Category: Transit Alerts

Happy New Year 2015!

by  • 

 

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Several transit New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions continue today and tomorrow.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will have FREE bus and light rail service from 8pm New Year’s Eve until 5am New Year’s Day.

In addition, Caltrain will have FREE service system-wide from 8pm until the end of service early Thursday morning.  From 12:45am-2:15am New Year’s Day, Caltrain will have southbound service from San Francisco at 15 minutes and 45 minutes after the hour. Trains leave at the times specified above or when full, whichever is sooner.

As for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains: service will run every 20 minutes until 3am Thursday morning. This service will primarily support the fireworks show on the Embarcadero in San Francisco at midnight.

Note that neither VTA, BART nor Caltrain allow alcohol aboard trains – particularly after 9pm. If found with alcohol, expect to be asked to leave the train.

Please take advantage of these transit services to avoid having to drive home in gridlock – possibly drunk. Should you still need to drive home in your automobile and you’re drunk, call AAA at 1(800)222-4357 and ask the operator for a free “Tipsy Tow” home.

Let’s all be careful out there. Have a Happy, Safe, and Sane New Year!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Weathering The Storms On VTA & Caltrain

by  • 

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.

Read more →

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

by  • 

Happy-Thanksgiving-Day-Pic-26

(source: www.joscountryjunction.com )

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Day today.

On Thanksgiving Day, many Silicon Valley transit agencies like Caltrain, SamTrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains between San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Millbrae and Fremont will run on a Sunday schedule Thanksgiving Day. Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains will NOT run on Thanksgiving Day nor on the day after Thanksgiving (Friday). Full ACE train service returns on Monday, although the special ACE train to and from Levi’s Stadium will run for this evening’s San Francisco 49ers game vs. Seattle at 5:30pm.

Details on special public transit service for Thanksgiving Day and the proce, eding weekend – including “Black Friday” – are below.

Read more →

Happy Veterans Day 2014!

by  • 

thank you veterans

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I would like to wish you – and all of our current and retired Armed Forces – a Happy Veterans’ Day!

As a reminder, many public transit agencies are running on a regular weekday schedule today. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
  • Caltrain
  • BART
  • SamTrans
  • AC Transit
  • San Francisco MUNI

Also, many VTA bus lines serving downtown San Jose will be rerouted to support the city’s annual Veterans’ Day parade. The VTA bus rerouting will occur from 9am-2pm today.

Once again, please enjoy Veterans’ Day today and keep yourself safe and sane!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Bus Service To This Weekend’s 36th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival

by  • 

The 36th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place this weekend at Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave., in Gilroy.

This year’s festival features three up and coming country music artists playing at the main stage on Saturday. This is in addition to the multitude of garlic and garlic-based cooking available at the festival this weekend.

Free secure bicycle parking is available on Miller Ave. at the levee (Uvas Parkway). Make sure to bring your own lock.

Believe it or not, there are several transit options available to and from the festival area. For instance, from San Jose Diridon Station and downtown San Jose, catch VTA’s 68 bus line to the end of the line at the Gilroy Transit Center. VTA’s 68 bus line typically runs every 30 minutes on weekends.

Alternately, you can catch Monterey-Salinas Transit’s 55 express bus to Gilroy Transit Center. The bus also stops in Morgan Hill after leaving downtown San Jose. Buses typically leave San Jose Diridon Station at 9:15am and 2:05pm, reaching Gilroy about an hour later depending on traffic on Highway 101. Return buses to San Jose leave Gilroy Caltrain Station at 11:15am and 4:16pm, reaching San Jose Diridon Station about 1 hour later depending on traffic.

At the Gilroy Transit Center, transfer to VTA’s 18 bus line to Gilroy High School at W. 10th and Princevalle Streets. On weekends, the 18 bus runs hourly, with the last bus leaving Gilroy High School for the Transit Center at 4:35pm Saturday, and 4:40pm Sunday.

Finally, walk about 3/4 mile along West 10th Street (which becomes Uvas Parkway at the curve) and make a left on Miller, where the Festival grounds and entrance are located.

Make sure to allow at least 30 minutes extra time to and from Gilroy on the buses, as crowds enter and leave the Garlic Festival this weekend.

Enjoy the Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend and stay safe!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users