Walnut Creek to Palo Alto is a bit more than "suboptimal". Google maps says driving and mass transit could both take two hours, if not more, depending on traffic.

That means leaving at 6:30 to be at the office by 9:00. Yes, it's the Silly Valley, so 9a is early. Counterpoint: it's generally the lower-paid people who need to live further out, because the prices are so ludicrous, that also have more scheduled hours.