Keep Up the (State) Pressure

Protesters at a mock funeral for public transit in front of San Francisco City Hall June 3.

Current status of public transit in Governor Gavin Newsom’s state budget proposal: not good. Unfortunately, the most recent budget proposals voted on by the legislature currently do not provide nearly enough funding to meet the need to prevent transit cuts and regrow ridership. This would force transit agencies like Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Caltrain to choose between preventing service cuts and important capital priorities, and would abandon $6 billion ($6,000,000,000) in federal matching funds.

Senator Scott Wiener is working hard to address this situation. Here’s more from Senator Wiener:

Read our prior article on this situation for further background.

Next, read more on what YOU can do between now and Monday to help Senator Wiener and others change that.

Weekend Update – Memorial Day 2023

Happy Memorial Day!
Happy Memorial Day!

This weekend, and especially Monday, we honor and mourn those who perished while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

On Monday, Memorial Day itself, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and all other transit agencies will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

Given the long weekend, there will be plenty of activities going on, particularly in San Jose. Read more about these events – and travel advisories – below.

Never Forget 5/26

2 VTA light rail trains stopped at Santa Teresa station. Both trains are white, with the blue VTA logo with mask at the front. Camera is on the platfrom facing both stopped train cars.
Two VTA light rail cars parked at Santa Teresa Light Rail Station. Picture taken 5/28/2021.

May 26, 2021 is a day that will live in local, Silicon Valley infamy. At around 6:30am, a mass shooting took place at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Guadalupe light rail yard in San Jose. Nine (9) light rail employees were shot to death. The shooter ultimately turned the gun on himself, committing suicide.

Here’s how it was reported here. The report also includes VTA Radio communication as the tragedy occurred. Listen to the audio at your own discretion.

I will personally visit the offices of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 as well as VTA headquarters today, to pay respects on behalf of our group.

Where were you on the morning of May 26, 2021? How are you remembering the tragedy that took place? Please comment below.

More later on today.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users