Mayor Eric Garcetti is forming a public-private partnership to explore innovative ideas for transportation. (photo courtesy of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced the creation of Urban Movement Labs, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership that will accelerate transportation innovation in Los Angeles.

The unprecedented venture will focus on creating more ways for Angelenos to get around by involving stakeholders in developing new ideas, safely testing them on L.A.’s streets and launching them in partnership with local communities.

“Angelenos don’t wait for the future, we guide it,” Garcetti said. “Urban Movement Labs will secure L.A.’s standing as the transportation innovation capital of the world, a place where new technologies are tested, proven and brought to life, and people in every community have a seat at the table as we think about what our city will look like tomorrow.”

Urban Movement Labs will empower a coalition of public and private sector partners, nonprofit organizations, academic experts and residents to design and deploy creative solutions to the city’s transportation challenges. In its first year, UML will work with local communities throughout the city to confront major issues affecting daily life. That includes providing better transportation options to L.A.’s residents and 50 million annual visitors, easing commutes across the region and converting underused transportation assets into affordable housing.

Beyond working with residents to tackle immediate challenges, UML will be built around three core initiatives. In the Ideas Accelerator, UML will identify current challenges, match solutions and develop pilot programs to test ideas on streets. The Economic and Workforce Development Initiative will focus on developing a pipeline of businesses and good-paying jobs for the local workforce. In the Urban Proving Grounds Initiative, UML leaders, partners and community members will identify and vet a network of L.A. neighborhoods where solutions can be tested, evaluated, scaled to size and deployed.

Partners in UML include Garcetti’s Office of Economic Development, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Los Angeles World Airports, Port of Los Angeles, Avis Budget Group, the L.A. Cleantech Incubator, Lyft, Verizon and Waymo.

For information, visit urbanmovementlabs.com.