Our Bus Stops are Getting Spaced Out
Fewer stops, more go!
*original video created by TransitCenter
When bus stops are too close together, the speed of a transit trip decreases. The Bus Stop Balancing project is just one part of VTA’s Fast Transit Program, which aims to create speed improvements for faster, more reliable transit. Bus stop balancing will identify stops that are too close together and balance bus stops based on VTA’s Transit Service Guidelines. For optimal speed and access, there should generally be four to five bus stops per mile. Stops that are too close together cause unnecessary delay for our riders.
Routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 were reviewed in Summer 2023.
Stop recommendations are based on the four-to-five stops per mile guideline from VTA's Transit Service Guidelines, plus other additional factors that vary greatly based on local conditions:
- Ridership levels (only stops with very low ridership will be discontinued)
- Transfer points (stops that provide a connection to other routes will remain)
- Nearby public services (stops near senior centers, medical facilities, and other important community services will remain)
- Accessibility for mobility devices (stops regularly used by riders with mobility devices will remain)
- Bus operator feedback (valuable local knowledge from those who drive the route daily helped to determine where stops should be)
- Operational and safety factors (sometimes we can’t get a stop in an ideal place because of local conditions)
- Traffic movements (for example, stops are ideally placed after intersections instead of before intersections where right-turning cars delay buses and riders)
Background & History
Over the years, the number of VTA bus stops has grown considerably and some stops are much too close together, which slows down everyone’s bus trip. During VTA's 2017 Next Network project, when we received over 10,000 suggestions for VTA’s future network, the community voiced strong support to discontinue stops that are too close together to speed up transit. Transit riders who travel longer distances can see higher potential benefits from consolidating stops.
April 2024 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 59, 20, 31, 39, 42, 83 and 87 were evaluated in winter 2024. There are no proposed stop removals for routes 31, 42, 83 and 87. Beginning Tuesday, February 27, a few stops designated for removal for routes 59, 20 and 39 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for April 2024 removal.
The public comment period for this phase ended Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
October 2023 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 were evaluated in summer 2023. Beginning Tuesday, September 5, stops designated for removal for routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for October 2023 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on September 19, 2023. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 71 - Stop #63692, White & Glen Donegel (southbound)
April 2023 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 22, 61, 72, and 522 were evaluated in winter 2022. There are no proposed stop removals for route 522. Beginning Wednesday, March 1, stops designated for removal for routes 22, 61, and 72 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for April 2023 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on March 15, 2023.
October 2022 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 26, 64 A/B, 84, 85 and 86 were evaluated in summer 2022. There are no proposed stop removals for routes 84 and 86. Beginning Friday, September 30, stops designated for removal will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for October 2022 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on Monday, October 24.
June 2022 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 23, 25, and 73 have been selected for bus stop balancing in 2022. Beginning Monday, May 16, stops designated for removal will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for June 2022 removal.
The public comment period for this project closed on Monday, June 6, 2022. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 23 - Stop #63070, Alum Rock & Sunset (westbound)
- Route 23 - Stop #63028, Alum Rock & Sunset (eastbound)
- Route 25 - Stop #60824, Winchester & Neal (northbound)
- Route 25 - Stop #60721, Winchester & Neal (southbound)
February 2021 Balancing
What will riders see?
Stops that will be removed have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops. Changes will go into effect Monday, February 8, 2021.
Route notices placed at the stops can be viewed using the links below:
- 56 (Lockheed Martin - Tamien Station)
- 66 (North Milpitas - Kaiser San Jose)
- 68 (San Jose Diridon Station - Gilroy Transit Center)
For questions or to provide comment on planned changes, please email BusStopBalancing@vta.org.
The public comment period for this project closed on Monday, February 1, 2021. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 56 - Stop #61003, Miller & Dial (northbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #61026, Old San Francisco & Creek (northbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #60869, Old San Francisco & Ironwood (southbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #60888, Miller & Bancroft (southbound)
- Route 66 - Stop #61393, Weller & Main (northbound)
- Route 66 - Stop #63841, Great Mall & Great Mall TC (northbound)
Our Bus Stops are Getting Spaced Out
Fewer stops, more go!
