UNIVERSAL BASIC MOBILITY
LA This Week: Universal Basic Mobility Pilot
Access to transportation is crucial in today's world, especially in areas burdened by climate change. In South Los Angeles, public transit opens doors to life's opportunities while also reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2019, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) launched the Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) to help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase access to clean transportation, and address equity through public transportation and land use projects in climate-burdened neighborhoods.
With $13.8M in STEP grant funding and an additional $4 million in funding from the City of LA, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) launched the “Universal Basic Mobility” (UBM) Pilot in South Los Angeles. The UBM Pilot Project will:
integrate access across existing and new public transportation options.
introduce new shared mobility options for residents and workers.
expand and integrate fare payment subsidies.
provide green jobs training.
expand electrification in the project area.
As the backbone entity that facilitates and manages the efforts of the South Los Angeles Promise Zone, SLATE-Z is proud to partner with LADOT as a strategic advisor and support community outreach efforts connected to transit-oriented development. Effective transit-oriented solutions in South Los Angeles stimulate economic activity and provide equitable access to education, workforce development, wellness opportunities, and more.
The people of South Los Angeles face functional and structural immobility due to cost burdens and environmental injustice in land use planning. The UBM Pilot Project in South Los Angeles seeks to eliminate these challenges and to reimagine how South LA residents access safe and affordable transportation options.
From Summer 2022 to Summer 2025, the UBM Pilot will add e-bikes, shared EV cars, on-demand EV shuttle service, workforce development opportunities, climate mitigation solutions, and subsidized transit fares for 2,000 low-income South LA residents.
Photos Courtesy of LADOT
Looking ahead, LA Metro hopes to attain investments to scale the program countywide from Summer 2025 through Summer 2028.
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Courtesy of USC’s Neighborhood Data for Social Change
Demographics
The UBM Pilot Area covers much of South Los Angeles, bounded approximately by the 10 East Freeway to the north, South Alameda Street to the east, Crenshaw Boulevard to the west, and Florence Avenue to the South. This South LA neighborhood was chosen for the UBM Pilot because:
It has a population of over 370,000 with 29% percent of households below the poverty level and 19% receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The entire community within the project area meets either a SB 535 Disadvantaged Community or an AB 1550 Low-Income Community definition; the vast majority of the project area meets both.
The majority of residents are people of color, with two-thirds Hispanic and a quarter African-American.
Over 6% of households reported owning no vehicle and 30% own one vehicle. 6.7% of workers in the area walk or bike to work and 14.3% take transit to work.
PROJECT PARTNERS
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated UBM CBO Ambassadors, Conaxion, Urbano Strategies, and Move LA, for their outstanding efforts in engaging the South LA community. Through their presence at local events, parks, and libraries, they are increasing awareness of UBM’s transformative programs. With interactive EV charger demonstrations, they are helping residents understand and access the benefits of sustainable mobility solutions. We are proud to collaborate with these organizations to drive equitable and impactful change in South LA.