Eugene B

VTA’s Big Ask…and More

by  • 

The November 3 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Of Directors’ meeting had lots of information discussed. Among key issues discussed:

  • Proposals to speed up light rail thru downtown San Jose.
  • Why there have been so many bus service cancellations on some routes in the last two months.
  • A change in how VTA applies for federal funding for extending BART into downtown San Jose.

Feel free to view the Board meeting in its entirety above. Meanwhile, here’s what was discussed November 3, in order of Agenda items. Links in listed show what was discussed, approximately at that moment.

Read more →

Help Plan VTA’s Future

by  • 

Video courtesy VTA.

We’ve learned the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) seeks ideas from YOU on the future of transportation in Santa Clara County. Starting TONIGHT at 6pm online, is the first of several meetings VTA is holding to help plan public transit (as well as walking, biking, paratransit and highway projects) for Santa Clara County’s future.

Read more →

November Board Meeting Fun

by  • 

Here’s a quick preview of key items tonight’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors’ meeting at 5:30pm.

  • Item 5.2 – General Manager’s Report. Good place to bring up why VTA has provided no public notice to why there have been missing bus and light rail
  • Item 7.3 – VTA staff discuss proposals to help speed up light rail thru downtown San Jose
  • Item 7.4 – VTA staff discusses the future of light rail in Santa Clara County. Item possibly includes talk on what new light rail cars might look like.

Here’s how YOU can get involved by speaking after and only after VTA Staff and Board members discuss these Items:

Let’s follow-up more on this issue exclusively on Agenda Item 5.2 at the November 3 VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting at 5:30pm. Here’s how YOU can get involved:

Zoom meeting link- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85914427437.

The meeting will be streamed through the VTA YouTube Channel.

You may also call into the meeting as follows:
Zoom one-tap via smartphone:
US: +16692192599,,85914427437#
or
+16699009128,,85914427437#

Via telephone dial: US : +1 669 219 2599 or +1 669 900 9128
Webinar ID: 859 1442 7437

See you all at tonight’s Board meeting.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Some VTA Buses Couldn’t Take the Heat

by  • 

People waiting for VTA's 60 bus at Santa Clara Train Station.
People waiting for VTA’s 60 bus at Santa Clara Train Station.

September 6 featured record high temperatures in Santa Clara County. One result of this, we learned, was that the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) had to take 40 buses out of service that day. This was covered in the Mercury News (via East Bay Times) and CBS Bay Area.

Below highlights what was learned directly from VTA on what else happened that hot dayIt’s deeper than what has been reported in the press on this matter. Read and learn for more details.

Read more →

Silicon Oven

by  • 

Graphic showing it's 111 degrees in San Jose. Has sun drawing on upper right. Lower right says 111 deg. / 72 deg. feels like 111 Deg. Tue, 2:26pm
Photo courtesy Juan Estrada on Facebook.

This week, temperatures in San Jose and the rest of the Bay Area are at record highs.


The extreme heat is expected to continue for several more days.

To address this, we’ve learned that the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is providing FREE rides to Cooling Centers throughout Santa Clara County. Here’s an updated list, as of today.

If you use VTA ACCESS Paratransit, call (408)321-2380 to book a trip to a Cooling Center. Due to demand, expect at least a three-hour wait before you can be picked up.

Rail agencies like BART, Caltrain, and Capitol Corridor ran with heat-related speed restrictions so far this week. This has resulted in delays up to 20 minutes on each of these systems. Expect this to be the case the rest of this week.

Locally, VTA has had issues system-wide due to heat causing breakdowns so far this week.

If at all possible, limit when you go outside for the next few days. Let’s not hear about you having to go to the hospital due to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke – or worse.

Still need to travel outside this hot week? Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter to keep up with the latest local (Santa Clara County) public transit updates. Here’s steps showing YOU can help keep the svtransitupdts Twitter feed updated.

In the mean time, please stay safe, cool, and hydrated this week.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users.