Weekend Update – 10/23/2021

Let’s get together Saturday at noon to help the drivers who have helped us in the pandemic. There will be a rally at San Jose City Hall at noon to demand “hazard pay” for bus drivers and light rail operators who kept us moving during the pandemic.

Several Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus lines stop at San Jose City Hall for the rally. Also, San Jose City Hall is only two blocks from and a 5 minute walk from the Santa Clara (Street) light rail station. VTA buses like the 22, 522 Rapid, 523 Rapid, 64A, 64B, 72, and 73 stop in front of San Jose City Hall for today’s rally.

Not sure how to ride and pay for your VTA bus or light rail ride? Our guide shows you how. Also, given heavy rain expected on Sunday, here are tips on how to ride buses or trains during the inclement weather.

Note that this guide is being provided as a public service, and is not affiliated with any public transit agency mentioned here. This is one of several events this weekend that you can take Silicon Valley’s public transit system to and from. More information on these events follow.

VTA Voted To Further Silence YOU

People wait to speak at a recent VTA meeting.
People wait to speak at a recent VTA public meeting.

A key committee at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) voted yesterday to further restrict your voice at meetings. In a unanimous vote, VTA’s Governance and Audit Committee voted to continue to allow public speakers only one (1) minute at Board meetings, and two (2) minutes at Committee meetings.

Highlights of yesterday’s vote at VTA are below.

VTA Seeks To Suppress Riders’ Voices

People wait to speak at a VTA Board meeting in San Jose.
People wait to speak at a VTA Board meeting in San Jose.

VTA and consultants are proposing to further limit public comments from citizens like YOU. If approved, the proposal would apply to all future VTA Board Of Directors’ meetings, Committee meetings, and workshops. The draft proposal is attached here for your review.

Public comment on the above staff recommendation (limited to ONE minute or less) will be heard at VTA’s “Governance and Audit” Committee” on Thursday, October 7th at 4:00PM (item #5) time permitting. This will allow the VTA Board Meeting to start promptly at 5:30PM.

More on what YOU can do to stop this proposal is below.