Student Capstone Projects

UCLA Luskin master’s students are required to complete a capstone project to earn their degree. Master or Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) projects can take the form of an applied planning project (client project), a comprehensive group project or a thesis. Master of Public Policy students complete an applied policy project. 

  • The Client Project is applied planning research on a real-world problem conducted by MURP students. ITS-supported client projects have taken national honors in recent years, including 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
  • The Comprehensive Projects are similar, in many respects, to the client project, but larger in scope and scale. These projects simulate real world planning practice in that they incorporate students from various areas of concentration working together to research a problem from multiple planning angles.
  • Master’s theses focus on posing and answering a research question in planning that has not previously been answered. Research is conducted by a MURP student in conjunction with a faculty committee.




Total Results: 34

2020 | Student Client Project

Cool Pavement Evaluation: Sun Valley, Los Angeles
Falak Fatima Zaidi

Client: Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA)

Environment

REPORT

2020 | Student Client Project

The Effect of Bus Lane Management Techniques on Operator Experience, Safety, and On-Time Performance
Cassie Halls

Client: LA Metro

Environment, Public Transit

REPORT | POLICY BRIEF

2020 | Student Applied Policy Project

Utilizing E-Scooters to Reduce Carbon Emissions Attributable to the Transportation Sector in Santa Monica
Daisuke Kaji, Makoto Tanikura, Jun Luo, Hank Kaplan, Kerry Browne

Client: Santa Monica Planning & Community Development Department

Environment

REPORT

2019 | Student Client Project

Congestion Pricing for Climate, Capacity, or Communities?
Austin Stanion

Client: AECOM

Environment, Traffic, Transportation Finance

REPORT | POLICY BRIEF

2018 | Master's Thesis

Exploring the Role of Electrification in Green Ridesourcing
Jiawen Fang

Environment, New Mobility

REPORT

2018 | Student Applied Policy Project

Investing in Public Charging Infrastructure in Southern California
Tiffany Chu, Sarah Burtner, Gina Charusombat, Yuharu Nagiri

Client: Southern California Association of Governments

Environment

REPORT

2018 | Student Applied Policy Project

Reducing Air Emissions Through Clean Ship Incentive Programs
Christophe LaBelle, Takuma Matsubayashi, Farah Setyawati, Anya Titova, Yichuan Yuan

Client: Port of Long Beach

Environment

REPORT

2017 | Student Client Project

Curbside EV Charging Study for the City of West Hollywood
Chenlin Ye

Client: City of West Hollywood

Environment

REPORT

2017 | Student Client Project

Planes, Trains, and Storm Drains: The Effects of Transportation Infrastructure on Water Runoff in Los Angeles County
Aviv Kleinman

Client: Southern California Association of Governments

Environment

REPORT

2015 | Student Client Project

Los Angeles’ Untapped Resource: Recommendations to Streamline and Standardize Citywide Green Alley Implementation
Rachel Lindt

Client: Trust for Public Land

Environment

REPORT

2014 | Master's Thesis

Identifying Traffic-Related Air Pollution Hotspots in the Built Environment
Lisa Wu

Environment, Traffic

REPORT

2010 | Student Client Project

The Plane Truth: Air Quality Impacts of Airport Operations and Strategies for Sustainability: A Case Study of the Los Angeles World Airports
Colleen Callahan

Client: Coalition for Clean Air

Environment

REPORT

2008 | Student Client Project

Cleaner Skies, Brighter Future: Opportunities and Obstacles to Reduce Airport-based Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Laura Zahn

Client: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Environment

REPORT

2008 | Student Client Project

Where the Streets and Sidewalks End: Greening the Public Right-of-Way: Sustainable Solutions for the City of West Hollywood
Georgia C. Sheridan

Client: City of West Hollywood

Environment, Transportation & Communities

REPORT