An Evaluation of Via Rideshare Service in West Sacramento: An Exploratory Analysis Through Surveys and Expert Interviews

Authors: Elliot Martin, PhD, Aqshems Nichols, Susan Shaheen, PhD Date: November 1, 2019 Abstract: The UC Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC) conducted an evaluation for the City of West Sacramento of the pilot Via Rideshare System, which began providing rides to customers in May of 2018 and is currently in operation. This analysis presents the findings from surveys and expert interviews. Surveys were deployed to both users and non-users of the pilot service in order to assess the behavioral impacts of the system on users and to evaluate non-user response to the system and why they had not yet opted to not use the service. The user survey, which collected 224 respondents, provided a number of key takeaways. First, the pilot served as a mode substitution with several personal vehicle modes, the most prominent of which was Uber/Lyft (45% mode substitution). Second, of the 39 respondents, 23% responded that they drove alone at least once fewer every week or greater in response to using Via. Third, of 35 respondents, 49% reported that the pilot service significantly improved their child’s mobility and accessibility. Via was reported to improve quality of life by 57% of respondents. These results, amongst others discussed in the report, show that users reported that the service was impacting their behavior and quality of life. The non-user survey, which collected 145 respondents, also provided several important takeaways. First, 44% of 125 respondents reported that they had planned to use the service but had not gotten around to it yet. Second, 55% of 105 respondents thought that the service would be cheaper. Third, 51% of 106 respondents...

Going My Way? Understanding Curb Management and Incentive Policies to Increase Pooling Service Use and Public Transit Linkages in the San Francisco Bay Area

Authors: Wesley Darling, Jacquelyn Broader, Adam Cohen, Susan Shaheen Date: September 20, 2023 Abstract: Despite lower user costs, only 20% to 40% of transportation network company (TNC) us-ers select a pooled, or shared, ride option. Why are existing TNC users not selecting the pooled option or using TNCs to connect to public transit, and what role do built environment features and incentives play in their decision? This study explores the factors that influence TNC user decisions through a multi-method approach comprising photovoice small group discussions and a workshop. Between March 2021 and May 2021, 15 San Francisco Bay Area TNC users shared photographs they took of TNC pick-up locations through two-to-three-person guided small group discussions. The photos revealed that users prefer waiting in retail or in well-lit, good-visibility locations. Partici-pants’ primary concern was personal safety, particularly female users who may take additional pre-cautions when walking to pick-up locations and waiting for and taking rides. In July 2021, 12 pho-tovoice participants and 5 stakeholders provided feedback on key findings from the photography discussions. The pooling improvement strategies identified include the following: designated TNC stops with lighting and marked pick-up areas; enhanced in-app safety features; TNC partnerships with employers and retailers to incentivize riders; and mode transfer discounts for connecting TNCs to public transit. The findings suggest that safety related to the built environment plays an outsized role in a TNC user’s decision to pool or connect to public transit, and the out-of-vehicle portion of the TNC trip should be equally considered when developing policies to increase pooling. View...

Advanced Air Mobility Community Integration Considerations Playbook

Author: Adam Cohen, Shahab Hasan, Nancy L. Mendonca, Yolanka Wulff Date: May 2023 Abstract: This AAM Community Integration Considerations Playbook, from here on referred to as the “considerations playbook,” aims to provide an overview of planning considerations and the subject matter experts’ thinking relevant to local and regional AAM planning activities. It is intended to have a narrow scope and focus on considerations that could be initiated within the United States at the local and regional level. In the years to come, AAM will evolve requiring additional research, planning, and policymaking. The purpose of this document is to serve as a practical resource that can help provide initial information to inform local, regional, state, and tribal planning for AAM. View...

Future of Aviation: Advancing Aerial Mobility through Technology, Sustainability, and On-Demand Flight

Authors: Susan Shaheen, PhD, Adam Cohen Date: March 1, 2023 Abstract: Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a broad concept enabling consumers access to air mobility, cargo and package delivery, healthcare applications, and emergency services through an integrated and connected multimodal transportation network. AAM includes local use cases of about a 50-mile radius in rural or urban areas and intraregional use cases of up to approximately 500 miles that occur within or between urban and rural areas. The Future of Aviation Conference: Advancing Aerial Mobility through Technology, Sustainability, and On-Demand Flight was held in person at the San Francisco International Airport from August 2 to 5, 2022. The conference commenced with an AAM 101 workshop hosted by the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI) on August 2nd. The full conference program began on August 3rd. This event advanced key research and policy discussions around environmental impacts, safety, security, equity, multimodal integration, and the role of government. View...

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...