Tag: vta

Soccer Weekend In Silicon Valley

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Courtesy: San Jose Earthquakes

It’s that time of year again for soccer fans in Silicon Valley. As we celebrate Independence Day this coming Tuesday, the California Clasico soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy is set for Saturday night at 7pm at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto. Fireworks at the stadium area will follow after the game ends.

Caltrain from San Francisco, the Peninsula, and San Jose is your best bet to and from the festivities. Our transit guide to Earthquakes soccer matches shows you how to ride Caltrain to beat traffic and parking woes at Stanford for the game. Our guide also shows you how San Mateo County Transit (SamTrans)’ ECR bus line and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) 22 local and 522 Rapid bus lines are a short walk to and from Stanford Stadium.

This year, Caltrain will provide charter train service to and from Stanford Stadium. Read here to learn how fans going to and from the game can ride the charter train.

More professional soccer in Silicon Valley will be played the day after. On Sunday, VTA will provide special bus and light rail service for the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer doubleheader at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, starting at 4pm. The first game features Jamaica vs. St. Kitts & Nevins; the second game immediately afterward features Mexico vs. Qatar. Read here to learn more details on that special service.

More transit news will be posted here tomorrow.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Weekend Update – Memorial Day 2023

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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.

Read more →

Never Forget 5/26

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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

TAKE ACTION! How YOU Can Support VTA’s Service Increase Proposal

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Several people are seated aboard a VTA bus moving within the City of San Jose. Seats have grey backs. Camera faces front of bus.
Several people are seated aboard a VTA bus.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has just formalized a proposal to radically increase bus and light rail service in Santa Clara County. That proposal will start to go thru various committees at VTA starting this week.

Fellow public transit advocate Monica Mallon informs us that VTA’s “Visionary Network” proposal envisions an 83% increase in bus and light rail service throughout Santa Clara County. This would take place over the next few years, should the proposal be approved by the VTA’s Board of Directors at their June 1 meeting. Read Monica’s blog for details.

Here’s more on VTA’s service increase proposal, how transit riders will benefit, and how YOU can help make it happen.

Read more →

April Showers (Of Service Increases)

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Passengers boarding a white and blue VTA 68 bus heading to Gilroy, in downtown San Jose.
People boarding VTA’s 68 bus in downtown San Jose.

On April 24, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) made several service changes to increase bus and light rail service throughout Santa Clara County. Read more about these changes here.

Key notes on the April 24 service changes:

  • Going to the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill? The 568 Rapid bus no longer serves the Morgan Hill Caltrain station. Instead the bus will stay on Monterey Hwy. thru downtown Morgan Hill. The stop now shares the 68’s bus stop on Monterey/3rd, a 10 minute walk to the Courthouse on 301 Diana Ave.
  • On weekends, the 27 bus no longer serves downtown Los Gatos due to area traffic and resulting delays. Those normally taking the bus to downtown Los Gatos. Bus stops for downtown Los Gatos on weekends will be Santa Cruz/Los Gatos-Saratoga (EB to Kaiser SJ), and Los Gatos-Saratoga/University (WB to Winchester LRT station).
  • Also, VTA still does not have enough light rail operators to run light rail at 15-minute frequencies on weekends. This will change as bus drivers apply to become light rail operators throughout the year. VTA is still hiring bus operators; here’s how to apply for a bus operator job.

What are your thoughts and feelings on today’s service increases? Please comment and suggest below.

More later this week. Meanwhile, have a nice day and stay safe.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users