What's New in City Design

Los Angeles Transportation Technology Strategy



The city of Los Angeles California released its first Transportation Technology strategies in September 2016 to weave emerging policy and technology innovation (apps, software, shared use, vehicles, signage, payment ) into local /regional formal transportation plans.


Benefits & Problems Addressed

Better use of digital to enhance mobility: As technology rapidly changes the way people plan and take trips, integrating technology in to existing, formal technology.

Technology alignment: The strategy creates a new platform for transportation innovation that focuses on three core customer services: data, mobility and infrastructure.

Customer Focus: Eschewing the traditional focus on vehicles, Mobility-as-a-Service provides a suite of transportation mode options through a single platform and payment system to simplify access to mobility choices.


Tips & Techniques

Use of Pilots: Pilots help test various strategies on a small scale amenable to iteration and scale.  

Mobility-as-a-Service: In Los Angeles, the pilot service areas include (1) Mobility hubs to integrate + connect modes; (2) On-demand transit options; (3) Expanded, shared services to low-income neighborhoods citywide; and (4) Smart fare systems. Geographically, pilots will focus on Corridors, Districts and Markets.

Data as a Service:  Pilots give the city experience in managing and optimizing data-sharing partnerships, exploring the value of analytics, and testing new tools. Strategies include: (1)  Analyzing crowdsourced data for roadway design impacts on congestion; (2) Testing customer feedback tools on public services; (3) Develop an online project dashboard for this strategy; (4) Deploying connected infrastructure in the city's Promise Zones; (5) Experimenting with parking inventory technologies.

Infrastructure as a Service:  Infrastructure as a Service is the idea that the use and access of public infrastructure should be subject to pay-as-you-go user fees that more closely align the costs associated with providing the infrastructure itself to how the infrastructure is being used. Pilot topics include (1) Temporary car-free zones across the city; (2) Assumptions around roadway capacity + utilization; (3) New infrastructure assessment tools; (4) AV pilots; (5) AV networks on city streets + incentivize sharing.

Strategy Steps: (1) Build a solid data foundation; (2) Leverage tech + design for a better transportation experience; (3) Create partnerships for more shared services; (4) Establish feedback loops for services + infrastructure; (5) Prepare for an automated future. The guide lists suggested steps in near, middle and long term time frames.

Hot Buttons: Not all travelers have access to the technology needed for the array of services; the strategy suggests a shift to a pay-as-you-use service model.  The resource looks more at vehicles and transit than opportunities for bicycles and pedestrians.

Resources

Urban Mobility in a Digital Age: A Transportation Technology Strategy for Los Angeles.