Top 10 Worst Bay Area Commutes 2016: Milpitas in Crosshairs

MILPITAS, CA — The Metropolitan Transportation Commission released its annual ranking of the Bay Area’s most congested highways Monday, and it's bad.

The traffic commuting into Silicon Valley from the East Bay all funnels through Milpitas, whether on 880 or 680.

Three commutes made the Top 10 for the first time: number three is the morning commute along southbound Interstate 680 and northbound Interstate 280 from East San Jose to Cupertino; the northbound afternoon drive on Interstate 880 from Fremont to Hayward rose to number 9; and the afternoon commute on northbound U.S. 101 from Menlo Park to Foster City snuck in at number 10. Welcome to the list, Peninsula.

“The congestion data really underscore both the robust job growth we’ve seen in the South Bay and San Francisco, and the persistent imbalance between where those jobs are located and where comparatively affordable housing can be found,” explained Santa Clara County Supervisor and MTC Chair Dave Cortese. “Routes leading into or out of Silicon Valley and San Francisco dominate the Top 10, and they account for almost half of all congestion in the region.”

“We all feel the impacts of traffic congestion in our daily commutes,” said San Jose Mayor and MTC Commissioner Sam Liccardo. “But today’s data starkly demonstrates how quickly we need to invest in real solutions that can provide congestion relief – expanding mass transit, improving our roads and highways, and more.”

Here's the Top 10 Worst Bay Area Commutes:

1. San Francisco to Treasure Island on the Bay Bridge, eastbound evening commute
2. East Bay to San Francisco from Hercules on Highway 4 to 101 across the Bay Bridge
3. South Bay Interstates 680 and 280 morning commute from South Jackson Avenue to Foothill Expressway
4. South Bay on 101 from North Fair Oaks Avenue to Oakland Road evening commute
5. East Bay Interstate 80 from West Grand Avenue to Gilman Street evening commute
6. East Bay/South Bay Interstate 880 from Highway 238 to Highway 237 morning commute
7. East Bay Interstate 680 from Mission Boulevard to Calaveras Road evening commute
8. South Bay Highway 101 from Silver Creek Valley Road to North Fair Oaks Avenue morning commute
9. East Bay Interstate 880 from Mowry Avenue to A Street evening commute
10. Peninsula Highway 101 from Woodside Road to Hillsdale Avenue evening commute

--Image via Pixabay