Milpitas has an exclusive ride-share service much cheaper than Uber for locals to get around town—but not many people know about it. The Simple Mobile Access to Reliable Transit (SMART) program is a city ride-share service, with a fleet of six vehicles, that takes residents across the city at a maximum cost of $2.50 per...
Transportation
Transportation
San Jose mayor wants tech giants to moderate sideshow content
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is asking social media companies for help in solving the city’s growing sideshow struggle. Mahan wants big name platforms such as Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to temporarily suspend accounts that post about local sideshow activities. He said at a news conference today that...
San Jose studies how to best use curb space
While San Jose and the rest of society still hasn’t achieved the flying car future depicted in “The Jetsons,” city officials are hoping to make more efficient, safe and sustainable streets by studying how curb space is used. San Jose is receiving about $2 million in federal funding to address how to best use limited curb space in...
Which San Jose city employees get a taxpayer-funded ride?
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has a new ride, courtesy of the city’s taxpayers. Mahan’s SUV—purchased at the start of his term—is part of his security detail, which is typical for the city’s top elected official. But it’s just one of thousands of cars city officials have at their disposal, which include vehicles to maintain...
Silicon Valley transit agency spends millions to prepare for the worst
A new multi-million contract aimed at beefing up VTA’s emergency preparedness is getting attention among some officials for its large price tag. Santa Clara County Supervisor and VTA board member Cindy Chavez said with such a significant dollar amount, the contract’s services should be tracked closely. The VTA board of directors approved the six-year, $8...
San Jose VTA mass shooting lawsuit moves forward
A lawsuit filed by the family of a VTA rail yard shooting victim is moving forward, after a judge ruled against the transit agency Thursday. A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge rejected VTA’s request to dismiss the lawsuit from the family of Lars Kepler “Kep” Lane, attorneys for the family said. The lawsuit was...
New Silicon Valley leader to tackle bike safety
Clarrissa Cabansagan began riding a bicycle at seven years old. Fast forward 30 years and not only is biking part of her daily life, she has also spent her adult years finding ways for bike transit to be safer across the Bay Area. It’s that same commitment she carries with her as she takes charge of...
Affordable housing construction starting at San Jose train stop
Construction is set to begin this month on an affordable housing project in the shadow of the Tamien VTA and Caltrain station. After years of planning, San Jose-based developer The Core Companies has officially secured nearly $140 million in city, county and state funding for the Tamien Station housing and retail project, being developed on...
San Jose leaders back legislation for speed cameras
Over the last several years San Jose has watched its traffic fatalities in the city increase exponentially. Now city officials are banking on a state bill to move those numbers downward. In an effort to lower fatalities, city leaders are supporting Assembly Bill 645, which would establish a pilot program for speed safety cameras in San...
UPDATE: Downtown San Jose street to become pedestrian path
San Jose is on the road to preserving pedestrian-only access indefinitely on San Pedro Street—but it will take years and millions of dollars in long-term infrastructure improvements to make it possible. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to give initial approval for plans to repave the street as a sidewalk and reroute the...