Capitol Expressway has turned into a traffic nightmare near the light rail connector expansion — and local businesses are looking to transportation officials for relief. San Jose business owners say construction from VTA’s Eastridge to BART Regional Connector has been driving customers away, with intermittent lane closures, redirected traffic, blocked driveways and construction debris along...
Bay Area transit sales tax measure clears state hurdle
Advocates are gearing up for a regional outreach effort now that the door is open for a Bay Area public transit funding measure on the November 2026 ballot. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 63, also known as the Connect Bay Area Transit Act, on Oct. 13 — clearing the way for a voter initiative...
Silicon Valley transit agency picks single tunnel for BART extension
Silicon Valley transit officials are moving forward with plans to dig a single tunnel and close their BART extension funding woes. The strategy is steeped with risk. After a fallout with the main contractor and scathing rebukes from BART officials, the VTA board of directors voted 8-1-3 to lock in on a new set of...
BART voices frustrations about lack of transparency from VTA
The partnership between two Silicon Valley transit agencies is souring amid accusations of a lack of communication involving the region’s most significant expansion project. BART leaders say they’re frustrated that VTA failed to share critical updates about the Silicon Valley expansion project before announcing them publicly, according to recent letter obtained by San José Spotlight. The two agencies are...
Can Silicon Valley express lanes end traffic congestion?
Silicon Valley’s transportation agency wants to increase revenues from its highway express lanes, but advocates say they could save more money by strengthening public transit. VTA serves as Santa Clara County’s public transit operator and congestion management agency, overseeing the county’s highways as well as its buses and light rail. As the agency grapples with...
Silicon Valley transit agency joins regional sales tax effort
After months of deliberation, VTA is joining five major Bay Area transit agencies in supporting a regional funding measure planned for the 2026 ballot. The VTA board of directors on Thursday voted unanimously to opt into Senate Bill 63, which would allow transit agencies or voter initiatives to put a regional half-cent sales tax on...
Silicon Valley transit advocates want VTA to join regional tax proposal
The deadline for Santa Clara County’s public transportation agency to join a regional funding measure is approaching, and transit advocates want to see the South Bay take action. The VTA board of directors is weighing whether to opt into Senate Bill 63, which would allow transit agencies or voter initiatives to put a regional half-cent sales...
West Valley commuters have limited public transit service
Los Gatos resident Kylie Clark wants to be able to rely on public transportation for VTA Citizens Advisory Committee meetings where she serves. But to do that would take her up to two hours each way — time she can’t spare, especially when it takes up to 30 minutes to drive. Clark is one of...
Silicon Valley bike superhighway gets state funding
The state has stepped in to help fund the initial phases of a bicycle superhighway that will make commuting between Santa Clara and East San Jose easier. The California Department of Transportation has awarded VTA a $14 million grant for the Central Bikeway project, a 10-mile stretch of protected bike lanes connecting the Sunnyvale/Santa Clara...
Silicon Valley BART project gets millions in funding, but still short
VTA is finding ways to patch the Silicon Valley BART expansion’s nearly $1 billion budget gap, from extra state funding to restructuring expensive contracts. The California Transportation Commission awarded two grants to the BART expansion project on Thursday and Friday, totaling about $100 million. At the same time, the VTA board of directors has approved...