policy brief

Perceptions of Neighborhood Change in a Latinx Transit Corridor

Abstract

Understanding how residents feel about neighborhood changes due to new development along transit corridors (often referred to as transit-oriented development) remains understudied despite growing concerns over displacement and gentrification. Studies that examined these concerns are largely based on analyzing land use, housing values, and socio-economic shifts (i.e., who is moving in and out of neighborhoods), and do not provide conclusive evidence that transit-oriented development (TOD) is linked to neighborhood gentrification and displacement. Prior surveys of residents living near transit indicate a generally positive assessment of TOD in terms of improved walkability and accessibility but also express concerns over pedestrian safety and parking related to increased traffic and new commercial development. However, recent studies counter this relatively positive assessment of TOD, particularly among activists and community organizers in low-income communities of color.

published journal article

The Promise and Pitfalls of Early Project Notification Meetings: Illuminating Santa Ana’s Sunshine Ordinance

Abstract

Despite the promise that early public participation could enhance transparency and information access, little is known about which public engagement processes and techniques are most effective at the initial stages of plan development and whether development notification meetings enhance inclusion for impacted residents. Responding to these uncertainties, we analyzed the promise and potential pitfalls of early public notification meetings by reviewing posted development information and interviewing resident leaders and planners involved in the City of Santa Ana’s Sunshine Ordinance development notification meetings for proposed residential and mixed-use projects. Findings confirmed early notification increased access to information and created a more transparent process, but indicated the lack of inclusive practices generated community distrust and opposition and spurred residents to take insurgent actions when meetings offered few specifics and limited collaboration. Findings inform efforts of local jurisdictions and advocates seeking to establish or improve early participation initiatives.

published journal article

Examining Spatial Disparities in Electric Vehicle Charging Station Placements in Orange County

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an emerging mode of transportation that has the potential to reshape the transportation sector by significantly reducing carbon emissions thereby promoting a cleaner environment and pushing the boundaries of climate progress. Nevertheless, there remain significant hurdles to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the United States ranging from the high cost of EVs to the inequitable placement of EV charging stations (EVCS). A deeper understanding of the underlying complex interactions of social, economic, and demographic factors that may lead to such emerging disparities in EVCS placements is, therefore, necessary to mitigate accessibility issues and improve EV usage among people of all ages and abilities. In this study, we develop a machine learning framework to examine spatial disparities in EVCS placements by using a predictive approach. We first identify the essential socioeconomic factors that may contribute to spatial disparities in EVCS access. Second, using these factors along with ground truth data from existing EVCS placements we predict future ECVS density at multiple spatial scales using machine learning algorithms and compare their predictive accuracy to identify the most optimal spatial resolution for our predictions. Finally, we compare the most accurately predicted EVCS placement density with a spatial inequity indicator to quantify how equitably these placements would be for Orange County, California. Our method achieved the highest predictive accuracy (94.9%) of EVCS placement density at a spatial resolution of 3 km using Random Forests. Our results indicate that a total of 11.04% of predicted EVCS placements in Orange County will lie within a high spatial inequity zone – indicating populations with the lowest accessibility may require greater investments in EVCS placements. 69.52% of the study area experience moderate accessibility issues and the remaining 19.11% face the least accessibility issues w.r.t EV charging stations. Within the least accessible areas, 7.8% of the area will require a low density of predicted EVCS placements, 3.4% will require a medium density of predicted EVCS placements and 0.55% will require a high density of EVCS placements. The moderately accessible areas would require the highest placements of EVCS but mostly with low-density placements covering 54.42% of the area. The findings from this study highlight a generalizable framework to quantify inequities in EVCS placements that will enable policymakers to identify underserved communities and facilitate targeted infrastructure investments for widespread EV usage and adoption for all. The findings from this study highlight a generalizable framework to quantify inequities in EVCS placements that will enable policymakers to identify underserved communities and facilitate targeted infrastructure investments for widespread EV usage and adoption for all.

published journal article

Will COVID-19 Jump-Start Telecommuting? Evidence from California

Abstract

Health concerns and government restrictions have caused a surge in work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a sharp increase in telecommuting. However, it is not clear if it will perdure after the pandemic, and what socio-economic groups will be most affected. To investigate the impact of the pandemic on telecommuting, we analyzed a dataset collected for us at the end of May 2021 by Ipsos via a random survey of Californians in KnowledgePanel©, the largest and oldest probability-based panel in the US. Structural equation models used in this research account for car ownership and housing costs to explain telecommuting frequency before, during, and possibly after the pandemic. Research findings point to an additional 4.2% of California workers expect to engage in some level of telecommuting post-pandemic, which is substantial but possibly less than suggested in other studies. Some likely durable gains can be expected for Californians who work in management, business / finance / administration, and engineering / architecture / law / social sciences. Workers with more education started telecommuting more during the pandemic, a trend expected to continue post-pandemic. Full time work status has a negative impact on telecommuting frequency, and so does household size during and after the pandemic.

website

Dividing Highways

published journal article

Dividing Highways: Barrier Effects and Environmental Justice in California

Abstract

We examine the barrier effects of freeways in California. We analyze the association between freeways and nearby street network connectivity and quantify the frequency and quality of crossings—underpasses or bridges that enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross the freeway. We find that barrier effects are most pronounced in communities of color. We also find that even where crossings exist, they are unpleasant or even hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists because of high-speed traffic on on- and off-ramps, and because large volumes of traffic are funneled through a small number of crossings rather than being distributed over a wider network.

