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Home / Jacob Wasserman
Man smiles, wearing a blue collared shirt with glasses and red hair.

Jacob Wasserman

Research Program Manager

Jacob Wasserman studies and manages research on public transit, the intersection of transportation and other social issues, and a range of mobility questions at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. With a background in transportation equity, finance, and demand management, Wasserman serves as the lead scholar of ITS’ Public Transit research program.

Prior to joining ITS, he worked for the Cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New Haven on capital planning, vehicle miles traveled development review thresholds, budget process improvements, and active transportation. He also served as a Transportation Justice Fellow for BART Director Lateefah Simon, coordinating passage of the system’s Safe Transit sanctuary policy.

Wasserman has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, with concentrations in transportation policy and planning and in community economic development and housing, in the housing stream. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Yale.

Read More

Educational Background

  • M.A. in City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
  • B.A. in History, Yale University

Affiliations

UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies.

Areas of Expertise

  • Homelessness, Public Transit, Transportation, Transportation Policy

Latest News

BART transit in the background with the words "Saving Public Transportation" front and center.
BART’s Financial Crisis Raises Concerns About Future Transit Service
November 2, 2026
Jacob Wasserman man with reddish hair and glasses speaks to Fox News about the LAX People Mover Delays
Jacob Wasserman Explains LAX People Mover Delays and Rising Costs
November 2, 2026

Latest News

BART transit in the background with the words "Saving Public Transportation" front and center.

BART’s Financial Crisis Raises Concerns About Future Transit Service

November 2, 2026
Jacob Wasserman man with reddish hair and glasses speaks to Fox News about the LAX People Mover Delays

Jacob Wasserman Explains LAX People Mover Delays and Rising Costs

November 2, 2026
Four headshots set against aerial view of a campus

Awards Support Research Into Confederate Monuments, Caltrans Naming Conventions

October 6, 2026
LAX airport with airplane about to land at the airport.

LAX People Mover Delays Continue as World Cup Crowds Arrive

June 25, 2026

SkyLink’s long-delayed airport train remains unfinished amid disputes, testing requirements, and expectations for future Olympics and major events.

Game at a casino.

Wasserman on the New York MTA’s Varied Revenue Stream

May 1, 2026

The New York MTA was recently awarded three casino licenses, which are projected to generate significant revenue for the agency.

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Contact Information

Email

jacobwasserman@ucla.edu

Media Contact

For media inquiries, contact Kate Shirley at kshirley@luskin.ucla.edu (email preferred) or 310-206-5252.

Homelessness on Public Transit: A Review of Problems and Responses

Transit Blues in the Golden State: Analyzing Recent California Ridership Trends

“It Is Our Problem!”: Strategies for Responding to Homelessness on Transit

Homelessness in Transit Environments: Volume I, Findings from a Survey of Public Transit Operators

A Bus Home: Homelessness in U.S. Transit Environments

Learn more about UCLA Luskin

Find contact information and get answers to your questions.

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Graduate Programs
  • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
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  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
  • Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA)
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
Undergraduate Programs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
Professional Certificates
  • AI in Public Affairs Certificate
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  • Global Public Affairs
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  • Global Public Affairs
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  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
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Research Centers
  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

    Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL)

    Empowers stakeholders with data to make informed decisions for children, families, and communities.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    Advances research, education, and meaningful civic engagement on transportation issues.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship that confronts threats to democracy in America and around the world.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation

    Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Studying housing affordability and transportation equity in the L.A. region.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation

    Informing effective and equitable environmental policy that improves lives.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

All Research Centers
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