Category: Paratransit

Paratransit (bus and rail transportation for disabled residents) issues in Silicon Valley.

Transit Events Calendar Now Available…and More

Per reader request, a local transit events calendar has now been installed on the web site.  The calendar will help list public transit, bike/pedestrian, and paratransit events and meetings hosted by other citizen groups throughout Silicon Valley.  This will include our own live group meetings.

Examples of entries already present in the events calendar:

In the future, the Event Calendar will also include Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)-hosted public workshops and public meetings.

Hear about a public transit, bicycle/pedestrian, or paratransit meeting or event in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County?  Please let us know at least 7 days in advance of the event so that it can be added to the event calendar.

One more thing:  there have been reports of people not receiving confirmation email when subscribing to new posts or comments.  When you initially subscribe to be notified of new posts or comments to posts, please check your “Junk Mail,” “Junk E-Mail” or “SPAM” folders for the confirmation email.  That confirmation email is sent to ensure your email address is not being abused in any manner.  Click the URL link in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription; otherwise, ignore and delete the confirmation email.

Enjoy the rest of this big Bay Area concert weekend safely and sanely.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

VTA Hires Its Replacement Paratransit Contractor

VTA now has someone to run its paratransit (ACCESS) buses and cars.  At Thursday night’s VTA Board of Directors’ meeting, the VTA Board voted to a approve a four-year, nearly $80 million contract with MV Transportation to operate and maintain the ACCESS paratransit fleet.

In the Bay Area, MV Transportation operates and maintains the Dumbarton Express bus service, WestCAT (Western Contra Costa County Transit, and core SamTrans bus routes like the ECR and SamTrans’ “RediWheels” paratransit.

Listen to audio highlights of Thursday evening’s VTA Board meeting below.

What are your thoughts on VTA having MV Transportation as their paratransit provider?  Please comment below.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

From Last Tuesday’s Group Meeting…

Our group had a chance to meet the new Coordinator of the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, Michele.  We learned that she uses VTA Access (formerly OUTREACH) Paratransit to commute.  She know about the scandal that led to the ouster of OUTREACH as VTA’s paratransit provider.  She especially likes the pages on our site that feature ways she – and others – can hold VTA accountable for better public transit in

It came as a surprise that she was going to vote against VTA’s Measure B on November 8.  She said that she was tired of all the “measures which ask her for money every year.”  We will be working with her and the Peace and Justice Center to help more people learn about our group, and grow together.

One more thing: more on our stance on Measure B will be posted later this week.  Some of our recent posts will give you a hint on where our group will go with this stance.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Sweating Details At A Workshop

This Friday morning promises to be an event for public transit in Silicon Valley. Then, in San Jose, members of the Valley Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors will discuss what will go into a proposed sales tax ballot measure in November. (Adobe Acrobat PDF Document)

Take any VTA bus, light rail or Caltrain? Learn how YOU are affected by the proposal by reading this article from Adina Levin of Green Caltrain.

The VTA Workshop will be webcast LIVE to the public starting at 9am on Friday.

EVENT: VTA Envision Silicon Valley Workshop
DATE & TIME: Friday, April 22nd at 9am
PLACE: VTA Headquarters, 3331 N. First Street, San Jose
GETTING THERE: VTA Headquarters is right next to the River Oaks light rail station.

If at all possible, join us to ensure VTA continues to build a proper transit system for everyone in Santa Clara County – including YOU.  Remember: it will be (more) sales tax money from YOU that will be spent on these transit projects.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

DISCLOSURE: Our group is one of the stakeholders of the Envision Silicon Valley effort.