https://www.siliconvalley.com/2021/04/04/how-can-the-bay-area-keep-pre-covid-traffic-nightmare-from-coming-back/

One of the rare silver linings of the coronavirus outbreak was the disappearance of Bay Area traffic. But as people start returning to workplaces, congestion is coming back, too. Opportunities must be seized to keep vehicle volumes from becoming nightmarish again, says Nick Josefowitz, chief policy officer at Bay Area public-policy non-profit SPUR. Josefowitz, who’s also a Metropolitan Transportation Commission commissioner and former BART director, believes residents, local governments and companies all have roles in creating a future that doesn’t involve millions of people spending hours in cars every day, pumping out pollution and helping roast the planet.

While traffic angst has typically focused on commutes, they make up less than a third of the trips people make, with 70% of our journeys for purposes like taking kids to school, getting groceries and visiting the dentist, Josefowitz says. Solutions must address the range of transportation needs, he says.