LIST: MTC names worst commutes in the Bay Area

ByLyanne Melendez and Ken Miguel KGO logo
Thursday, October 25, 2018
A look at the worst commutes in the Bay Area
It's official, traffic is bad in the around Bay Area. On Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission released a list of troubled roadways. Here's a look at the top five worst commutes.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Bay Area's traffic congestion is lousy, but you already know that. It's the second worse commute in the country after Los Angeles. Today the Metropolitan Transportation Commission put out its top ten list of most congested freeways along with recommendations to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

Here are the top 10 worst commutes:

1. U.S. Route 101, northbound/Interstate 80, eastbound, p.m. in San Francisco County: From Cesar Chavez Street to Treasure Island Tunnel.

2. Interstate 80, westbound, all day in Alameda & Contra Costa counties: SR-4 to Bay Bridge Toll Plaza.

3. U.S. Route 101, southbound, p.m. in Santa Clara County: Fair Oaks Avenue to Oakland Road/13th Street.

4. Interstate 680, northbound, p.m. in Alameda County: Scott Creek Road to Andrade Road.

5. State Route 4, eastbound, p.m. in Contra Costa County: Morello Avenue to Port Chicago Highway.

6. Interstate 80, eastbound, p.m. in Alameda County: West Grand Avenue to Gilman Street.

7. Interstate 880, southbound, p.m. in Alameda County: Union Street to 29th Avenue.

8. Interstate 280, southbound, p.m. in Santa Clara County: Foothill Expressway to Seventh Street/10th Street/Virginia Street.

9. State Route 24, eastbound, p.m. in Alameda and Contra Costa counties: Interstate 580 to Wilder Road.

10. Interstate 680, northbound, p.m. in Contra Costa County: Sycamore Valley Road to Buskirk Avenue/Oak Park Boulevard.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's new data found since 2010, the amount of time the average commuter spends in congestion each weekday has increased by more than 80 percent.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo says he won't advocate for lane expansions.

"We can't build lanes fast enough and we certainly don't have the dollars," said Liccardo

Those on the commission are reviewing other options to try to alleviate the traffic congestion like expanding BART, putting in more high-occupancy toll lanes known as hot lanes and possibly creating new bus lanes.

"Maybe look at express bus lanes so the buses aren't sitting in the same traffic as the cars and so people will start saying well I need to move over there," explained Scott Haggerty, Vice Chairman of the Commission.

We heard from commuters on what they would do to ease traffic.

Tamika Alford says start with Lyft and Uber cars. "I would limit the cars that they have in certain cities," she said.

Others said more people should car pool.

"We need to get them to know that somebody they work with is not a bad person and they can't get into the car with them and go ahead and right to work with them too," expressed Haggerty.