*original video created by TransitCenter
When bus stops are too close together, the speed of a transit trip decreases. The Bus Stop Balancing project is just one part of VTA’s Fast Transit Program, which aims to create speed improvements for faster, more reliable transit. Bus stop balancing will identify stops that are too close together and balance bus stops based on VTA’s Transit Service Guidelines. For optimal speed and access, there should generally be four to five bus stops per mile. Stops that are too close together cause unnecessary delay for our riders.
Routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 were reviewed in Summer 2023.
Stop recommendations are based on the four-to-five stops per mile guideline from VTA's Transit Service Guidelines, plus other additional factors that vary greatly based on local conditions:
- Ridership levels (only stops with very low ridership will be discontinued)
- Transfer points (stops that provide a connection to other routes will remain)
- Nearby public services (stops near senior centers, medical facilities, and other important community services will remain)
- Accessibility for mobility devices (stops regularly used by riders with mobility devices will remain)
- Bus operator feedback (valuable local knowledge from those who drive the route daily helped to determine where stops should be)
- Operational and safety factors (sometimes we can’t get a stop in an ideal place because of local conditions)
- Traffic movements (for example, stops are ideally placed after intersections instead of before intersections where right-turning cars delay buses and riders)
Background & History
Over the years, the number of VTA bus stops has grown considerably and some stops are much too close together, which slows down everyone’s bus trip. During VTA's 2017 Next Network project, when we received over 10,000 suggestions for VTA’s future network, the community voiced strong support to discontinue stops that are too close together to speed up transit. Transit riders who travel longer distances can see higher potential benefits from consolidating stops.
April 2024 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 59, 20, 31, 39, 42, 83 and 87 were evaluated in winter 2024. There are no proposed stop removals for routes 31, 42, 83 and 87. Beginning Tuesday, February 27, a few stops designated for removal for routes 59, 20 and 39 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for April 2024 removal.
The public comment period for this phase ended Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
October 2023 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 were evaluated in summer 2023. Beginning Tuesday, September 5, stops designated for removal for routes 57, 60, 70, 71 and 77 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for October 2023 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on September 19, 2023. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 71 - Stop #63692, White & Glen Donegel (southbound)
April 2023 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 22, 61, 72, and 522 were evaluated in winter 2022. There are no proposed stop removals for route 522. Beginning Wednesday, March 1, stops designated for removal for routes 22, 61, and 72 will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for April 2023 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on March 15, 2023.
October 2022 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 26, 64 A/B, 84, 85 and 86 were evaluated in summer 2022. There are no proposed stop removals for routes 84 and 86. Beginning Friday, September 30, stops designated for removal will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for October 2022 removal.
The public comment period for this phase closed on Monday, October 24.
June 2022 Balancing
What will riders see?
Routes 23, 25, and 73 have been selected for bus stop balancing in 2022. Beginning Monday, May 16, stops designated for removal will have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops.
Bus stops scheduled for June 2022 removal.
The public comment period for this project closed on Monday, June 6, 2022. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 23 - Stop #63070, Alum Rock & Sunset (westbound)
- Route 23 - Stop #63028, Alum Rock & Sunset (eastbound)
- Route 25 - Stop #60824, Winchester & Neal (northbound)
- Route 25 - Stop #60721, Winchester & Neal (southbound)
February 2021 Balancing
What will riders see?
Stops that will be removed have a white sticker placed on the bus stop sign, a notice on the pole showing bus stop changes on the route, and directions to the nearest stops. Changes will go into effect Monday, February 8, 2021.
Route notices placed at the stops can be viewed using the links below:
- 56 (Lockheed Martin - Tamien Station)
- 66 (North Milpitas - Kaiser San Jose)
- 68 (San Jose Diridon Station - Gilroy Transit Center)
For questions or to provide comment on planned changes, please email BusStopBalancing@vta.org.
The public comment period for this project closed on Monday, February 1, 2021. As a result of feedback received and further analysis, several bus stops proposed to be removed will remain. These are:
- Route 56 - Stop #61003, Miller & Dial (northbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #61026, Old San Francisco & Creek (northbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #60869, Old San Francisco & Ironwood (southbound)
- Route 56 - Stop #60888, Miller & Bancroft (southbound)
- Route 66 - Stop #61393, Weller & Main (northbound)
- Route 66 - Stop #63841, Great Mall & Great Mall TC (northbound)