policy brief

Making Workplace Charging Work: What Employees Value in Managed and Bidirectional Programs

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Balancing Building and Electric Vehicle Energy Needs: A Study on Bi-Directional and Managed Workplace Charging

Author(s)

Amin Akbari, Matthew D. Dean

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View policy brief

Abstract

California’s climate goals increasingly depend on shifting electric vehicle (EV) charging to midday, when clean, low-cost solar energy is most abundant. Doing so could help utilities avoid having to curtail solar energy and prevent reliability-driven infrastructure upgrades that would raise rates for all customers. Workplace charging programs are well positioned to support this shift, as many vehicles remain parked during daylight hours. However, workplace charging presents a cost dilemma. Since home charging is typically less expensive, employees may be reluctant to use workplace chargers unless prices are heavily discounted—yet offering free or low-cost charging extends the time it takes for employers to recoup infrastructure investments.

policy brief

Will California Lose Thousands of Affordable Homes Near Transit?

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Identifying Strategies to Preserve Transit-accessible Affordable Housing

Author(s)

Madeleine Parker, Karen Chapple

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View policy brief

Abstract

California faces the loss of thousands of affordable rental units in the coming decade as affordability restrictions— known as covenants—expire. These agreements, signed between housing developers and government agencies, typically last 15 to 30 years and require that units be rented at below-market rates. When covenants expire, owners can convert units to market-rate housing, often displacing lower-income families.

In Southern California alone, over 17,000 affordable units are at risk of conversion, and nearly 70% of these units are located near high-quality transit. If the owners of these properties do not enter into new covenants, these units will be placed on the open market, likely leading to the displacement of lower-income residents to the urban outskirts, resulting in longer commutes and reduced access to reliable transit. To better understand the risk of losing affordable units, this brief analyzed historic data on affordable housing conversion and identified key factors that influence whether at-risk properties are preserved or lost.

Related Publications

research report

Strategies to Preserve Transit-accessible Affordable Housing in Southern California

policy brief

Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development: Considering State, Regional, and Local Roles

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Identifying Solutions for Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development

Author(s)

Elisa Barbour, Lev Gordon-Feierabend, Francois Kaeppelin

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View policy brief

Abstract

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a strategy that promotes building housing, shops, offices, and other destinations near public transit stations. TOD is compact and walkable, supports public transit use, reduces car dependency, and can help lower greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the number of miles people drive. California has adopted many policies in recent years– at the state, regional, and local levels– to encourage TOD as part of its broader climate and housing goals. At the same time, the state faces a housing affordability crisis. In the past seven years, state lawmakers have passed more than 100 bills aimed at increasing housing production, particularly in areas near public transit.

Related Publications

research report

Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development: Considering State, Regional, and Local Roles

dataset

Mapping High-quality Transit. UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

Associated Project(s)

Exploring the Linkages and Interplay between Transit Service and California’s Housing Laws

Author(s)

Adam Millard-Ball, Jacob Wasserman

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation

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Abstract

This code identifies high-quality transit areas (HQTAs) as defined under California state law. In general, HQTAs are within one half mile of a “major transit stop”: a rail, ferry, or bus rapid transit station, or the intersection of frequent bus routes.

The definitions under state law leave much ambiguity. For example, what constitutes an “intersection” of bus routes? Over what period should frequency be calculated? Is the half mile measured from the platform or from the edge of the parcel on which the station sits (including parking lots)? We discuss these ambiguities in a UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies interactive storymap.

The code ingests GTFS files (in .zip format) and outputs polygons of HQTAs under both a restrictive (“minimal”) and expansive (“maximal”) interpretation of these ambiguities. It also ingests supplementary files that give the locations of Amtrak stations, subway station entrances, and more.

Related Publications

other

Technical Appendix: Mapping High-quality Transit

website

"Stop" and Think about It: How the Different Interpretations of What Counts as a "Major Transit Stop" in California Make a Difference

other

Technical Appendix: Mapping High-quality Transit

Publication Date

March 5, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Exploring the Linkages and Interplay between Transit Service and California’s Housing Laws

Author(s)

Jacob Wasserman, Aaron Barrall, Adam Millard-Ball, Amy Lee

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation

View other

Related Publications

dataset

Mapping High-quality Transit. UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

website

"Stop" and Think about It: How the Different Interpretations of What Counts as a "Major Transit Stop" in California Make a Difference

website

"Stop" and Think about It: How the Different Interpretations of What Counts as a "Major Transit Stop" in California Make a Difference

Publication Date

March 5, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Exploring the Linkages and Interplay between Transit Service and California’s Housing Laws

Author(s)

Jacob Wasserman, Aaron Barrall, Adam Millard-Ball, Amy Lee

Areas of Expertise

Public Transit, Shared Mobility, & Active Transportation

View website

Related Publications

dataset

Mapping High-quality Transit. UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

other

Technical Appendix: Mapping High-quality Transit

research report

Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development: Considering State, Regional, and Local Roles

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Identifying Solutions for Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development

Author(s)

