It's a Catch-22.
Less cars on Highway 101 during rush hour means lower commuting times; however it reminds residents of the Internet "bust" when fewer jobs existed in Silicon Valley.
On the other hand more cars on the highway signals jobs growth, especially in Mountain View's coveted North Bayshore area; yet they cause major congestion near highway on- and off- ramps.
How to manage its transportation woes in the Shoreline Regional Park Community was the focus of a city council study session on Tuesday, Oct. 16.
How would you help solve the transportation issues in the city?
A draft report from consultants Sustainable Silicon Valley showed that currently 61.3 percent of nearly 17,1000 employees at Mountain View's four largest employers commuted alone in a car to work. Another 25.4 percent took public transit or a company shuttle. Of the rest 6.4 percent carpools, 5.6 percent biked and 1.4 percent walked.
The city projects the number of employees to increase to about 27,600 employees by 2030 under the land use assumptions in the new General Plan. The highest estimate assumes an increase of 47,700 employees.
The goals or key principles of a Shoreline Regional Park Community Transportation study would be to develop multiple innovative strategies through a public-private collaboration to address short and long-term solutions into and with the area. The study would assess not just the strategies, but also funding options, the phasing and implementation of a plan, and additional steps.
Current strategies include (see attached .pdf for the entire staff report):
- Improved Roadway Efficiency
- Commuter Bus and Ridesharing Programs for Mid- to Long-Distance Trips
- Expanded Transit Connections for Mid-Range Trips
- Bicycle/Pedestrian Program for Shorter Trips
- Intercept Parking
One of the strategies proposes the establishment of a public-private collaboration of affected stakeholders to be called the Transportation Management Association.
The current estimated initial cost for the implementation of any of the proposed strategies could range from $250 to $500 million.
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