CARSON,
Calif., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and Toyota Motor North
America (TMNA) today launched a multipronged program focused on
transportation equity for the university and its surrounding
communities based on the idea of "Mobility for All."
"Knowledge is a catalyst for progress, and collaboration with
industry partners is essential for advancing academic research and
innovation at our university," said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. "We are incredibly grateful
for Toyota's longstanding support and investment in of our
educational mission and look forward to our continued partnership
in building a better, more sustainable, and equitable future."
The initial phase of the program will establish the Center
for Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Transportation (CREST) at
CSUDH, made possible by a $1.2
million grant from Toyota. Housed within CSUDH's Center for
Innovation in STEM Education, CREST will engage faculty and
students in research, curricula, and paid internships to find
solutions to the myriad of mobility challenges faced by members of
the university and wider community.
"Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is
possible," said Tom Stricker, group
vice president, Toyota Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs.
"CREST aligns perfectly with Toyota's 'Mobility for All' vision,
which aims to leave 'no one behind' by providing people with
accessible, low, and zero emission mobility solutions to meet their
diverse needs."
CSUDH students, many of whom are low-income, minority, or
first-generation, face numerous barriers to education—one of which
is inadequate transportation. More than 95 percent of CSUDH
students commute to campus, and a needs assessment conducted in
communities around the university revealed transportation
disparities and limited public transit options. CREST will serve as
an information hub, offering resources for accessible and
affordable transportation options for CSUDH students, faculty, and
staff. CREST will expand its reach to the City of Carson and other target geographic
areas over the course of five years.
"CREST will offer students and local residents mobility options
that are flexible, affordable, reliable, and accessible," said
Kamal Hamdan, executive director for
the CSUDH Center for Innovation in STEM Education. "This is a
transformational project focused on improving quality of life and
creating lasting change in the communities we serve."
Providing students with sustainable and accessible
transportation is another key element of the program. KINTO,
Toyota's carsharing program, will supply CSUDH with 20
hybrid and/or battery electric vehicles starting in Fall 2024
to increase students' access to convenient vehicle renting at a
highly discounted rate. With improved transportation options,
students could have more time to better focus on their academic
goals, have easier access to job opportunities, and be able to take
full advantage of living in Greater Los
Angeles. To accommodate the new vehicle fleet and offer
improved charging capabilities on campus, CSUDH is also partnering
with Southern California Edison to install Level 2 electric
charging stations on campus in the near future.
"KINTO mobility solution is designed to increase mobility
through the EV-based ridesharing program," said Kevin McKeever, general manager, KINTO &
Fleet Management. "With 34 locations already across California, we're excited to open the newest
KINTO location on the CSUDH campus for students, faculty, and
staff. To make the program even more accessible, for the first
year, we are offering a special discounted hourly rate to the CSUDH
community."
Additionally, CSUDH is in the early stages of reconfiguring the
space along Victoria Parkway into a Metro Transit Hub. This joint
project with the City of Carson
would be funded by $3.5 million
allocated to the campus by LA Metro. The ultimate vision of
"Mobility for All" is to create a campus Mobility Hub to help
minimize commuters' carbon footprint with upgraded public transit
and transportation inter-modalities.
"Just as the university upgraded its infrastructure to support
the 1984 Olympics and host events, CSUDH aims to ready the campus
to better serve attendees of the 2028 Summer Olympics, for which we
are hosting several events," said Vice President for University
Advancement Eva Sevcikova.
"Whether it's higher education, the government, or the private
industry, every partner at the table is driven by a collective
focus on the socio-economic mobility of our students—helping them
attain a college degree and join the region's workforce," she said.
"These initiatives promise to create ripples throughout the South
Bay, benefitting communities and better connecting us all."
About California State University,
Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez
Hills cultivates an academic community committed to justice,
equity, and inclusion – one that fosters a sense of belonging and
advances social mobility for our graduates. For more than five
decades, we have provided knowledge, talent, and leadership to
Southern California and beyond.
Strategically located to bring educational pathways to underserved
communities in the aftermath of the 1965 Watts Rebellion, we
proudly educate many first-generation college students. Ranked
first in the nation for expanding college access and increasing
economic opportunities, CSUDH delivers a transformative education
that is grounded in culturally sustaining practices, innovative
research, creativity, and community engagement. We are dedicated to
fostering students' critical inquiry, career readiness, and passion
for lifelong learning—ensuring that upon graduation, students are
equipped to lead and thrive in the industries shaping the future.
For more information, visit www.csudh.edu.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has
been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is
committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility
through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more
than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the
design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and
trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant
in North Carolina will begin to
manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
Toyota currently offers 27 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota,
visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media contacts:
Amanda Roark
(496)
292-2636
amanda.roark@toyota.com
Lilly McKibbin
(310) 243-2034
lmckibbin@csudh.edu
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America