What Will California's Commutes Look Like After COVID-19?

As the pandemic begins to wind down, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's Deborah Dagang speculates on the future of commuting, traffic, and public transit as Californians slowly return to their travel routines.

2 minute read

January 6, 2021, 9:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Cable Car

Transportation agencies are gearing up to welcome commuters and tourists back to the streets. | Ersler Dmitry / Shutterstock

The road to recovery for transit agencies and commuters is still shrouded in mystery as many factors about the post-pandemic economy continue to change. With a timeline for mass vaccination still uncertain and companies increasingly adjusting to working from home, the future of transportation and traffic is more unpredictable than ever. Nico Savidge of the Mercury News spoke to Deborah Dagang, chief planning and programming officer for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), about her vision for post-pandemic transportation in California.

Dagang cited the benefits of last year's reduction in movement: cleaner air, less strain on roads and public transit systems, and more time for workers to spend in other ways. But plummeting ridership (and consequently revenue) and steep budget cuts also spell trouble for the agencies that operate public transit and the essential workers who still depend on bus and train service to get to and from their jobs. She warns against service cuts, which disproportionately affect low-income Americans, saying agencies must do "anything that we can" to avoid them.

When it comes to traffic on the state's famously congested freeways, Dagang is optimistic, despite fears that, as workplaces and businesses unfreeze, more people will choose private vehicles to avoid possible infection. According to Dagang, even a small reduction in vehicle volume, such as we saw in 2020, can have a positive impact on traffic flow and commute time. "You only have to reduce (car volume) by about 10 or 15 percent and most of the delay goes away. So part of what you’re seeing is that, yes, more of the automobile volumes are going back first. But part of that is that people can drive from point A to point B and they’re not experiencing much delay."

Sunday, December 27, 2020 in The Mercury News

stack of books

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023

The world is changing, and planning with it.

November 24, 2023 - Planetizen Team

Close-up of 'Red Line Subway Entry' sign with Braille below and train logo above text in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side

The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

November 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Diagram of visibility at urban intersection.

How ‘Daylighting’ Intersections Can Save Lives

Eliminating visual obstructions can make intersections safer for all users.

November 27, 2023 - Strong Towns

Aerial view of San Jose, California downtown at night.

San Jose Affordable Housing Development Gains Approval

A proposed project is moving forward with reduced building heights and all-affordable units.

44 minutes ago - The Mercury News

Green painted bike lane protected by rown of parking.

Oklahoma City Begins Work on Parking-Protected Bike Lane

The project is part of the city’s broader plan to improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure and road safety.

1 hour ago - The Oklahoman

Blurred dense crowd of people with no recognizable faces walking in a busy city.

How Cities Can Avoid Perpetuating Segregation

Residents of big cities, known as the ‘melting pots’ of America, have fewer interactions with people outside their socioeconomic group than those in smaller communities, according to new research.

2 hours ago - Stanford News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

"Rethinking Commuter Rail" podcast & Intercity Bus E-News

Chaddick Institute at DePaul University

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.