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The population will continue to grow and with that will come more cars which will create more traffic and increase parking issues. The vast majority of streets aren’t getting any wider so we have to figure out how to move about the city and county with the infrastructure we have in place.
People are in a hurry and driving too fast and are often distracted. We have disconnected sidewalk and bike path systems. Even if you wanted to ride your bike there are many areas of the city which would be difficult to access and would involve using dangerous roads like Ygnacio Valley. Many people have to drive long distances to work and those who work here are often driving long distances to get here.
After my meeting with Tim Haile, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, one concept that really stood out to me is that we need to work closely with the county while developing and improving our major traffic corridors like Ygnacio Valley and Treat. For example, the Shadelands is an area of future growth but is located deep within the City on Ygnacio Valley Rd. This area is already impacted and traffic on Ygnacio can be brutal. However, many of the cars accessing this area are coming from Concord and Clayton. So taking a regional approach to these major corridors is crucial.
During my conversation with Heather Ballenger, our Public Works Director, we discussed projects that are currently in the progress. Vision Zero is a plan to improve the safety of all modes of transportation with the goal of zero traffic fatalities. We are developing Safe Routes to School with the goal of improving the safety of bike and walk routes and reducing congestion and harmful pollutants around schools. We are also laying fiberoptic cable down Ygnacio Valley Rd. which will allow the installation of “smart light” which will improve traffic flow and safety.
We need to make it easier and encourage people to use other modes of transportation. It may be difficult to get cars off the road but even a small decrease could have a huge impact. We need to connect our sidewalk system and bike lanes to make it easier and safer for people to use them. Whether one is using a bike, scooter, or e-bike, walking, etc, having a city that is safe and accessible for all modes of transportation will create less traffic, increased enjoyment and will be better and more sustainable for the environment.
This is an area where housing, transportation and the economy intersect. We need to bring jobs to Walnut Creek. The only way to truly decrease our carbon footprint and reduce traffic congestion is to create jobs and offer housing that allow residents to live, work and shop in their community. This is the sustainable model for the future. This requires thoughtful planning and working closely with the city, county, developers, business district and the community.
I have spent the last 23 years practicing medicine. My experience in the ER is not just about medicine, it is about empathy, listening, digesting large quantities of information in a relatively short period of time and solving problems.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596