Traffic congestion is a sign of economic vibrancy, but it’s also a major pain point for residents and businesses. So, what can be done to address the issue?

The City of Fremont is the fourth largest city in the Bay Area and lies at a major Bay Area crossroads, where Interstate 880, Interstate 680, the Dumbarton Bridge, and the Niles Canyon corridors all come together to serve a large portion of Silicon Valley commuters. This concentration of commute-heavy routes leads to overflow traffic moving through Fremont streets and neighborhoods, and creating severe traffic congestion “hot spots” near Mission Boulevard/I-680, Paseo Padre Parkway/Washington Boulevard/I-680, and Mowry Avenue/Mission Boulevard/Niles Canyon. It’s no wonder that residents have expressed concerns over the congestion in their neighborhoods.

In order to alleviate traffic pinch points, Fremont has been proactively addressing the issue of traffic congestion through a variety of efforts:

  • $500,000 is allocated for speed lumps on neighborhood streets with high traffic speeds as a part of the City’s Vision Zero traffic safety program
  • A pilot program for peak-period turns to restrict cut-through streets is being implemented
  • The efficiency and flexibility of the City’s aged traffic signal system is being improved to utilize current and future technology for better signal coordination.

Traffic is a regional problem. The greater Bay Area is a megalopolis that includes nine counties and over 100 cities. Fremont’s ability to address bigger regional issues on its own is limited. Thus, we are participating in larger regional efforts to help alleviate these issues, such as traffic congestion.

For regional relief, various Bay Area public agencies will implement several larger-scale projects over the next few years:

  • The Warm Springs/South Fremont BART Station is scheduled to open in October. Everyone is counting down the days knowing it will give much needed relief to the 880 corridor—the second worst commute in the Bay Area just after the Bay Bridge. Following on the heels of the new BART station opening, additional stops at Milpitas and Berryessa are scheduled for 2018 as part of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) BART Silicon Valley Extension.
  • The I-880 Express Lane project will complete construction in early 2018.
  • I-680 Northbound Carpool/Express Lane project will start construction in 2017 and be completed in early 2019.
  • The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is proposed to increase from four to six trains in 2020, and to 10 trains in 2025.

It is important to have short commutes and adequate public transit in order to support sustainable economic development. Being stuck in gridlock during rush hours is unproductive for GDP, and it’s no fun.

What follows is an info graphic explaining causes for Fremont’s traffic congestion, and summarizing short and mid-term solutions.