Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JULY 18, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: MOBILITY WALLET PILOT UPDATES
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE oral report on the Mobility Wallet Pilot.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The proposed Mobility Wallet will provide South Los Angeles residents opportunities for more access and mobility through the use of transportation funds for public transit and private shared mobility and will prioritize (though the predetermined CARB STEP geography in South LA) those from historically underserved communities. The geography proposed and selected in the competitive CARB STEP grant is located in several LA Metro Equity Focused Communities (EFC) and would directly benefit residents by providing improved access and mobility. The South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (Federal Promise Zone) includes 92% are people of color - primarily Latinx (72%) and Black or African American (20.4%), with a large immigrant population (41.2% foreign-born). The unemployment rate is over 12%, and almost 56% of residents live below 150% of the federal poverty level, compared to 30% countywide. Workforce participation is low, with only 59% of 18 to 64 year-olds, compared to 64% in the county, indicating that there are many deep seated barriers to accessing and identifying work. SLATE-Z has a relatively young population: 66% are of working age (18-64), 25% are youth under 18, and only 8% are 65 years or older. However, low educational attainment remains a major obstacle to quality employment. Nearly half the population older than 25 years (47.2%) has less than a high school education, and only 10.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher (compared to 30.4% countywide). The Mobility Wallet helps South LA residents use and pay for transportation, making it easier for them to get to jobs, schools, shopping, and everywhere else they need to go. The future phases of the pilot will be Countywide and will be focused on serving EFC’s and will be only available to those that qualify for the LIFE income criteria.
UBM is an evolving concept to ensure that all individuals have access to a range of transportation options. This initiative recognizes mobility as a fundamental right, critical to accessing essential services, employment, and social activities. UBM is designed to reduce inequality in transportation by providing subsidies, improving infrastructure, and integrating various modes of transport, including public transit, rideshare, and bike-share programs.
Metro serves as a national leader and pivotal stakeholder in driving the discussion of UBM throughout the Los Angeles ecosystem to advance access to opportunity for all. Metro’s services and system of partnerships, policies, and pilots like the Mobility Wallet exemplify the agency’s commitment to connecting low-income Angelenos with a diverse range of transportation resources, thereby expanding access to opportunity and fostering a more integrated mobility landscape. By providing affordable or subsidized mobility services, Metro's initiatives align with and expand upon the broader UBM framework, aiming to make transportation more accessible and attractive to all residents.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Hector Gutierrez, Senior Manager, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 444-9304
Jewel De Guzman, Senior Manager, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-5343
Avital Shavit, Senior Director, Special Projects, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-7518
Mark Vallianatos, Executive Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-5282
Marcel Porras, Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-4605
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-4098
