Tag: caltrain

Weekend Transit Update – 9/11/2021

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First, let’s pay homage to those who perished during and after the horrific events of September 11, 2001. Let’s make sure we never forget this date, nor those who perished.

This Sunday, light rail service returns to South San Jose. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will restore light rail service on the Blue Line between Santa Teresa, downtown San Jose, and Baypointe stations on Sunday morning. This will occur more than three months after that portion of light rail was shut down since the shootings of May 26 at Guadalupe Rail Yard.

Our group has also learned that VTA will extend FREE fares on light rail only, until September 30.

Light rail riders of the Green line between Campbell and downtown San Jose still have no current date for the return of light rail service. In the mean time, read our alternate bus guide to the light rail shutdown and learn how bus lines like the 60, 61, and 523 Rapid serve as an alternate to light rail service in that area.

Read on for more to do via public transit in Silicon Valley this weekend.

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Labor Day Weekend Transit Update

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A little more Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail service was restored today. Starting today, and until further notice:

  • No more substitute bus service on the Blue line.  Instead, light rail trains will run on the Blue line will only run between Baypointe station and Children’s Discovery Museum station in downtown San Jose.
  • As for the Green Line: light rail service will only run between Old Ironsides station and San Jose Diridon Station.
  • Light rail service on all three currently running lines (Orange, Blue, Green) will run every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes weeknights, evenings, and holidays.
  • Service on the rest of the Blue and Green lines will be announced at a later date.  Per the statement from CEO/General Manager Carolyn Gonot at the September 5 VTA Board meeting, this is due to being short-staffed in terms of being able to make repairs to and inspect the lines.

Do you or someone you know live or work in Campbell or South San Jose and normally use VTA light rail? Please read our VTA alternate bus guide for light rail service. It lists VTA bus lines like the 60, 64A, 66 and 68, and how they can be used in place of light rail service until those parts of the line are fully restored. Yes, the trips are longer. Yes, you will need to adapt your travel accordingly. Please remember: all of this is temporary.

On Saturday at 7pm, the San Jose Earthquakes host the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer action on the pitch of PayPal Park. Read our revised transit guide for PayPal Park. It shows how VTA’s 60 bus line directly serves PayPal Park, and how the pitch is within walking distance of the Santa Clara Transit Center and Rail Station.

Finally, on Labor Day (September 6) all Silicon Valley transit agencies will be running a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Normal weekday service will return on Tuesday, September 7. Please plan your trips accordingly.

Thank you, and please stay safe this Labor Day weekend.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Happy Birthday, Dr. King, Jr.

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Dr. King against USA Flag

Source: chatcentralgateway.com

Today, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. He was born on January 15, 1929.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), BART and SamTrans are running their regular weekday schedule today.  Caltrain is running a special, modified schedule today as well.  By regular weekday schedule, it means the modified service hours for each agency due to the ongoing global pandemic.

Here’s Dr. King’s famous speech from the March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.

Some of our goals in 2021 – including an action item for an upcoming VTA Workshop this Friday morning – will be in our next two posts.  This and other information on the site will be updated throughout the week to reflect local transit leadership in 2021.

Overall, we still have work to do to help achieve Dr. King’s dream. Let’s get to it.

Eugene Bradley
Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Happy New Year 2021

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Even in a global pandemic, one New Year’s Eve public transit tradition continues.  Transit agencies like Caltrain, SamTrans, and VTA will have free fares for their bus & rail service starting around 8pm.  This despite Santa Clara County’s “shelter in place” health orders in effect until further notice.

Pandemic protection rules such as social distancing and mask wearing on board will still apply.  Per health department directives, avoid crowds to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Read on for a summary of who’s offering what services on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and when.

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