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.
This week, temperatures in San Jose and the rest of the Bay Area are at record highs.
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.
On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving today.
Quick reminder: ALL Silicon Valley transit agencies (VTA, Caltrain, BART, SamTrans, et al.) are running on a Sunday/Holiday schedule today.
Read on for a more detailed look at how these transit agencies will run today and tomorrow.
Could another assault on working families, the elderly, and the disabled be on the horizon? That may soon be the case. This Friday morning at 9:00am, the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will discuss a proposal to reduce bus and light rail service by as much as 30% next year.
If at all possible, speak up during Public Comment at the VTA Board of Directors’ workshop on Friday morning at 9:00am. There, Board Members will discuss the service cut proposals on Agenda Item 3.1. Let the VTA Board know what public transit means to YOU, and that they must do whatever is needed to preserve your bus service. One of the VTA Board members supports use of 2016 Measure B funding to preserve as much transit service as possible.
Here’s information on how YOU can be heard in the online teleconference by computer or your own telephone.
View the video of the teleconference above, starting at 9am Friday morning.
More information on what you can do to help stave off VTA’s latest service cut proposal will be posted this weekend.
Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users
Monica Mallon contributed to this report.
Key events occurred at the December 5, 2019 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Of Directors’ meeting. County Supervisor Cindy Chavez was elected Board Chair for 2020. By an 8-4 vote, Sunnyvale City Council Member Glenn Hendricks was elected Board Vice-Chair for 2020. The press for public disclosure of things continued, and more.
Read on for more of what happened at this Board meeting…