MENU
SEARCHThe Mobility Wallet, the largest program of its kind in the nation, aims to address systemic barriers to safe, efficient, and reliable transportation faced by low-income Los Angeles residents.
Mobility Wallets provide subsidies that can be used for transportation services including public transit, rideshare, micromobility, taxis, and purchases at bike shops.
Photo: LA Metro
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), in partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), is expanding the Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) pilot with Phase II of the Mobility Wallet program.
The Mobility Wallet, the largest program of its kind in the nation, aims to address systemic barriers to safe, efficient, and reliable transportation faced by low-income Los Angeles residents.
Mobility Wallets provide subsidies that can be used for transportation services including public transit, rideshare, micromobility, taxis, and purchases at bike shops.
Phase I of the program, which ran from May 2023 to April 2024, provided 1,000 low-income residents in the South LA UBM pilot area a prepaid debit card with $150 per month to spend on transportation needs.
Phase II of the Mobility Wallet program will identify 1,000 new, low-income residents within the South LA pilot zone, as well as an additional 1,000 low-income residents across LA County to receive the Mobility Wallet subsidy.
“LADOT is proud to continue advancing mobility equality with a new round of Mobility Wallets as part of our Universal Basic Mobility pilot program,” said LADOT GM Laura Rubio-Cornejo. “Mobility Wallets empower individuals to choose the transportation solutions that work best for them. We’re excited to double participation in South LA — LADOT’s UBM pilot area — and expand this opportunity to residents across the county.”
To be eligible for Phase II, applicants must be 18 years old, live in LA County, and may not have participated in Phase I.
The annual household income requirement is based on Metro’s LIFE (Low Income Fare is Easy) program.
Phase I garnered positive feedback from participants, who praised the program’s flexibility and reported that it made it easier to get to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and to explore Los Angeles.
Participants in Phase I purchased over 140,000 trips with their mobility wallets, including 80,800 public transit rides; 60,700 rideshare trips; 2600 scooter or bike share rides; and 169 bike shop purchases.
The Mobility Wallet is part of a $30 million Universal Basic Mobility pilot program, launched by the City of Los Angeles in 2021 to provide various mobility options to increase mobility, access to opportunity, and transportation equity in South Los Angeles.
The Mobility Wallet Phase II is funded by the City of Los Angeles in combination with a grant from the California Air Resources Board’s Sustainable Transportation Equity Project awarded to the City of LA in 2021, and by a Southern California Association of Governments grant awarded to Metro in 2024.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Read More →
Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
Read More →
Through the strategic partnership, MOIA America will provide MOIA’s turnkey autonomous mobility solution. This includes purpose-built, autonomous-ready ID. Buzz vehicles equipped with the self-driving system developed by Mobileye, as well as operator training and enablement.
Read More →
The service will offer free connections to major bus stops and park-and-rides, linking customers to NJ TRANSIT’s fixed-route bus network.
Read More →
LexRide connects key destinations, including Downtown Lexington, the Distillery District, and the Warehouse Block/National Avenue area, making it easier to explore without worrying about parking, traffic, or multiple rideshare trips.
Read More →
Sustainability Partners’ Arnold Albiar discusses how a service-based approach is helping airports and public agencies deploy and manage electric fleets more efficiently.
Read More →
The expanded service builds on Pace’s growing On Demand network and is intended to improve access to destinations such as medical appointments, schools, shopping, employment centers and connections to the regional transit system.
Read More →
An important part of the authority’s NextGen Bus Network, MARTA Reach will bring transit service directly to the rider’s location and offer a seamless link to the broader rail and bus system.
Read More →
The partnership aims to accelerate the rollout of electric, high-capacity autonomous shuttles for campuses, airports, transit systems, and more.
Read More →
Veteran transportation innovator to lead coalition as it pushes nationwide expansion of shared autonomous mobility.
Read More →