On May 2, 2024, Betty Ann Gardens, an affordable housing development in San Jose, held an event to officially launch the EV carshare element of its Mobility Hubs pilot and promote other clean mobility options provided by the program. Representatives from Transform, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and elected leaders, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, joined residents in celebrating the program, which brings targeted green mobility options to residents.
Betty Ann Gardens is close to the Berryessa BART station, and all the residents get VTA bus and light rail passes, so residents have rich transit options, but that isn’t always enough to help people juggling the responsibilities of family, school, and work get where they need to go.
The Mobility Hubs program, run by Transform, surveyed residents to determine the gaps in their transportation choices. The San Jose location is one of three in the pilot, and each location gets options based on its needs. For Betty Ann Gardens, that includes electric car sharing, bicycles, and bike repair training, secured bike storage, Lyft credits, and an electric signboard showing arrival times for nearby public transit. The pilot has been a collaborative effort, with contributions from EV companies and bicycle organizations.
Residents take charge of their mobility options
Residents are a vital part of the team implementing Mobility Hubs, sharing information, and ensuring everyone has access to the full menu of mobility options. “Not many know the struggle of commuting to and from doctor's appointments, college classes, daily errands, and tasks unless you actually live through it with a full class load and part-time work,” said Jennifer Delgado, one of the student interns who spoke at the May 2 event. Delgado described her family’s only car being totaled by a drunk driver. “These available discounted transit services have allowed me to continue to live my life without the added stress of not having reliable transportation,” she said.
Another intern, Joseline Torres, said, “I have seen firsthand the doubt in residents' eyes when we explain to them everything is available to them here at home through the Mobility Hub. To be able to see that doubt turn into a trusting smile has been the most rewarding part of seeing this pilot unfold.”
Lack of access to affordable transportation is a significant barrier to advancement. It can keep people from taking jobs, taking classes to gain marketable skills, or getting to necessary healthcare appointments. Mobility Hubs seeks to fill this need with climate-friendly options, demonstrating that the solution to problems of climate and equity is often the same.
“It’s exciting to see Mobility Hubs come together and make a difference in people’s lives,” said Jennifer Ledet, who oversees the Mobility Hubs program at Transform. “I hope this pilot is just the first step in creating long-term programs to bring convenient, green transportation options to more people.”