policy brief

Lessons Learned from Abroad: Potential Influence of California High-Speed Rail on Economic Development, Land Use Patterns, and Future Growth of Cities

Abstract

As California is in the process of building its high-speed rail (HSR) network, reviewing the experience from other established HSR networks abroad can help understand the potential economic and development impacts of HSR and the prerequisites to realize them. HSR systems involve large financial investments and infrastructure projects, which have the potential to deeply change the regions where they are deployed. However, little attention has focused on the potential of the California HSR (Figure 1) to impact economic activities and urban development. This study reviews relevant literature and analyzes case studies from HSR station-cities in France (Le Creusot, Vendôme, Le Mans, Reims), Spain (Galicia Corridor, Valladolid, Zaragoza), and Italy (Reggio Emilia) to provide insights into these topics.

published journal article

Impact of Electric Vehicle Charging Demand on Power Distribution Grid Congestion

Publication Date

April 22, 2024

Author(s)

Yanning Li, Alan Jenn

Abstract

California, a pioneer in EV adoption, has enacted ambitious electric vehicle (EV) policies that will generate a large burden on the state’s electric distribution system. We investigate the statewide impact of uncontrolled EV charging on the electric distribution networks at a large scale and high granularity, by employing an EV charging profile projection that combines travel demand model, EV adoption model, and real-world EV charging data. We find a substantial need for infrastructure upgrades in 50% of feeders by 2035, and 67% of feeders by 2045. The distribution system across California must upgrade its capacity by 25 GW by 2045, corresponding to a cost between $6 and $20 billion. While the additional infrastructure cost drives the electricity price up, it is offset by the downward pressure from the growth of total electricity consumption and leads to a reduction in electricity rate between $0.01 and $0.06/kWh by 2045. We also find that overloading conditions are highly diverse spatially, with feeders in residential areas requiring twice as much upgrade compared to commercial areas. Our study provides a framework for evaluating EVs’ impact on the distribution grid and indicates the potential to reduce infrastructure upgrade costs by shifting home-charging demand. The imminent challenges confronting California serve as a microcosm of the forthcoming obstacles anticipated worldwide due to the prevailing global trend of EV adoption.

published journal article

Joint Planning of Dynamic Wireless Charging Lanes and Power Delivery Infrastructure for Heavy-duty Drayage Trucks

Abstract

Heavy-duty drayage trucks pose a considerable emission burden and health risk, primarily due to their operation in densely populated areas around seaports and intermodal terminals. In response to these concerns, governments are setting ambitious targets for zero-emissions drayage truck transition. As such, the widespread adoption of electric drayage trucks is on the horizon. However, one of the main challenges hindering the mass electrification of drayage trucks is the low readiness of charging infrastructure. Traditional charging stations can lead to long waiting times for truck drivers, which can be detrimental to an industry where timely pickup and delivery are crucial. Dynamic wireless charging lanes (DWCLs) have emerged as a promising alternative or supplement to stationary charging stations by enabling charging-on-the-move. Although electric drayage trucks are potentially the most benefited vehicles from DWCLs, the optimal deployment of DWCLs for them is rarely studied. To address this problem, this project proposes a framework that focuses on the deployment of DWCLs with special attention paid to drayage trucks, while jointly planning the associated power delivery infrastructure. The proposed planning model identifies the optimal locations of DWCLs in a given transportation network and determines how they will be powered by nearby electrical substations. Additionally, the framework also evaluates whether an upgrade of the electrical substation is needed. A large-scale Global Positioning System (GPS) dataset and an electrical substation dataset, which contain more than 7,000 heavy-duty drayage trucks that span over a period of 12 months and over 255 substations, are utilized to provide the necessary input to the proposed framework. Research findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework through a case study conducted on a highway network of more than 1,000 miles around the Greater Los Angeles area, home to two of the world’s busiest seaports, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

published journal article

Fleet Operator Perspectives on Alternative Fuels for Heavy-duty Vehicles

Abstract

Despite the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) being one of the promising measures to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, AFVs still represent a very small share in the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) sector. Understanding HDV fleet operator perspectives on alternative fuels is critical to developing effective demand-side strategies to facilitate wider and more rapid adoption of heavy-duty AFVs. This study explored California HDV fleet operator perspectives on viable alternative fuel options in the next 10–20 years, along with motivators for, and barriers to, such adoption. Eighteen in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, after which thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview data. Electric, hydrogen, compressed natural gas (CNG), and hybrid options were commonly perceived as viable in the 2030s by the participating organizations. Various optimistic aspects were addressed, including advanced technologies and emission reduction benefits (electric/hydrogen), continued fuel commitments due to their fleet or infrastructure investments already made (CNG), and lower complexity in fleet routing along with favorable driver acceptance (hybrid options). However, many concerns and uncertainties were also reported, including functional unsuitability (electric), uncompetitive upfront costs (hydrogen), unready infrastructure, perceived unavailability of vehicles, uncertain return on investment (electric/hydrogen), and unpromising support from state government (CNG). The study findings help fill a key knowledge gap in AFV fleet adoption research regarding HDV fleet operator perspectives, and contribute to developing demand-side strategies to aid the success of AFV diffusion throughout the HDV market.