Synthesis Report: Findings and Lessons Learned from the Independent Evaluation of the Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox Demonstrations

Authors: Elliot Martin, PhD, Adam Cohen, Susan Shaheen, PhD Date: February 2023 Abstract: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox effort developed around a vision of a multimodal, integrated, automated, accessible, and connected transportation system in which personalized mobility is a key feature. FTA selected 11 MOD Sandbox demonstration projects that tested strategies intended to advance the MOD vision. An independent evaluation (IE) is required by federal public transportation law 49 U.S.C. § 5312(e)(4) for demonstration projects receiving FTA Public Transportation Innovation funding. This report provides a synthesis of findings from the 11 MOD Sandbox Demonstrations independent evaluation. The report presents an overview of the IE methodology and evaluation framework employed for developing test procedures and conducting the evaluations. Cross-cutting findings from the data analysis on user impacts and systems operations are explored alongside a variety of institutional factors that influenced project development and outcomes (data sharing, public-private partnerships, characteristics of service provision, cost-effectiveness, marketing of services). Considerations for future mobility innovation demonstration programs gathered through interviews with project partners are also included. Finally, site-specific summaries of findings from each of the 11 evaluations are shared in an appendix. The report offers transportation practitioners an overview of the impacts of the MOD Sandbox program and individual demonstration projects and gives insights for the planning, procurement, operations, and evaluation of technology-enabled mobility initiatives. View...

Future of Work: Scenario Planning for COVID-19 Recovery

Authors: Alexandra Pan, Susan Shaheen, PhD Date: November 2022 Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread lockdowns across the world in early 2020, with major implications to spatial and temporal commuting patterns as a result of increased work from home (also known as telework) activities. There has been a high degree of uncertainty on what work from home impacts will persist in the future. In this report, we first conduct a thorough review of news articles, published reports, and peer-reviewed literature to summarize telework trends. We also use scenario planning to bring together ten experts from academia, public sector, industry, and commercial real estate in two 1.5-hour long workshops to discuss the impacts of telework on transportation, housing, commercial real estate, and land use. View...

Mobility on Demand: State of the Industry Practitioner Census, Fall 2021

Authors: Susan Shaheen, Adam Cohen, Jacquelyn Broader Date: November 1, 2021 Abstract: The Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC) at the University of California, Berkeley is pleased to present the results of the Mobility on Demand (MOD) State of the Industry Practitioner Census. The global pandemic has led to a challenging period for the transportation sector. Nevertheless, the industry has shown resilience and innovation. This industry outlook provides information on MOD and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) developments throughout the United States (U.S.) and highlights some industry changes in response to the pandemic. View...

Urban Air Mobility: Opportunities and Obstacles

Authors: Susan Shaheen, PhD, Adam Cohen Date: May 17, 2021 Abstract: Urban Air Mobility (UAM, also known as advanced air mobility) is an emerging concept that envisions a safe, sustainable, affordable, and accessible air transportation system for emergency management, cargo delivery, and passenger mobility within or traversing a metropolitan area. While numerous societal concerns have been raised about these approaches (e.g., privacy, safety, security, social equity), on-demand aviation has the potential to provide options for emergency services, goods delivery, and passenger mobility in urban and rural areas using small piloted and autonomous aircraft. This chapter provides a short overview of developments in on-demand aviation and a discussion of the potential impacts and challenges of UAM on communities. Potential challenges include safety, financial, and community acceptance, among others. Research that seeks to understand the potential societal barriers can help to identify challenges and mitigate potential UAM concerns. Research on the potential impacts of UAM, coupled with thoughtful planning and implementation, are needed to balance commercial interests, technology innovation, and the public good. View...

An Assessment of the Potential Weather Barriers of Urban Air Mobility (UAM)

Authors: Colleen Reiche, PhD, Frank Brody, Christian McGillen, Joel Siegel, and Adam Cohen Date: November 21, 2018 Abstract: Urban Air Mobility (UAM), a subset of advanced air mobility,is a concept that envisions safe, sustainable,affordable, and accessible air transportation for passenger mobility, cargo delivery, and emergency management within or traversing a metropolitan area. In recent years, several companies have designed and tested enabling elements of this concept, including; prototypes of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, operational concepts, and market studies to understand potential business models. While UAM may be enabled by the convergence of several factors, a number of barriers such as weather could present challenges to scaling operations.This research discusses the potential weather challenges for operations in adverse conditions. This report presents a comprehensive seasonal and diurnal climatology analysis using historical observations across anticipated operational altitudes (surface –5000 ft AGL) at ten metropolitan areas across the United States for the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). View...