Santa Clara County’s main transportation agency needs to change how it is governed and improve its transparency with the people it serves, a recent audit reveals. The California State Auditor released an audit of VTA earlier this month, requesting the public transit agency improve its existing operations by taking measures such as strengthening planning and oversight of capital projects,...
San Jose officials question feasibility, cost of airport connector
A decision is near on whether to proceed with a futuristic transit system between San Jose’s airport and train station downtown, five years after officials started soliciting partners to build it. San Jose transportation officials told the city’s Transportation and Environmental Committee Monday they are still determining whether an autonomous transit connector of electric vehicles...
Los Gatos preps safety improvements for deadly road
Los Gatos resident Inna Zaltsmann knows the dangers of Blossom Hill Road firsthand, with three serious car crashes near her home, including one where her daughter, a nurse, attempted to give CPR to a woman who died. Residents of a two-story house near the Leigh Avenue and Blossom Hill Road intersection, Zaltsmann and her family...
South Bay to see more self-driving cars on the road
One driverless taxi service plans to stretch its presence into the South Bay, after years of testing its autonomous technology. Robotaxi company Waymo is expanding its coverage area down the peninsula into Sunnyvale. The self-driving San Francisco fixture will roll out in parts of San Mateo County first, causing angst for local officials that have...
San Jose police cruise with lowriders on Cinco de Mayo
San Jose police will take a different approach with Cinco de Mayo festivities to mend the relationship between law enforcement and residents after last year’s actions, which some deemed racist. The community has organized a 300-vehicle lowrider parade on Sunday to pay homage to the Latino roots and history of East San Jose, a hub for lowriding...
San Jose bathrooms may soon have sex trafficking signs
A local official wants to put an end to sex trafficking in San Jose. San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan wants to create a sex trafficking awareness campaign in public restrooms throughout the city. Notices would be posted by bathroom mirrors and in stalls with phone numbers for victims to call or people to report incidents....
UPDATE: Prep begins for Santa Clara BART extension
BART’s expansion through Silicon Valley is taking shape as pre-construction work gets underway in Santa Clara. VTA workers have started on-site preparations for phase two of BART’s expansion at the Newhall Maintenance Facility. That includes setting up temporary field offices, bringing in equipment and preparations to begin drilling the tunnel. The 6-mile extension, most of...
San Jose airport adapts to new world of travel
Ridership is climbing back up across Bay Area airports after COVID-19 sent traffic plummeting, and the battle for airway dominance is intensifying. Oakland officials this week approved renaming its airport to include “San Francisco” in the title, provoking a lawsuit from the region’s dominant competitor across the bay, San Francisco International. But it also raises...
Silicon Valley cities work with transit agency on safer route to school
A partnership between multiple cities and a Silicon Valley transit agency is going to construct a long-needed safer route for students biking and walking to school. The Homestead Safe Routes to School project aims to make traveling to school easier for students attending Cupertino Middle School, Homestead High School and West Valley Elementary School by...
Sunnyvale’s ride-share proposal would help disadvantaged residents
Sunnyvale residents may soon have a new ride-share option that costs less than an Uber and is more convenient than existing public transit. After overwhelming support from residents, the Sunnyvale City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to apply for grants and partner with Silicon Valley Hopper (SV Hopper) — a ride-share service that operates for less...