Watch: A live chat with VTA General Manager Nuria Fernandez

The need for reliable public transportation has never been greater, especially amid the pandemic.

Valley Transportation Authority, the South Bay’s largest transit agency, is on the edge of transformation with several critical projects — such as BART to San Jose and a light rail extension to Eastridge — while grappling with unprecedented budget challenges. What is the state of public transit in San Jose? And what’s next for VTA?

VTA General Manager Nuria Fernandez joined San José Spotlight for an exclusive Q&A webinar to discuss key projects and priorities.

Comments (6)

hoapres Nov 19, 2020 at 6:35PM

VTA is a joke.

You are likely to get a wait for next bus because the bus has over 9 people on it.

Sorry. Those of us that WORK for a living can’t wait an hour for a bus that we may not be able to board.

My_Opinion Nov 22, 2020 at 2:41PM

I used to rely on the VTA buses and light rail a LOT in order to support them and keep added cars off of the road. Now I don’t trust them to get me from the bus stop near our house to the light rail. As stated above by others, they can simply drive past you. It’s been a huge disappointment.

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Paul G. Nov 19, 2020 at 10:23PM

She’ll just give herself more raises even though she makes like 400k a year probably more now. Yes it’s the board who votes to give themselves raises while treating the workers like numbers not humans. I worked there as a bus driver for ten years and i can attest to the company not giving a shit about the riders, especially homeless. Some drivers would turn the ac on at night just to keep the homeless from riding overnight on the 22. Freeze em out cause they’re trash was the common saying with the night drivers. The exec board is a joke. How they’re still afloat is beyond me.

Concerned SJ Resident Nov 20, 2020 at 12:10PM

Thanks Paul G. All your points are valid. I can attest as a frequent VTA rider and I often chats with the drivers.
Miss Fernandez has done nothing to improve the VTA. In fact she has done the opposite. Morale is low. Ridership has decreased. Buses and LR trains are filthy. Customer Service is pathetic. Stations are filthy and full of scary people.
How often does this overpaid exec actually use the system I wonder?

Robert Means Nov 20, 2020 at 6:42PM

Ms. Fernandez had the opportunity to break that 40-year delay in rolling out a PRT system, but did not take it. Perhaps she believes that PRT can’t deliver the number of people that VTA must contend with. If so, she would do well to review the throughput capacity estimates at https://milpitasprt.com/technology/capacity/

As for covering an area of 200 square miles, that appears doable for less money than completing the BART Burrow ($3B vs. $6B): https://sunnyhillsneighborhood.org/BART-PRT-flyer.pdf

Given VTA’s recent woes, what comes to mind is the oft-repeated pattern of an old technology gasping to stay alive while being eclipsed by a new one (e.g. digital vs. analog watches and cameras). Big box mass transit makes sense when paying for drivers; small vehicles makes sense when the driver is removed. This holds true whether the vehicle is on the ground mixing with other traffic, or elevated above it.

kamir bouchareb st Dec 07, 2020 at 10:06AM

nice topic thanks

Watch: A live chat with VTA General Manager Nuria Fernandez

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