Throughout his administration, Mayor Garcetti has emphasized the importance of technological innovation and sustainability. Working within the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT), Ashley Z. Hand spent a year studying LA’s unique situation to develop a set of actions the city can take to become a leader in 21st-century transportation. Hand came to LA from her former post as Chief Innovation Officer of Kansas City, the first woman in the nation to serve in such a role.

The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles leveraged a grant from the Goldhirsh Foundation to fund Hand’s work. Throughout late 2015, Hand traveled extensively and worked with many civic partners, developing thought leadership to inform her recommendations for LA.

Hand’s study opens the way for sustainable, tech-enabled transport options. These include integrated mobility hubs, shared mobility, and automated vehicle infrastructure, among many others. Her final product, “Urban Mobility in a Digital Age,” embraces a service model for transportation data, mobility, and infrastructure, providing a groundbreaking blueprint for innovation in traditionally auto-centric cities.