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Projects

The National Center for Sustainable Transportation funds a variety of research grants, organized by our three research themes (Infrastructure Provision; Travel Demand; and Vehicle Technology), and by project type (applied research projects, white papers / research synthesis, seed grants, translational projects, dissertation grants, and graduate student-led research). 

Optimizing Bikeshare Service to Connect Affordable Housing Units with Transit Services

  • Principal Investigator Miguel Jaller, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
This project will develop a framework to optimize the location of bikeshare stations to mitigate the barriers between affordable housing and transit services. To achieve this, the multi-objective optimization process will consider both bikeshare trip demand, transit service schedule, available affordable housing units, and other geographic information.
Project Status
Complete

Understanding the Influence of Local Option Sales Tax Measures on SB 375

  • Principal Investigator Elisa Barbour, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
This research project will assess how county sales tax measures affect funding allocations and policy and program choices adopted in MPO long- and short-range plans in California’s four largest regions. With San Francisco Bay Area policymakers currently seeking to place a multi-county sales tax measure on the ballot, now is an opportune time to investigate these challenges and opportunities.
Project Status
Complete

Bicycling as a Solution to Yosemite Valley Traffic

  • Principal Investigator Susan Handy, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
Yosemite National Park attracts 4.5 million visitors a year, 60% of whom spend at least some time in Yosemite Valley where many of the park’s natural wonders are found. Bicycles have been a popular travel alternative within the valley. The purpose of this project is to explore the potential for bicycling to play a larger role in the effort to manage Yosemite Valley traffic and reduce environmental impacts.
Project Status
Complete

Studying the Impacts of the Pandemic and Future Mobility Patterns in California During the Post COVID-19 Recovery

  • Principal Investigator Giovanni Circella, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
Starting in early 2020, the world has experienced huge disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The analyses carried out in this study will shed light on the complicated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity participation and travel patterns, including commuting and non-commuting (e.g., discretionary) trips, and the use of various means of travel.
Project Status
Complete

Emissions Impact of Electric Vehicle Adoption on Disadvantaged Communities

  • Principal Investigator Alan Jenn, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
As electric vehicles are being adopted in relatively wealthier communities, there is a question as to whether pollution is being shifted from these communities to more disadvantaged, lower income communities which tend to be located near fossil fuel power plants. This project proposes to conduct a high-resolution accounting and measurement of the emissions and associated impacts through three phases of research.
Project Status
Complete

Developing a Vehicle Cost Calculator to Promote Electric Vehicle Adoption among TNC Drivers

  • Principal Investigator Angela Sanguinetti, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
This research will develop a total cost of ownership (TCO) model and online vehicle cost calculator (VCC) for transport network company (TNC) drivers. Many VCCs have been developed to support consumers in calculating the relative costs of electric and gas vehicles, but their design and the TCO models that underlie them are geared toward traditional vehicle ownership.
Project Status
Complete

Democratization of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

  • Principal Investigator Adam Davis, Ph.D
  • University of California, Davis
The electrification of privately owned vehicles is a necessary step to eliminating transportation greenhouse gas emissions. The adoption of electric vehicles so far has been heavily focused among high-income commuters who live in major metropolitan areas.
Project Status
In Progress

Examining e-Bike Rebates in California

  • Principal Investigator Dillon Fitch, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
Given the increase in demand and incentives for e-bicycling; this project seeks to evaluate the behavioral effects (change in bicycling, driving, use of transit) of these incentives to help guide future policy interventions for e-bicycling. The researchers will examine these changes based on survey data, and will propose future study designs for more in-depth analyses and evaluations of e-bike incentives.
Project Status
Complete

Passenger Mobility Scenarios for 2030

  • Principal Investigator Maha Ahmad
  • University of California, Davis
This research will develop plausible scenarios for land-based passenger mobility over a ten-year horizon leading to 2030, and evaluate potential outcomes and impacts.
Project Status
In Progress