on a literature review of strategies to support youth-centered mobility research, decision making, and design, this webpage presents a summary of the key findings and an action plan to guide future research and organizing in Los Angeles and beyond highlighting what’s known, what’s working, and what’s next.

preprint journal article

Novel Methodology to Identify Factors Causing Heterogeneity in Travel Demand during and after the Pandemic

Publication Date

December 1, 2025

Associated Project(s)

Author(s)

Siddhartha Gulhare, James Giller, David Bunch, Giovanni Circella

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View preprint journal article

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the transportation sector, altering travel demand patterns and posing challenges for local systems. Evidence of spatial heterogeneity underscores the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of these disruptions. Origin–destination (OD) matrices are generally used to compare travel patterns. Direct observations like smartphone data to construct OD matrices may limit causality in trip distribution, emphasizing the need for a methodology enabling comparison of travel patterns and exploration of factors contributing to this heterogeneity. To this end, this study develops a novel two-phase methodology. The first phase involved capturing heterogeneity in the weekly progression of zonal trip-generation patterns (via structural similarity of OD matrices) and then clustering them together based on similarity. The second phase involved examining the factors influencing cluster membership of zones. We demonstrated the proof-of-concept using two case studies: home-based work trips on weekdays and home-based other trips on weekends. The case studies focused on the Northern California Megaregion. The data used in the first phase include passively collected mobile phone data. The second phase used data on explanatory variables (e.g., mean household income, employment density, the share of white- and blue-collar workers and half-mile transit accessibility) for the multinomial logit model. This additional data to augment the data set is sourced from American Community Survey five-year estimates and the US Environmental Protection Agency. This study uniquely applies a novel methodology to two case studies, showcasing how insights into factors driving travel pattern changes can assist local and regional policymakers in optimizing resource allocation, particularly for public transportation.

Related Publications

policy brief

How Did Travel Change after COVID-19? Insights from Northern California Megaregion

policy brief

How California Cities Respond to State-level Parking Reform

Publication Date

January 22, 2026

Associated Project(s)

State Preemption and Parking Requirements

Author(s)

Amy Lee, Adam Millard-Ball, Michael Manville

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View policy brief

Abstract

Minimum parking requirements—zoning regulations that require a certain number of parking spaces to be built with new developments—come with a long list of downsides. The requirements increase the costs of development, reduce housing densities, subsidize car ownership, reduce walkability, and make it difficult to adapt and reuse historic buildings. In response, cities as diverse as Anchorage, Buffalo, and San Diego have reduced or eliminated parking requirements in recent years.

In 2022, California became the first state to eliminate parking requirements in certain neighborhoods. Assembly Bill 2097 (AB 2097) prohibits, in most circumstances, local governments from imposing parking requirements within a half-mile of an existing or planned major transit stop such as a rail station, ferry terminal, or the intersection of frequent bus routes. The research team examined how cities are responding to this new statewide law and draw out lessons for parking policy as well as other types of state preemption of local land use regulations.

Related Publications

published journal article