RES 00059 - Laserfiche WebLink

Tri-Valley Transportation Plan/Adlon Plan Update shift would spread traffic demand more and make more efficient use of our investment in the system. Jobs-housing balance in one area, however, doesn't mean that no one will leave to work in another. In a multi-cenrered, intensively developed and continually changing urban region like the Bay Area, people usually need to travel beyond their immediate neighborhood not only for work, but also for shopping, childcare, recreation, and other needs. And the large number of dual-career households requires difficult balancing behveen the different com- mute needs of the two earners. In addition, even if one area achie....es jobs~housing balance imbalances in other areas will draw workers from balanced areas to where there is a deficit of workers to fill the jobs. For example, even though the Tri-Valley has a pretty good balance between jobs and em- ployed residents, around 45 percent of those employed residents commute to jobs outside that sub-area. As long as the Silicon Valley continues adding new jobs but few new houses, those businesses will need to bring in workers from adjoining areas like the Tri-Valley and even further afield. Employers in the Tri- Valley will likewise need to find their workers in places like Central and East Contra Costa and the Central Valley. Urban location theory suggests that greater jobs-housing balance should occur as part of market interactions. While this balancing appears to have taken place, at least to some ex- tent and in some areas, it has not occurred in the Bay Area. If local and regional policies can make a greater proximity between jobs and housing attractive and affordable to the workers in those jobs, the jobs-housing balance can help support greater efficiency on the transportation system. REDUCED lMl.OF.SERVICE STANDARDS The TVTe has seen that the originally intended transportation service objective of LOS E on the freeways based on demand cannot be met in many locations regardless of land use assumptions. In fact, this standard cannot even be met with today's volumes. This is true because growth in San Joaquin County, Santa Clara County, and Central and East Contra Costa County will fill up the Tri-Valley freeways even if Tri-Valley jurisdictions do not grow. Therefore, the TVTC will accept congestion at the gateways recognizing that while it is not ideal, at least it will minimize through traffic. The focus then shifts to maintaining adequate levels of service, and providing transit options, for trips within the Tri-Valley. The transportation plan succeeds in avoiding congestion on the arterial system. Also, 1-680 between Alamo and Route 84 is expected to flow smoothly. Level-of-service F conditions, however, are expected on 1-580 ~-in-the morning-and.@astbound in thl; l;~l;lIing- ~: T",ajara Road and Norrh Livermo" ,,",'en,,", This would be parrially allevi.red with HOV lanes and ramp metering. Page 24 18 April 2000