Regional Top 10 List Little Changed from 2005

Just as a rising tide lifts all boats, it seems that a rising economy slows all freeway lanes. Commute-period congestion on Bay Area freeways increased for the third straight year in 2006, according to the latest congestion-monitoring data released today by Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

Driven by an expansion of the regional economy that spurred creation of an estimated 61,000 jobs in 2006 (source: state Employment Development Department), the daily number of vehicle hours of delay due to congestion in the nine-county region rose by 6 percent in 2006. This follows a 9 percent surge in 2005 and a 2 percent bump in 2004. Among the "Top 10" list of congestion hot spots, the morning commute on westbound Interstate 80 from Hercules to the Bay Bridge retained its longtime hold on the top spot in 2006, with an average 12,230 daily vehicle hours of delay.



"Beyond the continued rise in congestion, what really stands out is that the worst of the tie-ups are concentrated in a few familiar places," observed MTC Vice Chair and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, noting that each of the freeway segments on the annual list of the Bay Area's top 10 traffic hot spots (see the press release section of the MTC Web site for chart) shared the same dubious distinction in 2005 as well. Beyond a shuffling of positions within the Top 10, the only change on the list is that the "reverse" commute westbound in the afternoon across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco moved into a tie for the No. 10 spot last year, after ranking No. 11 in 2005.

The 2006 congestion statistics are the first data to be released this year as part of the Bay Area Transportation: State of the System project spearheaded by MTC and Caltrans. This annual initiative tracks the performance of the region's transportation system and the condition of its facilities.

Regionwide, the congestion data show that on a typical weekday, vehicles spent about 143,900 hours in congested conditions (defined as average speeds below 35 miles per hour for 15 minutes or longer) on Bay Area freeways in 2006. While this marks a 6 percent increase over 2005 figures, it remains well below the 177,600 per day recorded in 2000 at the height of the region's technology-charged economic boom.

In addition to afternoon trips from the East Bay into San Francisco and the morning commute along Interstate 80 from Hercules to the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza (a segment that also carries traffic bound for eastbound Interstate 580 and southbound Interstate 880), the Bay Bridge and its approaches account for two more of the Bay Area's 10 worst congestion locations. These include the eastbound afternoon commute across the span (No. 8) and the afternoon approach on northbound 101 and eastbound Interstate 80 in San Francisco (No. 5).

Other familiar corridors on the most-congested list can be found along Interstate 580 in Alameda County. The afternoon drive from the Interstate 680 junction east to El Charro Road ranked No. 2 for the second straight year, and the morning drive westbound from Flynn Road at the top of the Altamont Pass to Airway Blvd. in Livermore came in third, as it did in 2005.

"The eastbound and westbound 580 commutes have ranked two and three on the list for several years in a row," noted Haggerty. "The good news is that help is on the way. Voters have spoken loud and clear -- most recently last November, when they overwhelmingly approved the Proposition 1B transportation infrastructure bond-that they want relief. The first commitments from that bond money already have been made, and the funds will help pay for improvements not just on 580 through the Tri-Valley but on chronically congested corridors around the Bay Area."

Caltrans District 4 Director and MTC Commissioner Bijan Sartipi explained that improvements are under way or on tap for each of the Bay Area's 10 most congested freeway segments. "The state infrastructure bond provided money for new carpool lanes in both directions of Interstate 580, for a high-tech integrated freeway management system along Interstate 80 between the Carquinez Bridge and the Bay Bridge, for widening State Route 4 through Antioch, and for an auxiliary lane along northbound U.S. 101 in San Rafael. Projects to widen U.S. 101 through central Marin County are well under way, and the Highway 4 carpool lane extensions that opened last summer have already resulted in a drop in congestion through Pittsburg. Construction will begin this fall on replacement of the Interstate 880/State Route 92 interchange in Hayward, work on the new west approach to the Bay Bridge is continuing on schedule, and the new east span of the Bay Bridge will be open to traffic in 2013."

At the county level, the biggest overall increase in freeway congestion in 2006 occurred in Alameda County, where daily vehicle hours of delay grew by 3,200 to 55,500. The biggest percentage increase came in Contra Costa County, where daily vehicle hours of delay jumped 12 percent, to 24,200 in 2006 from 21,600 the year before. Smaller percentage increases were registered in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties. Marin County showed a slight decline in congestion in 2006, and congestion figures for Solano County were unchanged from the prior year (see the press release section of the MTC Web site for chart).

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Caltrans is responsible for the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of the state highway system.

Source: MTC; Caltrans