Tag: Santa Clara

TAKE ACTION! Ensure Public Transit Stays In the State Budget Proposal

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Riders boarding Caltrain in Mountain View station. Front of the train is on the right, with its lights on. Passengers boarding and alighting are on the left.
Riders boarding Caltrain in Mountain View.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest state budget proposal cuts funding for public transit. If passed into law in June, it would result in fare hikes and service reductions for many transit agencies throughout California. This as several key Bay Area transit agencies like Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Caltrain struggle to regain pre-COVID pandemic ridership. This also occurs as many public transit agencies are running out of federal COVID relief funding to run their buses and trains.

Our group is part of a coalition to have the California State Legislature pass “gap” funding in the State Budget until public transit agencies pass their own operations funding means.

Read more on what’s going on, and how YOU can get involved.

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TAKE ACTION! How YOU Can Support VTA’s Service Increase Proposal

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Several people are seated aboard a VTA bus moving within the City of San Jose. Seats have grey backs. Camera faces front of bus.
Several people are seated aboard a VTA bus.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has just formalized a proposal to radically increase bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County. That proposal will start to go thru various committees at VTA starting this week.

Fellow public transit advocate Monica Mallon informs us that VTA’s “Visionary Network” proposal envisions an 83% increase in bus and light rail service throughout Santa Clara County. This would take place over the next few years, should the proposal be approved by the VTA’s Board of Directors at their June 1 meeting. Read Monica’s blog for details.

Here’s more on VTA’s service increase proposal, how transit riders will benefit, and how YOU can help make it happen.

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Getting Warm From the Storms

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Just learned the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is helping get folks to and from shelter on these stormy days. Until January 16, VTA is offering free rides for people to get to and from Warming Centers throughout Santa Clara County. Here’s a list of Warming Centers throughout Santa Clara County. These Warming Centers provide safety and shelter from the heavy rain, winds, and flooding predicted throughout the Bay Area this weekend.

Upon boarding, let the VTA bus driver or light rail operator know you are going to or from a Warming Center.

Please pass this on to those who don’t have a computer, for whatever reason.

Stay warm, dry and safe this stormy weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Heavy Rain & Winds May Delay Transit

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Source: ABC 7 News Bay Area on Twitter

Severe rain and high winds are forecast for Silicon Valley today and tomorrow. Because of this, if you must travel, allow extra time for your commute. Especially if you ride Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and light rail.

Based on events during recent storms, be prepared for delays of at least 20 minutes on BART, ACE Trains, and Caltrain. Also, be prepared for delays of at least 15 minutes on SamTrans bus service as well as all VTA bus and light rail service. They may need to traverse and detour around flooded streets and downed trees this week.

If at all possible, please stay home. Here’s how to report flooding you see in your part of Santa Clara County. Do you need to find warmer shelter? Here’s a list of warming centers throughout Santa Clara County. Other Warming Centers in Santa Clara County are also in county libraries. Many of these Warming Centers are near VTA bus and light rail lines. We’ll alert you when we learn from VTA whether or not they will offer free transit rides to and from these Warming Centers.

If you must travel, be careful when riding public transit. We have a guide that shows you how to ride public transit in wet weather.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest public transit updates and tips this week. Here’s how to keep us and others updated on our Twitter feed.

Listen to your local television or radio news for the latest updates on the storms this week.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Happy New Year 2023

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"Happy New Year" text center-right justified among blue and red fireworks, on a dark blue background.
Happy New Year!

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

We’ve learned the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will continue its tradition of offering FREE bus and light rail fares throughout Santa Clara County tonight and tomorrow morning. Hours of the free service are from 8pm tonight until 5am tomorrow morning. VTA is running on its normal Saturday schedule today, and will run a Sunday/Holiday schedule tomorrow and Monday. Extended service on all three light rail lines and the 500 Rapid will take place until about 2am tomorrow morning. Here’s more info from VTA on their New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (after) service hours.

Also, Caltrain will have FREE fares for its train service from 8pm tonight, until the last train from San Francisco at 2am tomorrow morning. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains will have extended Saturday service until about 1am Sunday morning. Both services are set up to accommodate those attending fireworks shows in San Francisco tonight.

On New Year’s Day, all Silicon Valley transit agencies will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. On Monday, January 2, all except BART will run a Sunday/Holiday schedule to observe New Year’s Day. BART trains will run on a regular weekday schedule on Monday, featuring improved service after 9pm between Daly City and West Oakland stations.

Given the heavy rain, gusty winds, and flooding expected this weekend, be careful when riding public transit. We have a guide that shows you how to ride public transit in wet weather.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest public transit updates and tips this weekend. Here’s how to keep us and others updated on our Twitter feed.

If you must drink tonight, make sure to use public transit where possible, as a safe alternate to driving. Please stay safe tonight and tomorrow. Happy New Year!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users