Eugene B

Transit Strike Update – 3/25/2025

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VTA Mountain View light rail platform, looking north, from the southern end of the platform. Shows empty platform indicating no light rail service at this time.
Empty Mountain View VTA light rail platform.

The Silicon Valley Public Transit Strike of 2025 enters its third week. Last Sunday, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) proposed a new labor agreement for striking workers representing the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265. This proposal was given at a special Board Of Directors’ meeting Sunday morning.

Per NBC Bay Area, about 100,000 transit riders are affected by this strike, which started March 10. Also reported: VTA mentioned they were losing $70,000 per day in lost fares as a result of the strike.

San Jose Spotlight described details of VTA’s proposal:

The VTA Board of Directors approved the revised offer in a special meeting Sunday. It included a 11% raise over the next three years, going up 4%, another 4% and 3%. It included updates to the conflict resolution process for workers filing a grievance, before going to a neutral third party. But it also introduced other contract changes, such as reducing overtime.

Yesterday (Monday) morning, 83% of ATU Local 265 members rejected the proposal. Per Rajvinder Singh, President and Business Agent at ATU Local 265, sticking points are overtime pay, and the need for a “no retaliation” guarantee for all striking employees – including probationary employees.

Both VTA and ATU Local 265 will be in a court hearing on Wednesday. That hearing in Santa Clara County Superior Court will determine VTA’s legal request to end the strike.

Meanwhile, VTA has offered strike-affected riders $5 vouchers for their rideshare trips from 7am-10pm between VTA stops.

What are your thoughts and ideas on labor negotiations, and VTA’s $5 voucher for rideshare? Please comment and suggest.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

VTA Bus & Light Rail Service Still Suspended Indefinitely

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VTA bus stop in Santa Clara Transit Center. Features a black pole with a blue sign, with two red squares indicating which buses stop at the location.
Empty VTA bus stop in Santa Clara.

The Great Silicon Valley Transit Strike of 2025 is now in its second week. More than 1,500 workers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265 remain strike against the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) over wages, benefits, and arbitration. As a result: no VTA bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County is running, until further notice. More than 100,000 transit riders in Santa Clara County are currently affected. This also includes 25,000 attendees of a conference held by nVidia in downtown San Jose.

The strike does NOT affect ACCESS Paratransit service. The service is run by a private company on another contract.

Check out our guide to transit alternatives to the VTA strike. It lists local shuttle and rideshare services as alternates to shut-down VTA bus and light rail service.

Meanwhile, email VTA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and General Manager, Carolyn Gonot. Politely urge her and VTA staff to negotiate a proper, immediate end to this strike. Also, contact the VTA Board member representing your city. Let him or her know how import bus and light rail service is to you.

As such warrants, updates on the strike will be featured on the pages below. Updates will continue until a settlement is reached and public transit service in Santa Clara County fully restored.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Transit Alternatives To the VTA Strike

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Picket signs say "ATU Local 265 on strike against VTA" in black and white. Source: ATU Local 265
Strike picket signs. Source: ATU Local 265

Bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County remains suspended indefinitely. This is due to a strike by workers who are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265 over wages, benefits, and arbitration. See our prior update over what they are on strike against the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) over – a strike which began on Monday at 12:01am.

The strike does NOT affect ACCESS Paratransit service. The service is run by a private company on another contract.

Following is a list of commuter rail, community shuttles, and rideshare services within Santa Clara County that are alternates to suspended VTA bus and light rail service. Be advised: some of these services require premium fare, have age minimums, and have limited service range and hours. With rideshare services, they also require advance reservations before riding.

Read more →

VTA Transit Strike Update

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Passengers boarding a white and blue VTA 68 bus heading to Gilroy, in downtown San Jose.
People boarding VTA’s 68 bus in downtown San Jose.

All bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County shut down indefinitely at 12:01am this morning. Over 100,000 bus and light rail riders in Santa Clara County will now have to find travel alternatives. The shutdown is due to a strike by 1,500 members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265 against the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) over wages, benefits, and grievances. The prior labor contract expired March 3.

The strike does NOT affect ACCESS Paratransit service. The service is run by a private company on another contract.

In addition to operators of VTA buses and light rail, ATU Local 265 also represents VTA’s

  • Maintenance workers
  • Dispatchers
  • Fare inspectors
  • Customer service representatives

More on the strike – and how YOU can get around during the strike – follow below.

Read more →

Transit Strike Notice Given For Monday

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Barring a last-minute agreement, prepare for a bus and light rail shutdown in Santa Clara County on Monday. At Thursday night’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors’ meeting, the letter above from Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) local 265 President Rajvinder Singh was presented to VTA Board members and staff. It sets a strike date starting this coming Monday at 12:01am.

ACCESS Paratransit services will continue to run as normal, should a strike occur.

On Thursday night, NBC Bay Area warned viewers to be prepared Monday morning for increases in vehicle traffic throughout Santa Clara County. They also warned of more demand in ride-hailing services and carpool services. CBS Bay Area reported that this is the first time in the over-100 year history of ATU Local 265 that they have been on strike.

This is on both ATU Local 265 and VTA to come to an agreement as soon as possible. More information will be posted this weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users