Increase in Traffic
If soaring gas prices and environmental consciousness aren’t enough to convince Bay Area drivers to ride BART, perhaps the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s latest report will sway some minds. The Commission’s annual traffic congestion survey reveals that drivers are spending more time waiting in traffic than ever before. In 2006, the number of hours that Bay Area commuters were delayed rose by 6 percent, slightly down from a 9 percent increase in 2005, but still noticeable to those experiencing the delays. MTC’s report also ranks the area’s most congested roadways; not coincidentally, the top ten are all major commuting paths:
1. Morning drive on westbound I-80 from Highway 4 to the Bay Bridge metering lights;
2. Evening drive on eastbound I-580 from I-680 to El Charro Road east of Dublin;
3. Morning drive on westbound I-580 from around North Flynn Road to Airway Boulevard in Livermore;
4. Morning drive on southbound Highway 101 in Marin County from Highway 37 to I-580;
5. Evening drive on northbound Highway 101 and eastbound I-80 in San Francisco, from Alemany Boulevard to I-80 and on to Highway 101 until the Sterling Street on-ramp;
6. Evening drive on eastbound Highway 92 in Alameda County, from Clawiter Road to the Interstate 880 interchange;
7. Evening drive on eastbound Highway 4 in Contra Costa County;
8. Evening drive on eastbound I-80 from Fifth Street in San Francisco across the Bay Bridge to Emeryville;
9. Morning drive on westbound Highway 4 in Contra Costa County;
10. (tie) Evening drive on northbound Highway 101 from Marin City to North San Pedro Road;
10. (tie) Evening drive on westbound I-80 from the Bay Bridge toll plaza to Fifth Street in San Francisco.
One can speculate many reasons for the increase in traffic, but the most likely is that there simply are more drivers than ever—and no new highways to accommodate them. With 61,000 new jobs created in the greater Bay Area last year, many of which are filled by workers from inland regions, it’s no wonder that our roads are experiencing heavy loads. Those affected drivers who wish to help alleviate the situation (and lower blood pressure as well) can telecommute, take public transportation, or carpool with others. However, if driving can’t be avoided, please be considerate of our overburdened highways by driving carefully—if you’ve seen one accident you’ve seen them all, so please don’t stop and stare.
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