You could reduce those costs by taking mass transit or buying a hybrid.

I regularly commute from Palo Alto to Gilroy where I work at at a SC county office. All it requires is one transfer upon arriving in San Jose.

Driving along 101 during commute hours is an unpleasant experience and by taking mass transit, I can chill while other drivers deal with the gridlock and traffic delays.

As a result and since my auto commute only amounts to a short drive from EPA to the CalTrain depot, I only spend about $25.00 a week on gas.

You can save money if you know where to trim expenses.

The other option is moving to Gilroy because buying a Palo Alto home is cost-prohibitive for many people.

There is an assumption that it is cost that keeps people who work here in the Palo Alto general area and necessitate a long commute. That isn't always the case. I know of at least 2 separate families who live in Half Moon Bay area or Santa Cruz out of choice rather than housing costs. Living by the Coast suits many who enjoy ocean pursuits and the sound of the ocean rather than the sound of traffic.

There will always be those who choose to commute for various reasons. Raising a family in a house with a backyard is another good reason. With hybrid work options since the pandemic, these types of choices will be much easier. Commuting only 2 or 3 days each week is much better than 5.

I agree that many residents and families who commute long distances will choose to continue commuting by car or transit if it is available and safe�"for a variety of reasons.

But I think these savings will help residents like the teachers and staff who are the focus of the 44 unit proposed housing on ECR for low and moderate income people who do not have or want a hybrid option and wish to rent an apartment in Palo Alto. And help other residents considering market rate rental housing by producing savings that make some high rents seem attractive all things considered.

And the savings in my example are just one case. They will vary by the length and time of the commute.

I reside in the Tri-Valley area and simply fly out of the Livermore airport to Palo Alto for my daily commute.

Once I arrive in Palo Alto, I either Uber or ride a bike to my downtown office depending upon the weather.

It's no big deal. Get some wings.

The commute cost on family life ? Enormous. "commuting" diminishes our ability to support our local schools, civic or social volunteerism, support local buisness, support the arts or recreation centers. By commuting a 25-50 distance from one place of lower rent residence to another place for higher paying work is costing us our very families, our climate, our economic local economies ...

Yet, council keep those SFH electric heat pumps selling from the Dias keep, those Teslas rolling off the line, keep purchasing those hybrids, locally so one can in glee and relief justify our pool guy coming in, the landscaper coming in, the store cashier, the nanny, the waitstaff, the childcare provider, the LVN's, RN's, custodial... you said it the commute is reeking havoc on all levels of our social fabric to connect, belong, grow, become and support the environment in which we strive to improve on. Culture shift now.