Championship Sunday will be in Silicon Valley today. The San Francisco 49ers host the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara in the NFC Championship game, with kickoff at 3:40pm. The winner of the game will go to Miami to play in Super Bowl LIV. It is the first time Levi’s Stadium will host the NFC Championship game.
Auto traffic will be very heavy for this vital game. Fortunately, to help you beat the traffic and parking woes, several local transit agencies will provide extra service to and from today’s game. In particular, extra service from Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will be available for football fans for today’s game.
Never rode public transit before in Silicon Valley? Here’s a guide that shows you how.
Because up to 70,000 fans are expected for today’s game, expect standing-room only (SRO) conditions on VTA light rail (especially on the new Orange line) for today’s game. Such SRO conditions are expected to last until about 7pm, when the game is expected to end.
Basics for Levi’s Stadium Events
Here’s a reminder from the Santa Clara Police Department on the bag policy (and other security policies) at Levi’s Stadium.
Bag Policy for Events @LevisStadium
– No larger than 12” x 6” x 12”
– One gallon clear plastic zip lock type bags
– Small Clutch Bag (the size of an adult hand) (4.5” x 6.5”)
– Seat CushionBag policy and complimentary bag check information at https://t.co/5VSAQKcz7L pic.twitter.com/SQXRyuywIM
— Santa Clara Police (@SantaClaraPD) January 19, 2020
Transit Options For Today’s Big Game
As part of their service plan for today, VTA will provide three (3) additional trains from Santa Teresa to Levi’s Stadium before the 3:40pm kickoff. They will also use larger, 60-foot articulated buses for service on the 57 and 59 bus lines to and from the game. According to VTA, extra service will be provided for up to one (1) hour after the game ends.
We are trying to throw what we can at event service but also need to maintain integrity for our Sunday riders. We have five 60 foot buses planned for Routes 57/59 and will have extra standby buses for post event service. Being one of the first in line is good planning! ^BC
— VTAservice (@vtaservice) January 15, 2020
Between San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Mountain View, Caltrain will provide additional service to and from today’s game.
🏈🎆 Bang Bang Niner Gang!🎆🏈
Take Caltrain to @LevisStadium this Sunday as the #49ers take on the Packers.
Pregame: @49ers Special from SF (departs 1:40PM).
Postgame: Departs MVW 75 mins after game.https://t.co/VXJWEzuJuj #NinerNation pic.twitter.com/9k2KWHOMNP— Back on Caltrain (@GoCaltrain) January 16, 2020
For those of you in the East Bay up to Sacramento, Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor will provide extra service to and from today’s game.
Hope to see lots of #49ers fans on board today! We’ve got extra service scheduled to get you to @LevisStadium and back. Check this link for details: https://t.co/VOTF2mCdrW. #GoNiners #GameDay #Niners
— Capitol Corridor (@CapitolCorridor) January 19, 2020
More details on other public and private transit options to today’s game are available here.
For the latest public transit updates throughout today (or any day), follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter. Here are steps on how YOU can help provide local (to Silicon Valley) public transit updates.
Whoever you are rooting for, enjoy today’s game and stay safe.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users