Creating an equitable transportation system first requires an understanding of how residents travel within their community and the transportation challenges they face.

Supported with funding from Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot (CMO) Program, the County conducted a community transportation needs assessment in the La Presa neighborhood of the Spring Valley community. This effort included working directly with community members to learn about challenges they experience traveling throughout their community and identifying potential clean mobility solutions that can provide environmental benefits such as improving local air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CMO is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

As part of the project, County staff reviewed existing data to identify current travel behavior and gaps in transportation access within La Presa and Spring Valley. This included analyzing Census data, the County’s Active Transportation Plan, and data on walkability, transit access, and transportation costs to provide a baseline of community demographics and existing conditions. The results were used to inform discussions with residents during community workshops and interviews.

County staff used a combination of questionnaires, community workshops, and individual interviews with community members to learn about transportation needs in the community. The input and suggestions from community members helped to identify transportation solutions that were supported by a range of residents, businesses, and local decision makers.

Transportation Needs and Barriers

Nearly 80 percent of Spring Valley residents drive alone in a personal vehicle as their primary transportation mode, with only 13 percent indicating they use public transportation. This resulted in many residents indicating high traffic volume as a primary challenge traveling through their community. Similar experiences that residents shared during community workshops included: most people drive their own car and feel unsafe walking or biking; those who relied on transit find it tedious, lacking options, and at times unsafe; and most residents travel to destinations outside of the community for daily errands.

Potential Solutions

Through discussions with community members, four mobility themes were identified that could be implemented in the La Presa/Spring Valley area to reduce community transportation challenges and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Community Shuttle. An electric community shuttle could provide convenient and affordable transportation for transit-dependent residents to popular destinations in the community.

• Electric Carshare Program. A carshare service could be maintained and accessed from public parking areas in the neighborhood to allow residents to rent electric vehicles for local and non-local trips.

• Rideshare Discounts. An on-demand rideshare discount program could offer reduced or free rides in electric vehicles to community residents.

• Non-Vehicular Infrastructure Improvements. Feedback received through the survey and at workshops related to the need for making walking and biking a safer transportation option through pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements.

The results of the Needs Assessment will help the County apply for future grant funding to implement one of the identified solutions in the community.