Fixing Traffic with Transit in Los Angeles

Blog posted On January 03, 2018

As the host of the 2028 Olympics, Los Angeles has a traffic problem to solve.  As the third most populous city in the United States, Los Angeles residents experience extreme traffic congestion every day.  In an effort to alleviate traffic, Los Angeles residents approved a sales-tax increase to give the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LA Metro) approximately $120 billion over the next 40 years.  In addition to adding bus and train lines, here are four other ways Los Angeles is improving its infrastructure.

Increased Walkability – one way to reduce the number of vehicles on the road is to create a more walkable community.  The LA Metro plans to set up transit stops within walking or biking distance of more local businesses.

Last-Mile Transit – to reach removed neighborhoods, the LA Metro plans to add transit hubs near rail or bus lines that can serve as pickup points for ride-sharing options like Lyft Line and UberPool and also house bikesharing options.

On-Demand MicroTransit Buses – with the advent of self-driving vehicles and other advances in artificial intelligence, the LA Metro is developing a system of responsive buses that can run on dynamic routes.  The on-demand buses may even someday run on a driverless system.

Big Data – through Mobileye cloud-connected tracking sensors, and other quantitative measurements, the LA Metro may someday be able to connect traffic lights to mass transportation systems to ease the flow of traffic. 

As the LA Metro implements these mass transportation changes, other cities may be able to follow their lead.  An improvement in infrastructure can lead to an overall improvement in quality of life for local residents. 

Sources: Fast Company