The irony isn't lost on the authors of a new report by SPUR: Bay Area companies committed to technology innovation obstinately rely on traditional and inefficient commutes in automobiles.
Nicholas Cheng shares news of a new study from SPUR that pushes big companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area to better connect their workplaces with public transit.
Cheng writes of the large challenge for transportation planners and commuters: "Eighty percent of jobs in the Bay Area are concentrated in suburban fringes with little access to regional rail, and three-quarters of Bay Area workers drive alone to work as a result, the study’s authors note."
SPUR editorial director Allison Arieff is quoted in the article, saying that a lack of transit options for employees is a competitive disadvantage for many tech companies.
Meanwhile, examples of car-centric planning and political decisions abound. For instance, the recently opened Warm Springs BART Station has line of sight to Tesla's Fremont factory—unfortunately it's a two-mile walk between the two locations. Also "Silicon Valley cities like Menlo Park, Mountain View and Cupertino — homes to Facebook, Google and Apple — have not been building enough homes to match demand," writes Hueng.
FULL STORY: Study calls on big tech companies to move closer to transit
Why Big Tech Billions Won't Dent California's Housing Crisis
New multibillion-dollar affordable housing commitments from leading tech firms may build out thousands of units, but that's nothing next to California's gargantuan housing shortage.
San Francisco Opens Park on Former Great Highway
The Sunset Dunes park’s grand opening attracted both fans and detractors.
Report: Traffic Slower Near Bay Area Express Lanes
Highway 101 was expanded to add express lanes with the promise of reducing congestion for all of the roadway’s users.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie