Eugene B

Next Group Meeting: August 30 in San Jose

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svtru group gathering 07262016

Please join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, August 30 at 6pm in San Jose.  At our upcoming meeting, we will discuss:

  • VTA’s “Next Network” bus restructuring proposal and what can we can do to maintain bus service in Santa Clara County
  • Whether to support or oppose “Measure B” – VTA’s latest transportation sales tax proposal
  • Other ideas you have that you are willing to work together with us on

Here are directions to the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, where we meet most every month.  Note that the Peace and Justice Center has wheelchair access.

Can’t make our meeting in downtown San Jose on Tuesday?  Contact our group to get a dial-up phone number for our meeting.

See you Tuesday night.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

 

Bus Crashes On Both Coasts

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Photo courtesy nj.com

Early Friday morning, two New Jersey Transit buses crashed into each other in downtown Newark, NJ. Two people – including the driver of one of the buses – died as a result of the crash.  Seven bus passengers are in critical condition at a nearby hospital.

According to the Associated Press (AP), investigators are determining whether the bus driver killed in the crash ran a red light.  The same AP report mentioned that the intersection the bus crash occurred was one of the first in New Jersey to feature surveillance cameras that caught red light violators. That surveillance camera program was discontinued in 2014 amid controversy.

Later on Friday, in downtown Palo Alto, a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus jumped the curb and hit some newspaper racks after making a right turn.  While Palo Alto Online reported that no one was , it is rather interesting to note that the driver was allowed to continue the route on another bus.  This is something worth asking VTA, I have never heard of this practice after an incident involving a bus and passengers.

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, our condolences go out to the hurt and perished in the Newark bus crash.

Let’s all be careful when riding – and driving the buses and trains…

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

New Site For Tonight’s VTA Board Of Directors Meeting

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Due to construction at the County Supervisors’ office, today’s VTA Board of Directors meeting will be at the Auditorium at VTA headquarters, 3331 N. First Street (near River Oaks) in San Jose.  The meeting will start at 5:30pm as always.

Among the agenda items to be discussed at today’s Board of Directors meeting:

  • finalizing a purchase of land near Orchard Supply Hardware on Auzerais in San Jose to rebuild the Los Gatos Creek railroad bridge for Caltrain (and High-Speed Rail in the future)
  • finalizing language for the upcoming transportation sales tax ballot measure VTA will have in November
  • a co-sponsorship deal with the operators of Levi’s Stadium for the upcoming 49ers football season, having a game-day and season light rail pass to and from 49ers games for $25 and $149 per person, respectively.

Can’t make it to tonight’s Board of Directors’ meeting? Watch the Board meeting activities online.

Come join me at 5:30pm to help make VTA accountable to every citizen. Including YOU.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

What You Missed At Our Last Meeting

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svtru group gathering 07262016

Here is what you missed at our last meeting July 26 in San Jose.

We discussed VTA’s recenter termination of its paratransit contract with OUTREACH.  As VTA starts the bidding process for a new paratransit, we will all need to be vigilant. While no current paratransit service will be affected, we will still need to monitor the transition progress.  One such way to monitor progress (if you are not doing this already): attend and speak up at VTA’s “Committee for Transit Accessibility” (CTA) meetings. The next such meeting for CTA will be in October.

We also discussed having a debate between a supporter and an opponent of VTA’s latest transportation sales tax ballot measure for our group’s next meeting August 30 in San Jose. This will help our group determine whether we will support or oppose VTA’s latest sales tax measure.  This will likely be known on the November ballot as “Measure B” as Measure A has been reserved for Santa Clara County’s “Affordable Housing” bond proposal.

More details on our August 30 “VTA sales tax debate” will be posted as soon as details warrant.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Independence Day Transit Guide

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Happy-4th-of-July

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July.  This post details public transit service to and from all Independence Day celebration events throughout the South Bay.

Of note: there is NO BART service between Fremont and South Hayward in both directions due to track work until Tuesday.  BART is running free shuttle buses between South Hayward, Union City, and Fremont in all directions.  Taking BART to the East Bay from Fremont?  Allow at least 30 minutes additional travel time.

Otherwise, all Silicon Valley transit agencies such as VTA, Caltrain, and SamTrans will run a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Monday.  Service hours will return to normal on Tuesday.

Here are your public transit alternatives to Fourth of July events, below.

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