A local university is trying to help its students caught in the ongoing VTA strike find transportation.
The union worker strike started March 10 and has left San Jose State University students stranded at the BART Berryessa station and elsewhere. While VTA is offering $5 vouchers for Uber rides for two rides per day between stations, taking ride-share services rather than the bus adds up, especially for students already facing financial insecurity.
Although students experiencing financial hardship due to the strike can request assistance through SJSU Cares, the university hasn’t been able to provide any concrete solutions to students struggling with their commute — and is recommending students find alternative transportation.
Despite exploring feasible solutions, the university’s Transportation Solutions department is unable to provide direct assistance due to financial constraints, Mari Fuentes-Martin, vice president of student affairs, said. Attempts to secure a reduction in SmartPass fees from VTA or support from rideshare and micromobility providers has proven unsuccessful. In the meantime, the university is maintaining communication with students regarding strike updates and alternative transportation solutions.
SJSU recommends students walk, bike or scooter from Diridon or Berryessa stations to get to campus. Students riding BART from San Francisco, Oakland or the northern East Bay can transfer to Caltrain at Millbrae Station.
“As the Valley Transportation Agency’s strike enters its third week, we know the impact this labor action is having on our campus and the ability of our students, staff and faculty to maintain class and commute routines,” Fuentes-Martin told San José Spotlight. “We will continue to explore potential solutions to support students, faculty and staff during the strike. Spartans take care of Spartans.”
Transportation Solutions surveyed students on March 20, asking how the loss of VTA service has impacted them.
Of the 97 respondents, 74% said it was a major disruption, harder to get to campus and required costly alternatives, while 11% said they were unable to get to campus at all due to the strike. More than 85% of respondents said the most common challenge is higher transportation costs. About 72% expressed concern about the reliability of alternative transportation. About 59% of students reported increased commuter time and difficulty accessing classes or work and roughly 42% identified safety concerns with alternative transportation.
“I’m concerned about the plight of transit-dependent SJSU students and employees during the VTA strike,” bus rider Jason Bezis told San José Spotlight. “This raises the obvious question of what actions SJSU could be taking. The most obvious would be for SJSU to set up its own temporary bus shuttle service.”
Bezis suggested the university use its existing transportation or contract with a bus operator as BART did during its 2013 workers strike to aid commuters.
The university is looking into contracting with bus services, spokesperson Michelle Smith McDonald said.
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
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