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...
East San Jose traffic light took months to replace
An East San Jose traffic signal has finally been replaced after a monthslong saga between East San Jose residents and Santa Clara County. The installation is viewed as a minor victory. County workers installed a new signal at the intersection of Ocala Avenue and Capitol Expressway last Thursday after a traffic accident demolished the old...
San Jose Cinco de Mayo street closures seen as ‘racist’
San Jose’s 36-year ban on cruising was lifted last fall—but the closure of 10 different highway ramps over Cinco de Mayo weekend left residents wondering whether the reversal was just symbolic. San Jose police coordinated with Caltrans and California Highway Patrol beginning Friday evening through early Monday morning to close several on-and-off ramps heading into...
Silicon Valley transit promotes mental health hotline
Next time riders takes a VTA bus or light rail train, they will be greeted by a huge mental health awareness campaign. The national 988 hotline launched last summer and aims to redirect suicide crisis and mental health distress calls to trained counselors rather than police officers. Santa Clara County is one of two counties in...
UPDATE: San Jose to transform Story Road-Keyes Street corridor
With a new influx of cash, the Story Road-Keyes Street corridor in East San Jose will be transformed from a danger zone to a safe stretch. The San Jose City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to secure the final funding for safety infrastructure across the 2.3-mile road project. The dollars will transform one of San...