By Michael Hyland, Tanjeeb Ahmed, Navjyoth Sarma J S, Suman Mitra, Arash Ghaffar
Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine
As cities and regions explore autonomous mobility solutions, understanding their real-world impact on employment accessibility is crucial. This study quantifies how Shared Automated Vehicles (SAVs) can bridge employment gaps, particularly benefiting young and low-income workers in Southern California.
At ITS-Irvine, our faculty are advancing transportation research by examining how emerging mobility solutions impact accessibility and equity. In this study, Dr. Michael Hyland, alongside Tanjeeb Ahmed, Navjyoth J.S. Sarma, Dr. Suman Mitra, and Arash Ghaffar, analyzed the employment accessibility benefits of Shared Automated Vehicle (SAV) mobility services using a consumer welfare approach.
Key Research Findings
- Shared Automated Vehicle mobility services (SAMSs) significantly improve job accessibility.
- The benefits of SAMSs are greater for workers in lower-density areas.
- Low-income workers experience slightly higher job accessibility benefits from SAMSs.
- The benefits of SAMS as a transit feeder mode are minimal compared to SAMS-only mobility.
- Job accessibility benefits heavily depend on per-mile costs of SAMS modes.
“The main finding from our model-based analysis is that robo-taxis can substantially improve connections between workers and employment opportunities in Southern California, benefiting workers and employers in the region. Moreover, we find that low-income and younger workers are likely to benefit the most from robo-taxis in addition to workers in households without cars.”
-Dr. Michael Hyland
Stay connected with ITS-Irvine for more insights on mobility innovation. To learn more, read the policy brief or explore the full report below.