SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS, LAND USE AND TRAVEL PATTERNS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

The ability to move people and goods, particularly during peak periods, is a challenge to both administrators and traffic engineers in Los Angeles County (California). There have been many major capital investments in transportation infrastructure such as subway, light rail, and freeway high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been designated as the congestion management agency for the County and commissioned to plan and program all transportation improvements into the 21st century. The MTA, established in 1993 and currently the 2nd largest provider of public transit in the U.S., is responsible for developing an integrated Metro system. This includes improvements to light and heavy rail transit, commuter rail, bus and paratransit services, and carpool and bus lanes. The MTA has made considerable progress in creating a unified public transportation agency that provides a safe, cost-efficient, and reliable urban transit network.