At our meeting TONIGHT at 6pm SHARP in San Jose, we’ll discuss:

• finalizing what we want to see in VTA’s biennial budget proposal (Adobe PDF document), to be approved at their next Board of Directors’ meeting June 4 in San Jose
• more on what we want to see in VTA’s latest transit sales tax proposal
• any other issue regarding public transit in Silicon Valley that you want to discuss

Want to take part in our meeting but can’t physically make it to San Jose ? Connect with us via WebEx audio by calling (415)655-0001 at 5:55pm. When prompted for the PIN number, use meeting number 193517517 as the code, then press the # button on your phone to join. Please announce your FULL name and where you live at when asked to join. We will NOT accept anonymous phone calls.

Got a computer, smartphone or laptop? Visit www.webex.com and click the “Join” button. Then, when prompted, enter meeting number 193517517, then enter your name and email address.

Have a pencil or pen and paper handy when you attend in person or remotely.  You will be expected to take notes during our meeting.

See you tonight!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Were YOU at our last meeting April 30 in San Jose? If not, here’s what you missed:

We learned from Sharon Webster of Palo Alto (who called on thru the new WebEx call-in number) on the fact that the Palo Alto Transit Center has become a “de facto shelter for the homeless.” These are symptoms of a larger issue whose solutions have been documented.

We are part of the “Envision Silicon Valley” effort by VTA to help create a sales tax measure for later this year. Judy Purrington of San Jose (who represented us on that committee) presented some draft “performance metrics” that may be used in the sales tax vote effort.

I had shared notes from the prior VTA Board of Directors meeting on April 2 that VTA security had just dealt with a light rail crime wave between the Ohlone-Chynoweth and Cottle stations. Hence, we all need to be careful out there.

ALso, I provided an update on how people fought successfully in Mountain View to have dedicated bus lanes along El Camino Real in the city.

Finally, Sharon noted that a friend of hers was recently assaulted on the 22 bus line. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s department caught her assailants. This is part of n occurring crime wave on transit that will be written about in a future blog post.

Overall, our last group meeting went very well.  Online advertising thru Twitter and Facebook will be done later (about 2 weeks before) to gain more attendance.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users