Tag: silicon valley

From Last Tuesday’s Group Meeting…

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Our group had a chance to meet the new Coordinator of the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, Michele.  We learned that she uses VTA Access (formerly OUTREACH) Paratransit to commute.  She know about the scandal that led to the ouster of OUTREACH as VTA’s paratransit provider.  She especially likes the pages on our site that feature ways she – and others – can hold VTA accountable for better public transit in

It came as a surprise that she was going to vote against VTA’s Measure B on November 8.  She said that she was tired of all the “measures which ask her for money every year.”  We will be working with her and the Peace and Justice Center to help more people learn about our group, and grow together.

One more thing: more on our stance on Measure B will be posted later this week.  Some of our recent posts will give you a hint on where our group will go with this stance.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Bulls, Bacon…and ‘Ball

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This weekend in Silicon Valley features several interesting events – despite expected rain this weekend. For starters, there’s bull riding and a Bacon Festival in San Jose.  Also, there’s college football in San Jose and Raiders football in Oakland. This transit guide has Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus, light rail, and other rail service to and from these events to help you beat traffic gridlock.

More information follows…

Read more →

Coming Soon – Our Measure B Stance

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At this time, our group is still discussing our stance on VTA’s Measure B – a 1/2-cent transportation sales tax proposal on the November 8 ballot.  This discussion is taking place on our email list and our Facebook page.

To help you decide whether or not you should support or oppose Measure B, here is the full ballot text of Measure B, as VTA sent it to the County Registrar.  In addition, here are the Attachments A thru D mentioning the proposed projects in the ballot measure.

Also, here are details on where your money on prior VTA transportation sales taxes went.  This Mountain View Voice article from 2014 shows how nearly 80% of the $4.2 billion of your money from the last two ballot measures (2000 and 2008) went to the BART extension to Berryessa in San Jose.  In addition, this Palo Alto Daily Post article from 2014 details how VTA’s spending of your money affected Caltrain and, to an extent, bus service throughout Santa Clara County, since 2000.  For your reference, here’s the ballot text for 2000 Measure A and 2008 Measure B.  For balance, here’s VTA’s “report card” of projects built with your tax money from 2000 Measure A.  (A separate article on how your money was spent from 2000 Measure A is upcoming.)

The Mercury News has already endorsed Measure B.  Here’s a counterpoint on why to vote against Measure B.

Based on the information given above, would you support or oppose Measure B? Our Measure B stance – and why that stance will be taken – will be announced this week.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

 

Happy Labor Day!

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Happy Labor Day!

On behalf of the Silicon Valley Transit Users, I want to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day.  Today, let’s honor the working people who help make this country great.

All transit agencies in Silicon Valley such as VTA, Caltrain and SamTrans are running on a Sunday/Holiday schedule today. In addition, there are no Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains between Stockton and San Jose today.  Normal transit service will return on Tuesday.

Please stay safe and sane today while we all celebrate the working class people in our country today.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Next Group Meeting: August 30 in San Jose

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svtru group gathering 07262016

Please join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, August 30 at 6pm in San Jose.  At our upcoming meeting, we will discuss:

  • VTA’s “Next Network” bus restructuring proposal and what can we can do to maintain bus service in Santa Clara County
  • Whether to support or oppose “Measure B” – VTA’s latest transportation sales tax proposal
  • Other ideas you have that you are willing to work together with us on

Here are directions to the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, where we meet most every month.  Note that the Peace and Justice Center has wheelchair access.

Can’t make our meeting in downtown San Jose on Tuesday?  Contact our group to get a dial-up phone number for our meeting.

See you Tuesday night.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users