More jobs, declining affordability will increase traffic congestion
San Mateo County sees high levels of cross-county commuting, as 60% of people employed in the county live in other areas and must commute in for work. On a given workday, nearly 200,000 workers commute into San Mateo County, while a similar number of residents commute out to other counties for work.
As the economy continues to improve, this commute travel will grow, leading to increased congestion, reduced worker productivity, and vehicle-related air pollution and emissions.
These statistics and more can be found in our Indicators for a Sustainable San Mateo County Report, launched on Thursday, February 27.
The report’s 2014 Key Indicator: Transportation.
Like other indicators in the report, traffic congestion is proof that an improving economy doesn’t come without consequences.
Between now and 2040, the county is projected to add 185,000 residents and 100,000 new jobs. “Currently, 71% of county residents drive alone to work, while 10% carpool and 9% take transit,” says Adrienne Etherton, Sustainable San Mateo County Executive Director. “Our roadways lack the capacity to handle the additional traffic that projected growth will bring unless we shift more people from single-occupancy vehicle travel towards alternatives such as public transit, carpooling, walking, and biking.”
Traffic congestion is also tied to another result of an improving economy: housing prices.
With economic growth, more residents are working, more local businesses are hiring, and home values are soaring. In 2012, employment in the county increased 4% from the year prior; and 2013 saw continued strong growth, with the number of jobs reaching 383,000 by December 2013. The median sales price for a single family home climbed to $912,000 in 2013, a 21% increase from the year prior. However, median household income continued to decline, dropping to $81,609 in 2012. Adjusted for inflation, this reflects an 11% drop from 2007. As a result, many people employed in the county are forced to move to less expensive regions and commute in for work. In the third quarter of 2013, only 36% of households in the county could afford an entry-level home, compared to 45% in Santa Clara County and 74% in the United States.
“Until we move forward with plans for integrated planning of housing, employment and transportation needs, we will need to accept that traffic congestion is the consequence of a growing economy,” said Seamus Murphy, Director, Government & Community Affairs at the San Mateo County Transit District. “But, large scale changes to our existing transit systems, along with the creation of more transit-oriented development will not happen overnight. Changing how we commute and how we develop and grow requires that we take the long-view.”
The report identifies several other concerning statistics. The county’s poverty rate, at 8.4%, is at its highest point in the last 10 years, and the number of unsheltered homeless is up 12% since 2011. (see Equity: Community Cohesion and Safety)
Also, after showing positive trends for several years, many environmental indicators reversed direction. Solid waste disposal was up 2.4% in 2012, chipping away at reductions made over the last decade and total water usage at 82.31 million gallons per day was up 3% from the prior year. (See Environment: Natural Resources)
