DAVIS, Calif. — Traffic has been a central factor in nearly every major Measure J housing debate over the last 25 years in Davis. But as the battle over Village Farms intensifies ahead of the Measure V vote, supporters of the project argue that many of the city’s current congestion problems are not simply the product of growth itself, but of decades of housing constraints that have pushed workers and families into longer regional commutes.
Opponents warn the development will overwhelm already congested intersections near Covell Boulevard and Pole Line Road, while supporters argue the traffic impacts are being overstated and fail to account for both major mitigation improvements and the growing regional commuter traffic already flowing into Davis each day.
The dispute reflects a broader question facing Davis and much of California: whether refusing to build housing inside job-rich communities ultimately worsens traffic by forcing workers and families into longer regional commutes…