Bad news for South Bay commuters—VTA may have overestimated its readiness to resume light rail service. On Tuesday, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority announced that its light rail trains are likely to start later than the end of July, as the agency previously stated. “VTA is working diligently and compassionately to restore the service we...
San Jose to receive funding for train quiet zone
San Jose residents might get some respite from blaring trains at night thanks to new funding from the state. Senate Bill 129, authored by state Sen. Nancy Skinner of Berkeley, gives $8 million in one-time funding to partially pay for rail crossing improvements along the Warm Springs Corridor running through Japantown along Seventh, Taylor, Jackson...
VTA to discuss remodeling site of San Jose mass shooting
A mass shooting in May left San Jose without light rail service for weeks. Now that VTA has a roadmap to resume service, the transit agency will discuss a budget that, among other things, seeks to rebuild parts of the rail yard damaged in the shooting. VTA’s Board of Directors will discuss funding Tuesday to rehabilitate and rebuild...
Silicon Valley pedals closer to region’s first bicycle superhighway
Santa Clara County is planning the region’s first bike superhighway—but a route still needs to be selected. “I don’t see a bicycle superhighway going down El Camino,” Erik Lindskog, a member of VTA’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I think a bicycle superhighway needs to be a little more separate from...
VTA light rail is coming back to San Jose
Light rail commuters in San Jose might soon be able to catch a train again after service came to a halt in late May, according to a timeline released Thursday by VTA. The timeline includes six phases, with a goal to resume light rail service by the end of July. The update came after weeks...
When will San Jose light rail return? VTA can’t say
After more than a month without light rail service, South Bay commuters are growing frustrated with the local transit agency refusing to say when service will resume. On Twitter, tweet after tweet from residents ask VTA the same question: When will the light rail train service resume? I can’t believe you guys still haven’t resumed lightrail....
Silicon Valley transit agency brings remote workers back to the office
VTA is having its remote workers return to the office—and some say that puts them at risk. “We’re not opposed to coming back to the office, we just want to do it in a safe, logical way,” said Tammy Dhanota, a public communications specialist and VTA chapter chair at SEIU Local 521. The union includes...
UPDATE: San Jose approves penalties for encouraging sideshow spectators
Posting about sideshows and street races in San Jose on social media can now cost you up to $1,000 and six months in jail. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance Tuesday that will make it illegal to encourage or promote people to show up to a sideshow event. San Jose already...
VTA to get $20 million from state after San Jose mass shooting
State lawmakers are set to give $20 million to VTA to help it recover from the deadliest shooting in Bay Area history. The funding is included in the state budget and will allow the transportation agency to provide mental health resources to employees and their families, resume light rail service and improve safety upgrades at the Guadalupe...
Silicon Valley transit agency publicizes dispute over alleged debt
Two Bay Area transit agencies disagree on whether one owes the other money—and local officials say the dispute could be handled better. “The more I read about it, this is clearly a power play,” said Eugene Bradley, founder of Silicon Valley Transit Users. “They’re going to have to work something out.” The San Mateo County...