Bus and light rail service to and from Levi’s Stadium was received with mixed reviews. On August 2, the first sporting event at Levi’s Stadium took place with a soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the visiting Seattle Sounders. While the Earthquakes won the match 1-0, some fans took several hours to get home from the game. I was personally there to observe getting there to – and from – this historic event.
Breaking In the New Levi’s (Stadium)
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•(photo courtesy @SJEarthquakes)
Tonight at 7:30pm, the first sporting event at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will take place when the San Jose Earthquakes host Seattle Sounders FC in a soccer match.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has bus and light rail information to get fans to and from Levi’s Stadium for tonight’s soccer match.
Make sure you get to the stadium as early as possible to beat the expected traffic gridlock. About 45,000 fans are expected for tonight’s game. Also, strict security – including strict bag check policies – will be in effect.
I will personally be at tonight’s game taking VTA light rail, to observe how everything.
If you are going to tonight’s game, please stay safe and sane, and have fun.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
Bus Service To This Weekend’s 36th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival
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•The 36th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place this weekend at Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave., in Gilroy.
This year’s festival features three up and coming country music artists playing at the main stage on Saturday. This is in addition to the multitude of garlic and garlic-based cooking available at the festival this weekend.
Free secure bicycle parking is available on Miller Ave. at the levee (Uvas Parkway). Make sure to bring your own lock.
Believe it or not, there are several transit options available to and from the festival area. For instance, from San Jose Diridon Station and downtown San Jose, catch VTA’s 68 bus line to the end of the line at the Gilroy Transit Center. VTA’s 68 bus line typically runs every 30 minutes on weekends.
Alternately, you can catch Monterey-Salinas Transit’s 55 express bus to Gilroy Transit Center. The bus also stops in Morgan Hill after leaving downtown San Jose. Buses typically leave San Jose Diridon Station at 9:15am and 2:05pm, reaching Gilroy about an hour later depending on traffic on Highway 101. Return buses to San Jose leave Gilroy Caltrain Station at 11:15am and 4:16pm, reaching San Jose Diridon Station about 1 hour later depending on traffic.
At the Gilroy Transit Center, transfer to VTA’s 18 bus line to Gilroy High School at W. 10th and Princevalle Streets. On weekends, the 18 bus runs hourly, with the last bus leaving Gilroy High School for the Transit Center at 4:35pm Saturday, and 4:40pm Sunday.
Finally, walk about 3/4 mile along West 10th Street (which becomes Uvas Parkway at the curve) and make a left on Miller, where the Festival grounds and entrance are located.
Make sure to allow at least 30 minutes extra time to and from Gilroy on the buses, as crowds enter and leave the Garlic Festival this weekend.
Enjoy the Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend and stay safe!
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
Open House in Santa Clara On Monday
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•Highlights of a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) open house in Santa Clara on Monday will be available this evening.
VTA Quarterly Bus Service Changes Effective Today
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•Our group has learned that the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has made its quarterly bus service changes effective today (July 7).
Key amongst the bus service changes:
- On the 122 express bus line between South San Jose and Lockheed in Sunnyvale, one morning trip and one afternoon trip have been dropped due to low ridership.
- On July 12, Saturday service will be introduced on the 323 limited stop bus line between downtown San Jose and De Anza College. The expanded service will run every 15 minutes from 9am to 6pm in both directions.
- For the 22, 23 and 522 Rapid bus lines, running times along Santa Clara Street and Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose will be adjusted. This time adjustment is to account for VTA constructing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project along both streets for the next few months.
- At VTA’s bus stop on North First and Santa Clara Street in San Jose, the boarding location for the 181 express bus and the 72, 73 & 323 bus lines, will swap places. VTA is performing this bus stop swap to reduce congestion from riders boarding and leaving buses at these stops.
Make sure to check out how your bus line is affected by VTA’s quarterly bus service changes today. Happy riding, respect each other, and stay safe out there.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users