Tag: Rail

News involving Caltrain, ACE or BART that affect Silicon Valley’s quality of life.

Merry Christmas!

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christmas 2013

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  I especially wish a Merry Christmas to those who cannot be with their families.

Today, many transit agencies serving Silicon Valley (VTA, SamTrans, are running a Sunday/Holiday schedule.  Also, Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) rail service and Dumbarton Express buses will not run today, with service resuming on Monday.

Flying to or from San Jose? Read our transit guide for VTA and other bus service to and from Mineta San Jose International Airport to help you beat traffic gridlock.

Taking Greyhound or Megabus to or from San Jose? Our transit guides to the Greyhound bus station in downtown San Jose and Diridon Station for Megabus help you beat traffic. Note that Diridon Station also serves Caltrain, Amtrak buses and trains, VTA buses and light rail, Monterey-Salinas Transit buses, and Highway 17 Express bus service to Santa Cruz.

Doing any last-minute or post-Christmas shopping? Our transit guide to shopping centers and malls throughout Silicon Valley helps you beat parking hassles and traffic gridlock. You will always have a parking spot when you take a bus or train to shop.

Make sure to stay safe out there this Christmas holiday season.  See you on the bus or train.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

 

First Group Meeting Of 2015 This Thursday

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Please join us at our first meeting of 2015 this Thursday, January 29 at 6pm in San Jose.  Meeting agenda is as follows:

  • Things YOU can do to make Bus Rapid Transit on El Camino Real between Palo Alto and San Jose happen
  • How YOU can help make VTA buses and light rail run more on time
  • Other Santa Clara County transit issues you want to discuss

The meeting is expected to be no more than one (1) hour.

Here are VTA bus, rail, and automobile directions on getting to the San Jose Peace & Justice Center. Be advised there is NO live video or audio streaming (yet) for our group meetings. The only way to know what’s going on and how YOU can make taking VTA better: BE THERE.

Bring a pencil or pen and paper (or smartphone/tablet notepad program) for our meeting. This is because information will be given to you during our meeting talks (see agenda above) which you need to make note of.

Please spread the word about our group meetings as needed. ALL ARE WELCOME! See on on Thursday.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

First VTA Board Meeting Of 2015 Tonight

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This evening, the very first Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors meeting of 2015 will take place.

Amongst the items the Board will vote on, according to their meeting agenda (Adobe PDF Document):

  • Initial remarks from Perry Woodward of Gilroy, who will chair the VTA Board this year
  • Approving or rejecting an initial study for a new parking structure at the Tamien Light Rail Station area
  • Approve or reject spending $11.7 million of your money on a construction contract to construct Phase II of the Mountain View Light Rail double-tracking program.

The meeting site is the County Supervisors’ Chambers at the County Government Offices 70 W. Hedding Street (at North First Street) in San Jose.  The County Government Offices are one block north of the Civic Center light rail station and the bus stop for VTA’s 61, 62, 66 and 181 express bus lines. Plan on driving to the VTA Board Meeting? There’s free on-street parking in front of and across Hedding Street from the County Government Offices, starting right at 5:30pm.

Want to speak at tonight’s VTA Board of Directors meeting? Here are some rules and procedures you need to follow to get your voice properly heard.

See you this evening!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Happy New Year 2015!

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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

Bus & Rail Service to Christmas Shopping This Week

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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