Eugene B

Here Comes the Rain Again

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Silicon Valley will have lots of showers this weekend, and next week.  According to the National Weather Service, showers are expected in the area starting Friday night, and lasting up until next Thursday.

Plan on taking Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses, light rail, or Caltrain during this wet weather period? There’s a guide available to show you how to take public transit and stay safe in wet weather.  This guide will be especially useful for those of you visiting Silicon Valley to attend the College Football National Championship Game and festivities now thru January 7.  For you locals, the guide will prove useful when taking public transit for post-Christmas shopping, Mineta San Jose International Airport, or farmers’ markets.

Don’t forget to follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest Silicon Valley public transit information, guides, and tips.  Here’s how YOU can help contribute to that Twitter feed.

Stay safe and dry on your travels this weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

National Championship Transit Options

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Levi’s Stadium, east of Great America light rail station.

College football’s national championship game comes to the Bay Area for the first time.  On January 7 at 5pm, college football’s National Championship game will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.  The Clemson Tigers face the Alabama Crimson Tide for major college football’s national championship.

This post will help detail Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) public transit options to and from fan events in San Jose and Santa Clara on January 4-7.  These options help you beat expected traffic gridlock, parking woes, and potential road rage incidents at the events.  This post will also help detail a local guide for first-time public transit riders – especially those visiting San Jose and Santa Clara from out of town.  Read on below for more information…

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Happy New Year 2019!

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On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

On Tuesday, all public transit agencies serving Silicon Valley like Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Caltrain, and SamTrans will run a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

All three transit agencies will have FREE service on the night of New Year’s Eve (about 8pm), until early morning on New Year’s Day (about 5am). This includes VTA, Caltrain, and SamTrans.

Please make sure to take advantage of these FREE transit services on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – especially if you have been drinking.  To help you use public transit on New Year’s Eve – and any other time – read our new First Time Transit User guide.

Have a safe and sane New Year!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Two Eras End October 8

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Express light rail service in Silicon Valley won’t be the only era ending October 8.  That morning, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)’s 180 and 181 express bus service will shift to the new Warm Springs BART station from Fremont BART station.  These are all part of VTA’s service changes to the transit system, effective Monday, October 8.

This move ends an era of express bus service between Santa Clara County to Fremont BART station that can be traced back to 1974.  One picture taken from 1979 features what was then the 66 bus line, linking Fremont BART station to Santa Teresa Hospital.

One other result to these changes: VTA buses will no longer serve bus stops in Fremont.  This means passengers will likely have to take AC Transit’s 217 bus to Warm Springs BART, then transfer to VTA’s 180/181 express buses.

What are your thoughts to these changes? Please comment below.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Kiss Express Light Rail Goodbye In October

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vta express light rail train photo

VTA staff on hand to welcome the first express light rail train in October 2010. Photo courtesy vtawatch.blogspot.com

Nearly eight years after its introduction, express light rail trains in San Jose will be no more.  At its August 2nd meeting, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Of Directors voted to end the express trains as of October 8 of this year.  The decision, according to VTA, is being done to save between $720,000 and $820,000 of operating expenses.

More details on the decision follow.

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