LOS ANGELES \u2014 Metro was expanding its One Car Challenge pilot program countywide Wednesday, offering Los Angeles County households up to $600 to reduce driving and use alternative forms of transportation.<\/p>\n
The second phase of the program builds on a 2023 pilot in Santa Monica and will expand participation from 300 households to as many as 2,000 households across LA County, according to Metro.<\/p>\n
Participants who keep at least one household vehicle parked at home for five weeks while using public transit, walking, bicycling, carpooling or other transportation options can earn up to $600, or as much as $120 per week, the agency said.<\/p>\n
Metro officials said participants will use the GoCarma smartphone app to track odometer readings and travel behavior during the program.<\/p>\n
“The pilot showed a significant behavioral shift away from solo car trips, with the most notable increases seen in walking and micromobility,” Metro said in a statement. “Data tracked during the initial phase revealed that participants were 2.6 times more likely to avoid driving an extra vehicle, resulting in a documented 16.16% increase in walking, biking, and public transit utilization.”<\/p>\n
Officials said data from the expanded pilot will be used to evaluate whether incentive-based programs can reduce vehicle miles traveled and serve as a long-term transportation demand management tool. The agency also plans to use the findings to help guide future transportation policy, improve traffic flow and reduce vehicle emissions.<\/p>\n
The expanded program is funded by a $2 million Regional Early Action Planning grant from the Southern California Association of Governments.<\/p>\n
The challenge is open to Los Angeles County residents age 21 and older. While the program is aimed at households with more than one vehicle, single-car households are also eligible to apply.<\/p>\n