Tag: Santa Clara County

Issues affecting all of Santa Clara County.

Happy New Year!

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

To help you travel to and from your New Year’s Eve party, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Caltrain, SamTrans, and San Francisco’s MUNI will have FREE service from 8pm Sunday until 5am Monday.  Until 3am Monday morning, BART will run trains every 20 minutes, especially in support of fireworks show on the San Francisco waterfront at midnight.

All Bay Area transit agencies will run a Sunday/Holiday schedule on New Year’s Day (January 1).

On New Year’s Day, there will be numerous fare and service changes on a couple of Bay Area transit agencies.  Read on for more details.

Last VTA Board Of Directors’ Meeting On Thursday

This year, the last VTA Board Of Directors‘ meeting for 2017 will start at 5:30pm. Note that it is not the normal 9am or other morning time, due to other meetings in the County around that time. A welcome and refreshing break from previous years.

Amongst what will be voted on at Thursday’s VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting:

  • A new Chair and Vice Chair will be elected for 2018
  • A $760,000 contract for modifying VTA light rail ticket machines to dispense new Clipper Cards
  • A $3.243 million contract for certifying paratransit services
  • A resolution for VTA to create a “Complete Streets” policy
  • A policy for “commuter shuttle” rules and regulations at VTA bus stops and transit centers

The Palo Alto Daily Post reported that current VTA Board Chair Jeannie Bruins of Los Altos will be replaced next year by Mountain View City Council member John McAlister.  McAlister will represent the Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills on the VTA Board of Directors.

Read the full 744-page agenda packet for tomorrow’s VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting.  Or, read one condensed version of the agenda packet I put together featuring the items mentioned above.

Also, were you affected by the lack of extra bus and rail service for the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium last Friday?  Come speak up about it at Thursday’s VTA Board of Directors’ meeting, in the Public Comment time period at the beginning of the meeting.

WHEN: Thursday at 5:30pm
WHERE: County Supervisors’ Chambers at the County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St. (at North 1st Street), San Jose.
GETTING THERE: Government Center is 1 block north of Civic Center light rail station. Take VTA’s 61, 62, 66 or 181 express bus lines to Civic Center light rail station, then walk 1 block north to the County Government Center.  Read the map detailing the Government Center area for additional information.

See you on Thursday.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Coming Together In Cupertino

Moderator and four panelists at last Sunday’s Regional Planning Forum in Cupertino, where our group met.

Silicon Valley’s housing and traffic crises are already well documented.  Our group gathered in Cupertino last Sunday to discover and hear what can be done to resolve these crises.  The four panelists at last Sunday’s Regional Planning Forum in Cupertino were:

  • Kansen Chu, 25th Assembly Member, California State Assembly
  • “Chappie” Jones, San Jose City Council Member
  • Richard Bernhardt, CEO of Bernhardt Communications and Strategy
  • Tom DuBois, Palo Alto City Council Member

Part 1 of the Regional Planning Forum can be viewed below:

Part 2 of the Regional Planning Forum (the Question and Answer portion) can be viewed below:

A special Thank You goes to Better Cupertino for hosting this forum.  Please view both videos above.  You will learn some things from both videos.

After viewing both videos in full, please share your thoughts on what needs to be done to address Silicon Valley’s traffic and housing problems.  Also, indicate what YOU are willing to do to help solve these issues.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Next Group Meeting Next Sunday In Cupertino

Instead of our usual group meeting in San Jose this coming Thursday, let’s instead meet on a Sunday afternoon in Cupertino.  There, Better Cupertino will host a public meeting on regional planning, and what must be done to solve the Bay Area’s transportation, housing, and infrastructure maintenance needs.

Register for the FREE meeting here.  This will give the hosts a proper headcount.

WHEN: Sunday, October 29th from 3pm-5pm
WHERE: Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave. (between Rodrigues Ave. and Pacifica Dr.), Cupertino
GETTING THERE: Cupertino Community Hall is 1.5 blocks south of Stevens Creek Blvd. and S. De Anza Blvd. It’s a 5-10 minute walk from VTA’s 55 bus line at S. De Anza Blvd and Sunrise Dr. It’s also a 10-15 minute walk from the VTA’s 23 and 323 limited stop bus lines at Stevens Creek Blvd. and S. De Anza Blvd.

I’ll see you all on October 29 in Cupertino.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

October Transit Schedule and Fare Changes

Changes to Silicon Valley bus and rail schedules are being made this month.  As regular service is being operated today (October 9), the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) made changes to several bus line schedules in Santa Clara County.  Some of the schedule changes enable better connections with the Caltrain commuter rail service.  Read up on the service changes here and learn how YOU will be affected by these changes.

Speaking of Caltrain: several fare changes were made on October 1:

  • The price of a monthly Caltrain parking pass was raised from $55.00 to $82.50.  This is because Caltrain changed their basis of a “month” to 15 days from 10 days.
  • Caltrain riders will pay an additional 25 cents per zone they travel
  • Caltrain 8-ride tickets are no longer available for purchase.  Current 8-ride tickets will no longer be valid after October 31.

This is in addition to the changes Caltrain made to its Monday thru Friday schedule, to increase “operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.”  These changes were approved by Caltrain’s Joint Powers Board back in August.

What are your thoughts on the schedule and fare changes at VTA and Caltrain?  Please discuss them in comments below.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users