Tag: south san jose

ETAs for VTA Light Rail Return

by  •  • 0 Comments

Just learned that Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail service returns this week after workers went on strike for over two weeks. Estimated schedule of when train lines return to service:

Also, reports of two copper thefts during the strike have also played a role in delaying its service return. Meanwhile, labor negotiations between VTA and ATU Local 265 will continue, despite lack of a contract. Some quick reminders on light rail:

  • Orange line trains run round-trip between Mountain View, Old Ironsides (for connection to the Green Line) Baypointe (for connections to the Blue Line), Milpitas (BART connection), and Alum Rock in East San Jose
  • Blue Line trains run round-trip between Baypointe in North San Jose, downtown San Jose, and Santa Teresa in South San Jose.
  • Green Line trains run round-trip between Old Ironsides in Santa Clara, downtown San Jose, and Winchester in Campbell.

What are your thoughts on VTA bus and light rail service returning after the strike? Discuss in comments below.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Transit Strike Update – 3/25/2025

by  •  • 0 Comments

VTA Mountain View light rail platform, looking north, from the southern end of the platform. Shows empty platform indicating no light rail service at this time.
Empty Mountain View VTA light rail platform.

The Silicon Valley Public Transit Strike of 2025 enters its third week. Last Sunday, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) proposed a new labor agreement for striking workers representing the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265. This proposal was given at a special Board Of Directors’ meeting Sunday morning.

Per NBC Bay Area, about 100,000 transit riders are affected by this strike, which started March 10. Also reported: VTA mentioned they were losing $70,000 per day in lost fares as a result of the strike.

San Jose Spotlight described details of VTA’s proposal:

The VTA Board of Directors approved the revised offer in a special meeting Sunday. It included a 11% raise over the next three years, going up 4%, another 4% and 3%. It included updates to the conflict resolution process for workers filing a grievance, before going to a neutral third party. But it also introduced other contract changes, such as reducing overtime.

Yesterday (Monday) morning, 83% of ATU Local 265 members rejected the proposal. Per Rajvinder Singh, President and Business Agent at ATU Local 265, sticking points are overtime pay, and the need for a “no retaliation” guarantee for all striking employees – including probationary employees.

Yesterday, labor negotiators from VTA and ATU Local 265 met with a state mediator.

Sadly, no results came from that meeting. Both VTA and ATU Local 265 will be in a court hearing on Wednesday at 1:30pm. That hearing in Santa Clara County Superior Court will determine VTA’s legal request to end the strike.

Meanwhile, VTA has offered strike-affected riders $5 vouchers for their rideshare trips from 7am-10pm between VTA stops.

What are your thoughts and ideas on labor negotiations, and VTA’s $5 voucher for rideshare? Please comment and suggest.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Super Bowl LVIII Local Party Transit Guide

by  • 

Super Bowl LVIII logo with San Francisco and Kansas City team logos on the left and right, respectively.
Image courtesy foxsports.com

The stage is set for Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII.  Can’t make it to the rematch of the Big Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs?  There are local parties at bars, clubs, and restaurants throughout Santa Clara County – and beyond. Read on for more details.

Read more →

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

by  • 

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.

Read more →

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

by  • 

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.

Read more →