Mountain View Officials Concerned About Influx Of Commuters
MOUNTAIN VIEW (KCBS) — 30,000 new employees are expected to be working in the North Bayshore area of Mountain View over the next decade. City planners are concerned about the resulting traffic congestion and how to handle the influx of commuters.
The neighborhood is well known for being the home to internet giant Google as well as a number of other high-tech companies.
Consultant James Lightbody told a City Council study session that road use could jump 300 percent, but roads in the area can only be modified to handle 25 percent more traffic.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
"The increasing trips will be significant enough that it will require a substantial shifting of modes to be accommodated," said Lightbody. He said a number of different modes of transportation would be needed to handle all the extra workers.
"What we would envision is a combination of commuter shuttle services and ridesharing programs, carpools and van pools that would be focused on those longer trips of 20 miles or more," he said.
Lightbody said a big part of that would be continuing to facilitate the continued operation of the commuter shuttle programs that are currently being operated by Google and the other tech firms.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mike Kasperzak has suggested the use of overhead pod cars. Other options being considered are reversible traffic lanes.
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