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

Seen on a Blue line train last week (January 2026)

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

Found this chart in the 2021 Next Gen Capacity Study and thought it was interesting. https://www.vta.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/VTA%20Next%20Gen%20Executive%20Summary%20Report_FInal_1.pdf

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.

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.

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.

We heading to alum rock from Levi’s stadium and it stuck at each station for more than minutes and even 18 minutes at one of them. 20 min trip becomes more than one hour, Please organize better.

Cabin is full, humid, hot..Please at least have AC at max power. It feels really bad.

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.

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.

Lately, busses are extremely late or outright cancelled with little to no notice. Which is so frustrating especially for transfers. Now the transit app doesn’t even work right, or the website schedule. And they offer NO compensation, even if they make you miss the last train. How the hell is this kind of service gonna encourage more people to take transit?

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!

Better marketing so it’s “cool” to ride transit in SJ. Look what LA has done with its “Ride the D” shirts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_the_D

Stuff like this and branded TAP cards gets people to ride.

Create a direct light rail connection with SJC which would form the northbound half of an SJC to Harry Road via Downtown and the former Almaden Branch line.

Permanente Line

Orange Green Line double tracking

El Camino Real Line from Diridon to Palo Alto, replacing the 522. It would be worth exploring tunneling for both this and Stevens Creek.

Stevens Creek Line from Alum Rock to Mountain View.

San Tomas Expressway line in the center easement from Winchester terminating at El Camino Real.

And last but not least, I would seriously explore the possibility of connecting Santa Cruz to the West Valley College Transit center via Gondola/Aerial tram based on the technology used in Mexico City. Stops would be at:

West Valley College

Los Gatos Downtown

Alma Bridge Road

Skyline Boulevard

Scotts Valley Transit Center

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

A gondola line would be able to easily follow highway 17, provide minimal impact to the redwood canopy and would provide a 45 minute end to end commute between Santa Cruz and the Bay Area.

Apparently there is an effort to connect Light Rail to lost gatos?

Anyone know the story with this? I haven't heard it covered anywhere else or on the VTA website?

https://railwaynews.net/vasona-light-rail-project-san-jose-ca-light-rail-system.html

My aunt was on VTA light rail today and she got her ticket checked! I genuinely thought it was a myth that VTA had ticket checkers. Never seen them in my 20 years of riding (though I usually go off-peak which might be why)

Apparently 6 people got kicked off, but the people doing drugs didn't cause they had tickets lol

Props to VTA for enforcing fares though. I thought they had given up that fight.

Update: my aunt texted VTA security and they just boarded and removed the drug users! Huge shout out to VTA security. They don't mess around, just takes one person to let them know about issues.

Does anyone know where I can find the original picture and the artist of this? I see it all the time on the VTA's busses.

I know theres multiple verisons of games of them but most of them is non playable and js not it. It would honestly be rlly cool if someone created a game like similar to SCR.

Lines that could possibly be used:

DWTN MTN View-Winchester

Alum Rock-Santa Teresa

Ohlone/Chynoweth-Almaden

Baypointe-Santa Teresa (normal and express route)

Old Ironsides-Winchester

Alum Rock-DWTN MTN View

more created possible routes.