Elisa Barbour, Lev Gordon-Feierabend, Francois Kaeppelin

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View research report

Abstract

This report considers motivations, obstacles, and policies and programs adopted at the state, regional, and local levels in California to support transit-oriented development (TOD). Regulatory policies adopted by the state in recent years to induce TOD are discussed, as well as state-led and regionally-managed funding programs. Findings are presented from two on-line surveys of local planning directors, and 51 interviews with regional and local planners. The findings point to multiple obstacles to achieving TOD, including market factors, resident opposition, and lack of sufficient funding for implementation, such as for necessary infrastructure to support new development. The most commonly adopted local policies to support TOD include streamlining of environmental review requirements, mixed-use zoning and upzoning (permitting higher densities), improving bike and pedestrian facilities, development of Specific Plans for neighborhoods, and mechanisms to ease accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The survey findings indicate that policies and programs initiated from multiple levels of government are deemed effective for inducing TOD. A recent one-off TOD-supportive funding program that was managed regionally, called the Regional Earley Action Program (REAP), is found to be rated as very valuable both by regional and local planners, leading to the recommendation that this program be instated on an ongoing basis with dedicated funding. The report also concludes that policies deemed effective for inducing TOD, especially funding affordable housing and addressing the nexus of zoning, CEQA streamlining for infill, permit streamlining through ministerial review, and support for Specific Plans, should continue to receive policy support from the state legislature and regional agencies.

Related Publications

policy brief

Overcoming Barriers to Transit-Oriented Development: Considering State, Regional, and Local Roles

policy brief

Autonomous Trucks at a Crossroads: What’s Next for California’s Economy and Workforce

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Assessing Safety, Risk, and Labor Issues Related to Heavy-Duty Automated Vehicles

Author(s)

Mollie Cohen D'Agostino

Areas of Expertise

Intelligent Transportation Systems, Emerging Technologies, & Big Data

View policy brief

Abstract

California is considering whether to lift a decade-long ban on heavy-duty autonomous vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds. This decision comes at a time when the state’s goods-movement system faces mounting pressure to improve safety, address labor shortages, remain competitive, and meet climate and economic goals. To better understand these challenges, the research team synthesized existing academic research and conducted interviews with 18 experts across industry, labor, and government. A key takeaway from this analysis is that humans will play enduring roles in both traditional and emerging occupations in trucking. Policy choices can influence whether autonomous trucking brings about higher-quality jobs, more efficient commerce, and safer systems as opposed to fragmented industry oversight and job loss without retraining or re-employment.

Related Publications

website

Human-Autonomy Teaming and Takeover Performance in Automated Driving Systems

research report

Autonomous Trucking: Workforce-Safety Dynamics and Policy Implications

research report

Impacts of LA Metro’s K-14 Fareless Transit Initiative on Youth Travel Behavior

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Associated Project(s)

Evaluating the Travel Behavior Impacts of Los Angeles Metro’s K-14 Fareless Initiative

Author(s)

Henry Bernal, David Brownstone

Areas of Expertise

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

View research report

Abstract

In October 2021, the Los Angeles Count Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), in collaboration with other regional transit operators and multiple school districts across the county, launched the GoPass pilot program to offer free transit passes to K-14 students, which became permanent in early 2024. Students in a high school district in the Greater Los Angeles area were surveyed to determine the reasons students decided to participate in GoPass and how the students subjectively valued their travel preference. Students were less likely to participate in the GoPass program if they had the use of a car for trips to school but more likely if they had the option to take transit for trips leaving school. Student demographics did not play a large role in whether they participated in GoPass. Students highly value cars and trip amenities, such as onboard Wi-Fi. They subjectively value reduced travel time at $71/hour, similar to other studies among adults, but valued reduced waiting time at $98/hour, again consistent with other studies that find a high relative value for shorter waiting time. Students are not likely to be persuaded to take transit merely by making it free. Instead, school districts may consider increasing the cost for campus parking permits and reducing the number of campus parking spaces to encourage greater use of transit and shared travel modes.

policy brief

Driving Grid Readiness: Integrating Electric Vehicles into California’s Energy System

Publication Date

March 6, 2026

Author(s)

Brooke (Schmidt) Wolfe, Roland Hwang, Timothy Lipman

View policy brief

Abstract

As of 2024, more than 1.8 million electric vehicles (EVs) were on the road in California. The state had aimed to reach five million EVs by 2030 and require 100% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035 through its Zero-Emission Vehicle rule; however, federal action has put this plan on hold, and California is challenging this action in court. Regardless, rapid growth in EV adoption will put new demands on California’s electricity system, requiring significant investments in both the power distribution grid and EV charging infrastructure.

Meanwhile, utilities may already be grappling with the challenges of accommodating the growing power demands from new data center facilities that support artificial intelligence. Without adequate proactive investments in distribution grid upgrades and consumer programs to manage demand, the added load from widespread EV charging (with larger, more power-hungry batteries) could potentially overload local grids, compromise reliability, degrade the quality of transformers and distribution systems and increase costs to both utility providers and ultimately ratepayers.

California utilities and policymakers must ensure that the distribution grid is prepared for this new load, while maintaining reliable electricity service and keeping costs low for ratepayers. As the EV market evolves, the distribution grid must rapidly grow into a smarter, more flexible, and more agile system. With well-designed charging programs and new technologies, additional EV charging capacity holds the promise of creating downward pressure on electricity rates. Advances in technology can support this promise through greater vehicle-to-grid integration (VGI) (i.e., strategies for altering EV charging time, power level, or location of charging (or discharging) to benefit the grid), managed charging programs, and other tools to further merge EVs into California’s grid. VGI turns EVs into interactive grid resources, enabling not only new methods to manage consumer demand but also bi-directional charging (known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G)) that can enhance grid flexibility and reliability. Investing now to modernize the grid and adopting new demand management programs can pay dividends in the future, supporting California’s ambitious EV deployment goals while keeping electricity rates affordable.

Related Publications

policy brief