Tag: Santa Clara County

Issues affecting all of Santa Clara County.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving day and long weekend.

All Silicon Valley bus and train services are running on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday). This includes Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus and light rail trains, Caltrain, and the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) train service between Stockton and San Jose.

All services are expected to return to normal service on Monday.

Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for all Silicon Valley public transit updates this long weekend.

Please stay safe and sane this weekend!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

VTA’s “GovDelivery” Doesn’t Always Deliver

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has an alert system managed by GovDelivery. The system is supposed to alert subscribers of delays affecting any and all bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County.

Greta Helm, VTA’s Chief External Affairs Officer, was at our last group meeting last Thursday. I inquired to her specifically about this issue. Notes on that meeting will be available shortly.

It seems VTA’s implementation of GovDelivery for alerts doesn’t always tell you everything. Details on what’s going on – and how YOU can help to fix it – are available after the More… jump.

Two Transit Guides Revised

For this coming Farmers’ Market season in Silicon Valley, the Farmers’ Market transit guide has been revised. It now features more accurate Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus & light rail options. Information for Moveable Feast will be made available in a separate page, currently a work in progress.

Also, the Mobile Apps page was revised to point to the correct link for NextVTA on Android.

Enjoy!

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

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Know Before You Board

I encountered one woman on VTA’s 522 Rapid bus today. She was upset that the Palo Alto-bound bus did not stop at El Camino/Warburton in Santa Clara. She paid $2 for riding, and thought the bus was like the regular 22. She was surprised when I told her the bus would not stop until El Camino/Scott. It turned out she did not ask the bus driver if the 522 Rapid bus makes the stop she wanted (which it does not).

When in doubt, ask the bus driver first before boarding any bus. Part of his/her job is to know the bus stops for that route. Better yet, call VTA at (408)321-2300 (or visit their web site) before going on your bus/light rail trip. Knowing before going will save you the embarassment – and money – of missing your destination on transit.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users