Eugene B

Weekend Transit Update – 9/18/2021


Nearly four (4) months after the horrific shootings of May 26, full light rail service returns to Silicon Valley. Earlier Saturday morning, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) restored light rail service on the Winchester line, between San Jose and Campbell.

According to VTA, FREE fares on the entire light rail system will continue until September 30.

Also, on Sunday in downtown San Jose…

VTA informs us that popular buses like the 22, 64A, 64B, and 522 Rapid will not serve downtown San Jose on Sunday to accommodate Viva Calle San Jose. Check VTA’s Service Alerts page for more details on how bus and light rail service in downtown San Jose will be affected by Viva Calle San Jose.

Learn more about what Viva Calle San Jose is here.

Have a nice weekend, everyone.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Weekend Transit Update – 9/11/2021

First, let’s pay homage to those who perished during and after the horrific events of September 11, 2001. Let’s make sure we never forget this date, nor those who perished.

This Sunday, light rail service returns to South San Jose. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will restore light rail service on the Blue Line between Santa Teresa, downtown San Jose, and Baypointe stations on Sunday morning. This will occur more than three months after that portion of light rail was shut down since the shootings of May 26 at Guadalupe Rail Yard.

Our group has also learned that VTA will extend FREE fares on light rail only, until September 30.

Light rail riders of the Green line between Campbell and downtown San Jose still have no current date for the return of light rail service. In the mean time, read our alternate bus guide to the light rail shutdown and learn how bus lines like the 60, 61, and 523 Rapid serve as an alternate to light rail service in that area.

Read on for more to do via public transit in Silicon Valley this weekend.

Labor Day Weekend Transit Update

A little more Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail service was restored today. Starting today, and until further notice:

  • No more substitute bus service on the Blue line.  Instead, light rail trains will run on the Blue line will only run between Baypointe station and Children’s Discovery Museum station in downtown San Jose.
  • As for the Green Line: light rail service will only run between Old Ironsides station and San Jose Diridon Station.
  • Light rail service on all three currently running lines (Orange, Blue, Green) will run every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes weeknights, evenings, and holidays.
  • Service on the rest of the Blue and Green lines will be announced at a later date.  Per the statement from CEO/General Manager Carolyn Gonot at the September 5 VTA Board meeting, this is due to being short-staffed in terms of being able to make repairs to and inspect the lines.

Do you or someone you know live or work in Campbell or South San Jose and normally use VTA light rail? Please read our VTA alternate bus guide for light rail service. It lists VTA bus lines like the 60, 64A, 66 and 68, and how they can be used in place of light rail service until those parts of the line are fully restored. Yes, the trips are longer. Yes, you will need to adapt your travel accordingly. Please remember: all of this is temporary.

On Saturday at 7pm, the San Jose Earthquakes host the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer action on the pitch of PayPal Park. Read our revised transit guide for PayPal Park. It shows how VTA’s 60 bus line directly serves PayPal Park, and how the pitch is within walking distance of the Santa Clara Transit Center and Rail Station.

Finally, on Labor Day (September 6) all Silicon Valley transit agencies will be running a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Normal weekday service will return on Tuesday, September 7. Please plan your trips accordingly.

Thank you, and please stay safe this Labor Day weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Know When Light Rail Fully Returns…

Dates on when light rail service returns on the rest of the system will be revealed tonight. Carolyn Gonot, CEO and General Manager of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), will report on the dates when full light rail service on the rest of the Green Line and Blue Line will return. View the YouTube video above, to see and hear the announcement for yourself.

Also, read from VTA the current timeline on when full light rail service is being restored, and all of its phases.

Also, compensation for victims (and their families) of the May 26 shootings at VTA’s Guadalupe Yard is due to be approved. It’s an addendum from action the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors took on Wednesday to help the victims of May 26 and their families.

Read more on the agenda for tonight’s VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting here.

The best part? YOU can take part by Zoom video conference.

See you all tonight at 5:30pm.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Welcome Back, Light Rail

Partial service on Silicon Valley’s light rail system returns today. At around 8am this morning, service on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Orange Line returned to service.

Also, partial service on the Green Line between Old Ironsides and Civic Center light rail stations was restored today. VTA light rail will be FREE to ride from now until September 12.

No current ETA is available for when light rail service south and west of Civic Center station will be restored.

Meanwhile, do you typically ride VTA light rail to or from Campbell or South San Jose? Check out our alternate VTA bus guide to the light rail shutdown. It lists alternate VTA bus lines that can be used in place of light rail, until full service is restored. That guide will be edited to reflect the partial return of VTA light rail service before Monday morning.

To help get you re-acclimated to VTA light rail, read our first-time guide to riding VTA light rail. Also, read these tips to help you stay safe on light rail platforms (VTA or other transit systems). Finally, view this video that reminds drivers to watch out for oncoming light rail trains and passengers crossing the street at light rail stations.

Let’s stay safe as VTA light rail returns to Silicon Valley.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users