Eugene B

Catching Up On Things

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Hello. This is Eugene Bradley, Founder of the Silicon Valley Transit Users.

I’ve had several emergencies come up on my day job over the last few months requiring my attention. This is why you haven’t seen any updates here recently, beyond public transit outages.

Now that those emergencies have subsided, here are some stories I’m working on right now:

  • How some transit agencies in the Bay Area – and nationwide – will soon run out of money to run buses and trains. This story will also include how YOU can help make things better for these agencies, at the California state level.
  • How some San Jose-area public transit projects received money from the state and federal government recently. This will also include local transit projects not talked about in the local press.
  • How the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) wants input from YOU to help improve bus stops throughout Santa Clara County. This also includes some ideas I personally have on how this can be done.
  • What our group – and others – have done recently to help further improve public transit in Santa Clara County.

Stay tuned for these articles – and more as needed – in the coming weeks.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

ACE Trains Back In Service

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From 2001: ACE train arriving at Santa Clara Train Station. Double-decker train has a white roof, with large purple and blue stripes, separated by a small white stripe,
ACE Train drops off passengers in Santa Clara.

Commuter rail service between Stockton and San Jose returned to service today. This after mudslides in the Niles Canyon area forced the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) to cancel all rail service between Stockton and San Jose in both directions last Wednesday.

More from ACE on how train service returned today:

ACE will resume normal operating service on all morning and evening trains on Monday, January 23, 2023. In addition, Union Pacific will operate ahead of all ACE trains for track inspection.

https://twitter.com/ACE_train/status/1617279654678900736

One other result of last week’s ACE service cancellations, unadvertised: business shuttle buses serving job sites from the Great America ACE station in Santa Clara were also cancelled. That shuttle bus service also returns today.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest Santa Clara County public transit updates and tips. Here’s how YOU can help update us and others on any transit service delays on Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses, ACE, or Caltrain you encounter.

More later today…

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Getting Warm From the Storms

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Just learned the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is helping get folks to and from shelter on these stormy days. Until January 16, VTA is offering free rides for people to get to and from Warming Centers throughout Santa Clara County. Here’s a list of Warming Centers throughout Santa Clara County. These Warming Centers provide safety and shelter from the heavy rain, winds, and flooding predicted throughout the Bay Area this weekend.

Upon boarding, let the VTA bus driver or light rail operator know you are going to or from a Warming Center.

Please pass this on to those who don’t have a computer, for whatever reason.

Stay warm, dry and safe this stormy weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Jan. 10 Transit Update Due To Storms

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Heavy rain and winds continue to affect public transit in Santa Clara County. Specifically, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail service.

As of 1:00pm:

  • VTA is still running buses instead of light rail between San Fernando and Fruitdale stations on the Green Line due to local power outages.
  • Expect at least 30 min. delays on Highway 17 express bus service between San Jose and Santa Cruz in both directions. This is due to flooding near the southbound I-280/Bird exit these buses use to access downtown San Jose.
  • Downed power wires on streets throughout Santa Clara County mean detours and delays for VTA bus service. Such power outages also affect stoplights, as traffic must treat these intersections as a 4-way STOP sign. This means up to 15 minute delays on the following VTA bus lines:
    • In Gilroy, downed power wires near the downtown area result in delays on the 68, 84 and 85 bus lines.
    • In East San Jose, the 70 and 522 Rapid bus lines due to traffic signals out at Capitol Expwy/Cunningham and Capitol Expwy/Ocala
    • In South San Jose, the 37 bus due to loss of power affecting traffic signals at San Tomas at HWY 17, Camden/White Oaks.
    • In West San Jose near Cupertino, delays on the 23, 59, and 523 Rapid bus lines due to flashing red signals at San Tomas Expressway and Stevens Creek due to traffic signals flashing red
  • The light rail platform elevator at Milpitas light rail station remains out of service. No ETA on when service for that elevator will be restored. Typically use the Milpitas light rail elevator? Use Great Mall or Cropley stations as alternatives. Upon boarding, immediately let the light rail operator know by intercom that you need the elevator at Milpitas, and request for arrangements to be made.

If you must travel, be careful when riding public transit. We have a guide that shows you how to ride public transit in wet weather.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest public transit updates and tips this week. Here’s how to keep us and others updated on our Twitter feed. Please help update us and other people on any delays on VTA bus and/or light rail service you encounter.

Please continue to listen to your local television or radio news for the latest updates on the storms this week. This includes orders to evacuate where you are at, as needed.

Stay safe throughout these storms.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Heavy Rain & Winds May Delay Transit

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Source: ABC 7 News Bay Area on Twitter

Severe rain and high winds are forecast for Silicon Valley today and tomorrow. Because of this, if you must travel, allow extra time for your commute. Especially if you ride Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and light rail.

Based on events during recent storms, be prepared for delays of at least 20 minutes on BART, ACE Trains, and Caltrain. Also, be prepared for delays of at least 15 minutes on SamTrans bus service as well as all VTA bus and light rail service. They may need to traverse and detour around flooded streets and downed trees this week.

If at all possible, please stay home. Here’s how to report flooding you see in your part of Santa Clara County. Do you need to find warmer shelter? Here’s a list of warming centers throughout Santa Clara County. Other Warming Centers in Santa Clara County are also in county libraries. Many of these Warming Centers are near VTA bus and light rail lines. We’ll alert you when we learn from VTA whether or not they will offer free transit rides to and from these Warming Centers.

If you must travel, be careful when riding public transit. We have a guide that shows you how to ride public transit in wet weather.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest public transit updates and tips this week. Here’s how to keep us and others updated on our Twitter feed.

Listen to your local television or radio news for the latest updates on the storms this week.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users