San Jose

Bay Area Braces For More Tech Jobs, But Where Will People Live?

The good news: More tech jobs are coming to the Bay Area, as companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and LinkedIn promise to grow in the years ahead.

The bad news: Traffic is already really bad here, and housing is at a premium.

Where will the techies live, and how long will it take us all to get to work?

Those two issues are being taken up by Bay Area politicians in an initiative that has been named Plan Bay Area 2040. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it aims to increase housing for all income levels, while somehow trimming our commute times.

“This is sort of a blueprint,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who admits Plan 2040 is a guess at what the future will bring.

“The one constant in the Bay Area is growth,” he added. “We need to focus on affordable housing.”

And, he adds, housing near public transportation.

Good news for young techies, who like to walk anyway.

For the rest of us? Hold on to what you have, and keep an eye out for more affordable housing.

Scott is on Twitter: @scottbudman

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