Tag: Santa Clara County

Issues affecting all of Santa Clara County.

First VTA Board Meeting Of 2015 Tonight

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

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.