The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) is launching Phase 2 of its One Car Challenge Pilot Program. Phase 1 was launched in partnership with the city of Santa Monica, Calif., where 300 participants tracked their mileage through weekly odometer readings.

According to the agency, Phase 1 showed a significant behavioral shift away from solo car trips, with the most notable increases seen in walking and micromobility. 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.

L.A. Metro says the goal of Phase 2 is to determine whether incentives can reduce solo car trips and encourage other modes of transportation such as transit, carpooling and walking. Expanding upon 300 households in Phase 1, the new phase will include up to 2,000 Los Angeles County households. Participants who keep at least one household car parked at home for five weeks and explore other ways to travel to their destinations can earn up to $600 per household.

By expanding the program, L.A. Metro aims to generate statistically significant vehicle miles traveled reduction data needed to determine whether incentivized projects such as the One Car Challenge could be used as a proven transportation demand management tool in the future. Additionally, L.A. Metro will use findings to guide long-term transportation policy, improve regional traffic flow and lower vehicle emissions.

How the program works and automated tracking

To participate, individuals will use L.A. Metro’s partner GoCarma’s smartphone app, which will request automated or photo reporting of a car’s odometer to measure reduced driving. The app will track travel behavior and handle vehicle odometer readings behind the scenes, LA County residents who are at least 21 years old can participate. The challenge targets households maintaining more than one car, though single-car households are now welcome to apply. The challenge itself is to keep one household car parked at home for five weeks and get around using a form of public transit.

According to the agency, eligible households pre-register online. Participants are selected based on location, household profile and availability.

L.A. Metro secured a $2 million Regional Early Action Planning grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to fund Phase 2 of the One Car Challenge.

"We expect to see that, hopefully, people will change their behaviors with this incentive," L.A. Metro Spokesperson Patrick Chandler said to CBS Los Angeles.