If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-805, wondering why your 20-minute commute takes 50, you’re not alone—and it’s not your imagination. It’s San Diego’s jobs-housing mismatch, and it’s one of the biggest reasons our traffic is miserable, housing is expensive, and the environment is paying the price.

San Diego is building homes—nearly 100,000 permits were issued between 2018 and 2024. But here’s the catch: we’re not building them where they’re most needed.

The Problem: Jobs Are Here, Homes Are… Over There

Let’s talk UTC and Sorrento Valley, San Diego County’s largest job center. This area is packed with major employers like UC San Diego, biotech and tech firms, and medical centers. More than 169,000 people work in this corridor—but only 336 new housing permits were issued there in the last six years. That’s less than 1% of the county’s total.

So what happens when tens of thousands of people work in a place they can’t afford to live in?

They drive.
A lot.

Traffic: The Daily Grind

Each morning, commuters from places like Chula Vista and North Park head north. Each evening, they crawl back home. It’s predictable, exhausting, and getting worse.

“I won’t get home until about 5 o’clock,” said Ashley Harbecke, a University City High School teacher who commutes from North Park. “Even though I leave by 3:45, I get stuck in traffic every day.”

And she’s not alone. SANDAG data shows that 78% of Sorrento Valley workers drive alone, averaging 14+ miles per commute. The result? Choked freeways, long days, and little time for life outside the car.

More Driving, More Pollution

Beyond stress, long commutes mean more emissions. In fact, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gases in San Diego County—over 50% of all emissions, according to SANDAG.

Yes, the Blue Line trolley extension now runs all the way to UCSD and UTC. Yes, some bus routes serve over 1 million riders a year. But public transit can only do so much when there aren’t enough homes near the stations.

So Why Aren’t We Building Where We Need Homes?

The short answer: zoning laws, neighborhood opposition, and outdated ideas about where housing belongs.

Historically, areas like Sorrento Valley weren’t zoned for housing at all. Even now, many communities fight new development over concerns about traffic, parking, and neighborhood character.

That’s what happened in University City, where a new Community Plan Update allows thousands of new homes—most near trolley stations. Some residents say it’s too much density. Others argue it’s not affordable enough.

The reality? The average home price in the area is near $1 million, and rents top $3,000. Many of the people who work in UTC can’t afford to live there, and it’s putting pressure on other neighborhoods—and our roads.

A Walkable, Transit-Friendly Future?

Advocates say the solution is building compact, walkable communities near job centers and transit. Think North Park vibes—but in UTC.

“If UTC ever even got a little area that was a bit more like North Park, I would absolutely move,” said Harbecke.

That’s the vision behind San Diego’s latest push: more mixed-use, transit-connected neighborhoods, where people can actually live where they work.

What’s at Stake?

San Diego’s leaders—and residents—are at a crossroads.

Do we keep pushing new housing to the outskirts and forcing long commutes? Or do we build smarter, denser communities near job centers, even if that means change in familiar neighborhoods?

As Colin Parent from Circulate San Diego puts it:

“We need to be thinking about different options for different people in different circumstances.”

Because when people can live closer to where they work, it’s not just good for them—it’s better for traffic, the environment, and the entire region.

TL;DR? Until San Diego builds more homes near its biggest job centers, we’ll keep paying the price—in traffic, time, and sky-high housing costs. But with the right plans (and some community buy-in), we just might get there.