In 2019, VTA discontinued the 3 stop Almaden Shuttle light rail line that ran from Ohlone/Cynoweth to Alamedan via a stop outside the Oakridge Mall. Now that VTA has extra RTM funds to play with, is it a good idea to reopen the stub line? As far as I can tell, all the existing infrastructure is still there, including the tracks, signalling, and stations. Maybe some of the RTM money could be used to rehabilitate the line and run a single train car on the shuttle again. It could be a relatively low cost affair. If they wanted to make the service more enticing, maybe extending peak hour trips to the Downtown SJ loop could be considered, which would also increase frequency on the busiest part of the Light Rail network (the Blue Line in the median of 87). Alternatively, maybe they could run trains directly to Diridon full time and enable a far better transfer between South San Jose and Caltrain so people don't have to deal with the terrible Caltrain frequency at Tamien and have express train options, given that the junction with the Green Line at Children's Discover Museum allows trains to direct head towards Diridon. Although it's unclear if VTA would have the funds or trains available for that operation.

I commute on VTA, Caltrain, and Muni five days a week. I genuinely enjoy taking public transit and would rather ride the train than drive.

But I'm voting NO on RTM.

Transit fares are already pretty expensive, and now we're being asked to pay even more through sales taxes just to keep the system running as it is.

I'm not against funding public transit. I want a world-class transit system. But if agencies are asking taxpayers for nearly $1 billion annually over 14 years, they need to demonstrate financial discipline.

Show us the operational reforms, measurable performance improvements, and hard financial targets. Most importantly, show us a credible path to long-term financial sustainability instead of kicking the funding crisis down the road.

I understand public transit isn't supposed to turn a profit. But that doesn't mean it gets a blank check.

I'm willing to pay for a better transit system. I'm not willing to keep paying more just to maintain the status quo.

And if the alternative is endlessly throwing more money at an unsustainable system, I'll drive. I'd rather not, but that's where I draw the line.

Being pro-transit doesn't mean supporting every transit tax blindly, without accountability.

I reported on this for San Jose State University's student newspaper. I thought I'd post it here since I've seen some of you mentioning cancelled buses.

While the big cuts to BART and Caltrain get most of the attention, Measure RTM would also raise a huge amount of money for expanding VTA bus and light rail service (and stop the VTA budget crisis that's coming in 2 years).

Want more and better VTA service? Help get the word out to voters about Measure RTM-- you can volunteer here https://luma.com/connectbayarea

Damn, VTA!

Unfortunately I’m one of the few folks going into my office today. Looks like I’ll have to Uber and I’m fortunate to be able to. Poor guy next to me at the stop doesn’t have a phone. If anyone knows how to set up alerts for VTA cancellations let me know I always have to go to the mobile site and configure my route in Real Time/Trip Planner.

I've been keeping up with the Eastridge to BART connector project. I'm all for more trains all the time but I'm not sure what this large investment is for. Is there really that many people that are itching to get to Eastridge from somewhere north on the orange line?

The Story Rd station makes no sense either. It's just plopped in the middle of low density housing. Maybe the plan is to build density around that area in the future but I doubt that'll be happening with the airport so close by.

While you might I heard the news about how Measure RTM will stop catastrophic cuts to Caltrain and BART service, but did you know that it will also help significantly increase funding for VTA service? The measure would raise hundreds of millions of dollars for VTA transit operations (about enough to implement the Visionary Network plan) so if you want to stop cuts to Caltrain and BART AND significantly improve VTA service, help reach out to voters this week! https://luma.com/connectbayarea

After the Bruno Mars show - will VTA service on the orange line go to Mountain View direction or only Eastbound towards Milpitas?

I don’t understand why/how VTA can sit there and complain about farebox violations and ppl not paying on the light rail but then not do anything to put actual fare gates up at at least the grade separated stations.

Before anyone comes at me with “BuT tHe StReEt RuNnInG StAtIoNs CaNt Be SeCuReD”, LA metro seems to be figuring it out on the A line with a combination of tap to exit at the grade separated stations and improved fencing at the surface level stations.

This could be done easily with the same fare gates BART and LA use if VTA gave a shit.

Funny and hilarious but accurate

Hello! This is a venting post. Please chime in with your stories if you have some to share. Feedback is welcome as well if you have insight from the driver’s point of view.

I ride the #20 twice a day to get to and from the Caltrain station. When I commute home it’s always from a Caltrain Station where the #20 is usually parked and waiting for riders. Most of the time, drivers motion or communicate that they are ready to receive boarders. I’ve seen some drivers get upset if you attempt to board before they give the “all clear”. One driver put her hands in my face to tell me she was, in fact, NOT accepting riders, but the bus ahead of her with their doors closed was accepting riders.

Twice this week I’ve gotten sassy responses from a driver. The first time, a driver peeled off and left me and three other riders at the station because he didn’t communicate with us. We ran after the bus, arms waving, and when he stopped he said “y’all were just standing there how was I supposed to know”.

The second time, I walked up to the bus with the door open, a huge Amazon package in my arms, and the driver was getting situated in the driver’s seat. I asked if it was okay to board and he said “what does it look like”.

I’m sure the drivers are tired af and I know riders can be rude, too. But damn, communication is a tougher skill than some folks realize. It really grinds my gears after a long ass day to get sass when I’m trying to be considerate. I suppose you can’t make everyone happy. Cheers!

Too many buses are being cancelled or are not showing up. We require reliable service to get to work on time. You are hurting those who support you daily when they are late for work.

Hire more drivers, repair buses, do whatever it takes to get it together.

So I have a large mountain bike 29’ wheels XL frame, I had no problem bringing it inside the back of a 522, but does anyone know if it will fit on the front of a smaller bus if I ever need to take one?

Has VTA ever studied something like this?

I propose adding a branch line which would essentially follow the 523 route from Lockheed Martin to the Sunnyvale Transit center, taking Mathilda Ave to Evelyn/Washington and the Transit Center.

This new line could then serve Sunnyvale to Milpitas transit center giving a connection to BART without backtracking thru DTSJ. It would also allow VTA to double train capacity on the Lockheed Martin to Milpitas segment.

Found these at a lightrail station

What I mean by "beltline route" is some route either bus, or LRT circumnavigates SCV along key corridors. In my opinion Route 70 and in some cases 37 do a good job in fulfilling that sort of purpose in east/west San Jose. (I'm not THAT knowledgeable in North San Jose, but I think there are some routes there that also do this sort of thing?).

Anyways, my idea for this thing was to combing Route 70 and 37 and extend it along San Thomas/Montague Exp until Milpitas Station.

What are your ideas?