Grocery Store Accessibility via Light Rail in Los Angeles: An analysis of food accessibility in Los Angeles, California
Primary Faculty Advisor
Diana Chen
Publication Date
Fall 2021
Disciplines
Engineering | Environmental Sciences | Food Studies | Social Justice | Transportation Engineering | Urban Studies and Planning
Description / Abstract
This project examines the accessibility of grocery stores via light rail in Los Angeles, California, with a focus on disparities affecting Black and low-income communities. Using demographic, income, grocery store, and light rail location data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Los Angeles GeoHub, ArcGIS was used to map grocery store distribution and identify stores within a quarter-mile walking distance of light rail stations. The analysis found that only 90 of more than 1,174 grocery stores (7.6%) were located within this distance, with particularly limited access in predominantly Black communities. Although many accessible grocery stores were located in low-income areas, numerous low-income neighborhoods lacked nearby rail service. These findings highlight geographic and socioeconomic disparities in food access and emphasize the need for more equitable transportation infrastructure and grocery store distribution.