Category: Transit Alerts

Swiftie Transit Weekend…and More

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Taylor Swift. Source: mepixels.com

You cannot avoid the hype. Taylor Swift and her “Eras” tour is in town. Specifically, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for shows Friday night and Saturday night.

Levi’s Stadium staff advises concertgoers to take public transportation to and from both shows.

Read on for how BART, Caltrain and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will get you to and from the shows – and other events – this weekend.

Read more →

Jan. 10 Transit Update Due To Storms

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Heavy rain and winds continue to affect public transit in Santa Clara County. Specifically, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail service.

As of 1:00pm:

  • VTA is still running buses instead of light rail between San Fernando and Fruitdale stations on the Green Line due to local power outages.
  • Expect at least 30 min. delays on Highway 17 express bus service between San Jose and Santa Cruz in both directions. This is due to flooding near the southbound I-280/Bird exit these buses use to access downtown San Jose.
  • Downed power wires on streets throughout Santa Clara County mean detours and delays for VTA bus service. Such power outages also affect stoplights, as traffic must treat these intersections as a 4-way STOP sign. This means up to 15 minute delays on the following VTA bus lines:
    • In Gilroy, downed power wires near the downtown area result in delays on the 68, 84 and 85 bus lines.
    • In East San Jose, the 70 and 522 Rapid bus lines due to traffic signals out at Capitol Expwy/Cunningham and Capitol Expwy/Ocala
    • In South San Jose, the 37 bus due to loss of power affecting traffic signals at San Tomas at HWY 17, Camden/White Oaks.
    • In West San Jose near Cupertino, delays on the 23, 59, and 523 Rapid bus lines due to flashing red signals at San Tomas Expressway and Stevens Creek due to traffic signals flashing red
  • The light rail platform elevator at Milpitas light rail station remains out of service. No ETA on when service for that elevator will be restored. Typically use the Milpitas light rail elevator? Use Great Mall or Cropley stations as alternatives. Upon boarding, immediately let the light rail operator know by intercom that you need the elevator at Milpitas, and request for arrangements to be made.

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. Please help update us and other people on any delays on VTA bus and/or light rail service you encounter.

Please continue to listen to your local television or radio news for the latest updates on the storms this week. This includes orders to evacuate where you are at, as needed.

Stay safe throughout these storms.

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

Happy Thanksgiving 2022!

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Happy Thanksgiving sign. Source: pixabay.com
Image by J Lloa from Pixabay

We’ve learned all services at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) River Oaks headquarters was restored at 3:30pm this afternoon. This includes their Customer Service call center for transit service information.

Given that, on behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

A reminder: all Silicon Valley transit agencies will be running on a Sunday/Holiday schedule this Thursday. This includes Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail service, Caltrain, Capitol Corridor trains, SamTrans (San Mateo County) buses, and BART trains. Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains between Stockton and San Jose in both directions will not run Thursday and Friday.

On Friday, some Silicon Valley transit agencies will run a modified schedule. For instance, VTA buses/light rail will run a normal weekday schedule this Friday, except its five weekday commuter express bus routes will not run that day only.

Plan accordingly if you are riding public transit this Thursday and Friday. Normal weekday service on all these of transit agencies returns on Monday, November 28.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for the latest Silicon Valley public transit updates and tips. Have a nice and safe Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users