Hundreds of L.A. area residents were awarded a monthly stipend to improve their mobility and transportation access as part the first phase of a pilot program from LA Metro and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
Now research from UCLA released this month shows that the program made a major impact in the lives of those who participated.
The Mobility Wallet Program gave 1,000 residents in South L.A., all of which are considered low-income and describe themselves as persons of color, a $150 monthly stipend on a pre-paid debit card to pay for transportation services.
The money could be used on local public transit like Metro rail and buses, longhaul services like Amtrak and Greyhound, ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft, or even at bicycle shops or scooter rental apps.
The program, the largest of its kind in the nation, was pitched as a way to provide equitable transportation solutions for low-income residents who often find themselves with poor-quality access to transportation.
For one year, from May 2023 to April 2024, participants used the monthly cards to pay for their transit needs — and wants. And the program turned out to be a major relief to those enrolled, making a positive impact in their financial and mental health, they said.
Speaking to UCLA researchers, dozens of participants said the program improved their lives by allowing them to use funds normally reserved for transportation on everyday essentials like groceries, meals and bills. Many reported that they were able to catch up on past-due bills or even add to their savings thanks to the program.
Now that the program has concluded, the stress of those financial burdens has returned, researchers found.
“The financial burden of transportation [is] a challenging one to cut out of my budget. I can try to reduce it as much as possible, but reducing cost means I have to pay in my time. I think the financial support is probably what I miss the most,” one participant said.
In addition to financial stress, the program also eased their minds about getting to the places they need to be in a timely way thanks to multiple transportation options.
“Having access to ride-hail services, for example, gave participants another commuting option, especially when transit would not get them to work on time, or way to get to medical and other time-sensitive appointments,” UCLA wrote in its report.
Women who participated in the program overwhelmingly reported a sense of relief being able to use Uber or Lyft on nights and weekends rather than relying on late-night public transit. Fear of using Metro during evenings and weekends has been a common sentiment among female transit users in L.A.
In addition to the obvious financial benefits, participants also felt a greater sense of community because the stipend allowed them to visit their loved ones easier on days when they might’ve otherwise stayed home.
A retired participant said she didn’t always feel comfortable driving herself through the crowded surface streets of Los Angeles. The access to ride-hailing apps allowed her to visit friends and reduced her sense of isolation, she said.
Another person who spoke with UCLA said he was able to visit Disneyland for the first time with his child, “creating a life-long memory at a place that would have taken too long to reach using only the bus and train.”
Another was able to travel to their sister’s birthday party and bring their parents with them. The parents, who would usually have to forego a crosstown trip or ask other family members for a ride home, were able to see their loved ones without worrying about how they were going to get home.
The program allowed those enrolled to participate in more social events and gatherings. Since the pilot ended, most reported they’ve since cut back on these events.
Interviewees also said the Mobility Wallet Program gave them a sense of independence which they didn’t have before or after. They didn’t have to worry about relying on their friends or family to give them rides, and some were even able to provide relief to others in the form of tips for their ride-share drivers, or loading up loved ones’ Metro Tap cards so they could experience the same freedom of mobility.
“I knew [my brother] was struggling because he had recently moved out from living with us and he was struggling, so I told him, ‘You know what? Look, they’re giving me this much. I’ll give you half of it, and now you don’t have to worry about … your bus fares for the month, or buying a bus pass,’” one participant told researchers.
Ultimately, during the duration of the one-year pilot program, participants experienced an increase in quality of life due to reduced stress, deeper connections with their closest friends and families, and a sense of independence they previously hadn’t enjoyed. Their mental health improved, and evidence suggests their physical health was positively impacted as well.
“I feel coming into this, I was very, I don’t want to say depressed, but I was definitely down. I wouldn’t really go out,” one interviewee said. “I would spend my days at home just because I didn’t want to stress my family out with a ride or stress myself out with asking or figuring it out. I would stay home more often. And it definitely helped me lift myself up.”
For one year, participants were given access to something many Americans take for granted. The results, according to UCLA, speak for themselves. Those chosen to participate lived better lives for an entire year, but the “temporary nature” of the project limited the long-term impact.
The Mobility Wallet Program is being researched over multiple phases. The 1,000 participants from South L.A. were part of Phase One. Phase Two, which is currently underway, involved twice as many Angelenos, half in the original South L.A. pilot zone and the other half in unincorporated areas across the County — all of whom are described as low-income.
For additional information about Mobility Wallet Program, click here.
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