Category: Group News

News about and featuring the Silicon Valley Transit Users.

This Wednesday, She Calls Us

by  • 

VTA Board Member Teresa O’Neill of Santa Clara. Photo courtesy smartvoter.org

For the first time, a member of the VTA’s Board of Directors will be joining us for our meeting.  Teresa O’Neill, Santa Clara City Council member, and VTA Board of Directors’ member, will be joining us at our meeting this Wednesday, April 19 to help discuss local transit issues.

Of primary discussion this Wednesday: VTA’s final “Next Network” bus and light rail service restructuring proposal.  That proposal will be voted on by the VTA Board of Directors in May.  Ms. O’Neill will be dialing in remotely as she is out of town for a public transit meeting.

Meeting details and agenda are below…

Read more →

This Tuesday: Our First Meeting Of 2017

by  • 

Our group’s first meeting of 2017 will be in San Jose this coming Tuesday at 6pm.  There, we’ll have more discussion about VTA’s proposed “Next Network” bus restructuring proposal. That will include some additional talking points for you and others to bring up and follow up on at the public meetings VTA will hold throughout the county in February.

TIME & DATE: Tuesday, January 31 at 6pm
PLACE: San Jose Peace & Justice Center, 48 S 7th Street, San Jose.  The Peace & Justice Center is 1/2 block north of the San Jose State University Campus
GETTING THERE: Read this map of the area around the Peace & Justice Center, and details on VTA buses and light rail that stop nearby.

Bring a pencil/pen and paper with you to our meeting for note taking. Also, be ready to start taking action on what we discuss.

Please distribute this invitation to everyone where (legally) permitted. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Agenda For Our Last Meeting Of 2016

by  • 

svtru group gathering 07262016

On behalf of our group, I want to wish you a Happy (and safe) Thanksgiving.

Want to help make public transportation in Santa County better for everyone?  Please join us on Tuesday, November 29 for our last meeting of 2016.  At our last meeting for 2016, we will discuss:

  • Your thought’s on VTA’s “Next Network” transit restructuring proposal and what YOU can do.  (Read more about the VTA “Next Network” proposal.)
  • The impact of “Measure B” – its passage and where transit goes from here
  • increased safety issues on buses and trains and what YOU can do to help
  • other issues YOU have with VTA buses and trains, and how we can solve them together

TIME & DATE: Tuesday, November 29 at 6pm SHARP
PLACE: San Jose Peace and Justice Center, 48 S. 7th Street, San Jose
GETTING THERE: It’s about 50 yards south of E. Santa Clara Street in downtown San Jose, and near many VTA bus lines like the 22, 64, 522 Rapid, 72 and 73. It’s also a short walk from the Santa Clara (Street) light rail stop.  Here is a map of the area around the Peace and Justice Center in downtown San Jose.

Bring a pencil or pen and paper so you can take down notes on what to do.

Approving sales tax ballot measures every few years to improve transit is never enough.  Whining from behind your keyboard changes nothing.  Better only happens when we learn TOGETHER and fight TOGETHER in person.

Power to the people.  See you on Tuesday.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

From Last Tuesday’s Group Meeting…

by  • 

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

No Group Meeting Tonight

by  • 

I did not post a formal agenda for this meeting in time for people to peruse. Also not helping: the Loma Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that may affect Highway 17 express bus service thru the area. I’m watching that personally.

Still, we will continue to discuss on our email list, whether to support or oppose Measure B – VTA’s latest transportation sales tax proposal.  We will have a formal decision on this issue shortly.

More news coming up…

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users