Tag: Bus

Silicon Valley local and regional bus news.

Happy New Year 2015!

 

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Several transit New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions continue today and tomorrow.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will have FREE bus and light rail service from 8pm New Year’s Eve until 5am New Year’s Day.

In addition, Caltrain will have FREE service system-wide from 8pm until the end of service early Thursday morning.  From 12:45am-2:15am New Year’s Day, Caltrain will have southbound service from San Francisco at 15 minutes and 45 minutes after the hour. Trains leave at the times specified above or when full, whichever is sooner.

As for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains: service will run every 20 minutes until 3am Thursday morning. This service will primarily support the fireworks show on the Embarcadero in San Francisco at midnight.

Note that neither VTA, BART nor Caltrain allow alcohol aboard trains – particularly after 9pm. If found with alcohol, expect to be asked to leave the train.

Please take advantage of these transit services to avoid having to drive home in gridlock – possibly drunk. Should you still need to drive home in your automobile and you’re drunk, call AAA at 1(800)222-4357 and ask the operator for a free “Tipsy Tow” home.

Let’s all be careful out there. Have a Happy, Safe, and Sane New Year!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

The Evolution of “Hotel 22”

Hotel 22 Trailer from Elizabeth Lo on Vimeo.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)’s 22 bus line runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is Santa Clara County’s only 24-hour public transit service. Because of this, the 22 bus line is infamously known as a place where homeless people who can’t obtain proper shelter end up sleeping overnight. As a result, this bus line is known amongst the homeless population as the “Hotel 22.”

More on the increase in homeless people on additional VTA bus lines and light rail – and what can be done to end homelessness in Silicon Valley – follows.

Bus & Rail Service to Christmas Shopping This Week

Want to beat traffic gridlock and parking hassles at shopping centers and malls this week? We have a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail guide to malls and shopping centers in Santa Clara County.

We also have tips on staying safe and showing respect for other passengers aboard VTA and Caltrain as well.

Finally, make sure to follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest public transit updates. Follow these tips to help keep @svtransitupdts and others updated.

Have a safe and sane Merry Christmas. Let’s be careful out there!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Weathering The Storms On VTA & Caltrain

santaclara_lrt_platform_storm

More rain is coming to Silicon Valley this week. Transit agencies like the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) have already made preparations for these storms. Despite these preparations, incidents such as downed trees and flooding have caused delays and rerouting on VTA buses and light rail over the last week.

Traveling on VTA buses, light rail, ACE or Caltrain this week? Below are some tips to help you travel during these storms this week. These tips are based on experience in riding buses and trains during big rainstorms and even snowstorms on the East Coast.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Happy-Thanksgiving-Day-Pic-26

(source: www.joscountryjunction.com )

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Day today.

On Thanksgiving Day, many Silicon Valley transit agencies like Caltrain, SamTrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains between San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Millbrae and Fremont will run on a Sunday schedule Thanksgiving Day. Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains will NOT run on Thanksgiving Day nor on the day after Thanksgiving (Friday). Full ACE train service returns on Monday, although the special ACE train to and from Levi’s Stadium will run for this evening’s San Francisco 49ers game vs. Seattle at 5:30pm.

Details on special public transit service for Thanksgiving Day and the proce, eding weekend – including “Black Friday” – are below.