What's Inside:

Major Changes to Bus Service in January
Holiday Happenings!
Services for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
More Platform Retrofit Work to Begin in February

Major Changes to Bus Service in January

Increased service on core routes, more community bus service and improved express bus service are key benefits of VTA’s new service being implemented on January 14, 2008.

Almost every bus route operated by VTA will experience route or schedule changes. VTA is currently putting the finishing touches on the new schedules, and the December issue of this publication will provide all the information necessary for a smooth transition in January. Materials distributed on VTA vehicles and VTA’s website, www.vta.org, will also provide riders with detailed information on the new service plan.

The product of months of public outreach and extensive ridership research, the New Bus Service aims to maximize service on 18 core routes by increasing service frequency throughout the day, particularly in the mid-day and evening hours. Meanwhile, VTA is also rolling out an expanded community bus service program, with 11 new or converted routes that will serve local communities with smaller, 28-foot buses. Fares on community buses are only $1, with seniors, persons with disabilities and youth only paying 50 cents for a ride. 

Also being introduced as part of the new service plan is new Express Bus service between Gilroy and downtown San Jose and increased Express Bus service to and from the Fremont BART Station.

As VTA reinvests its resources into its more popular routes, however, other low-ridership routes will be discontinued beginning in January. Discontinued routes include: Lines 36, 38, 44, 59, 67, 85 and 305. For information regarding alternate service, please contact VTA Customer Service.

Pick up a copy of the Interim Service Change brochure with routing information. VTA strongly encourages our faithful riders to use the brochure, call customer service or log on to www.vta.org to plan their bus and light rail trips before January 14, 2008 when the new service goes into effect.

Holiday Happenings!

Ride VTA Light Rail and Buses to Sharks Games!

VTA Light Rail
Board a Mountain View-Winchester Light Rail train (or transfer to one) and exit at the San Jose Diridon or San Fernando station. Both stations are one block south of
HP Pavilion.

Light Rail trains run approximately every 15 minutes. Schedules (with specific times) are posted at station platforms and available onboard trains.

VTA Buses
The following routes provide direct service to HP Pavilion:
VTA Bus Lines 22, 63, 64, 65, 68, 180, 522*, Monterey-San Jose Express and
Hwy. 17 Express.

The following bus lines provide service from HP Pavilion after 10 p.m.:
VTA Bus Lines 22, 64, 65, 68, 180 and Hwy. 17 Express.

*Rapid 522 service does not operate on Sundays or holidays.

Please note: Lines 63, 522 and Monterey-San Jose Express are not available after 10 p.m.

Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot

Ride VTA to this Thanksgiving Day event on Thursday, November 22. The Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot benefits local charities. Register online at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group website   www.svlg.net. All races will begin and end at Confluence Park East between Autumn Street and Highway 87 in downtown San Jose.

This event is served by VTA’s San Fernando Light Rail   Station and Bus Lines 22, 63, 64, 65, 68, 81 and 180.

Ride VTA to the San Jose Holiday Parade

The 26th annual San Jose Holiday Parade will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2007, in downtown San Jose.   As “One of the Top 25 Parades in America”, this yearly      family tradition promises to be just as spectacular as last year’s parade. Other highlights include:

• The Inflation Celebration, occurring the night before the parade, which will showcase floats and the inflation of all giant helium balloons accompanied by music and dance performances.

• The ParadeFest @ Christmas in the Park happening after the parade at Plaza de Cesar Chavez and concluding with the Toys for Tots benefit concert featuring the United States Marine Corps Band.

• A VTA Zero-Emission Bus in the parade.

VTA Services to the San Jose Holiday Parade:

The San Jose Holiday Parade location is served by VTA Light Rail (exit at any downtown station) or ride VTA Bus Lines 22, 23, 64, 65, 66, 68, 72, 73, 81, and 82.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is served by VTA Light Rail (Convention Center and Paseo de San Antonio stations) and Bus 22, 23, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 72, 73, 81, 82 and 180.

For more information, call the Holiday Parade Hotline at (408) 995-NOEL or visit www.sanjoseholidayparade.com.

Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake Park

Celebrate the season with a visit to the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department’s 9th Annual Fantasy of Lights. From November 23 through December 31, Vasona Lake County Park will be transformed into a fantasy of thousands of colorful twinkling lights and many animated displays. Fantasy of Lights is open nightly, including holidays, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Call (408) 355-2201 for general information and admission prices. Create magical memories this holiday season!

Downtown Ice
November 16 - January 13

Ice skate surrounded by a towering circle of palm trees at San Jose’s Downtown Ice! The Downtown Ice rink is located off Market Street between the San Jose Museum of Art and Fairmont San Jose and is scheduled to operate every day, November 16 through January 13, weather permitting.

DISCOUNT: VTA passengers are eligible to receive an exclusive $2 discount off rink admission with any valid VTA light rail ticket or bus pass.

Ride VTA Light Rail (exit at the Paseo de San Antonio Station) or Bus Lines 22, 23, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 72, 73, 81, 82, 85, 180, 304, 305, 522, Hwy. 17 or DASH to the rink.

For more information, call (408) 279-1775 or visit www.sjdowntown.com.

Services for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

Senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders are eligible for discounted fares on VTA’s fixed route bus and light rail services. VTA also contracts with Outreach, Inc. to provide its ADA paratransit service for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use regular bus or light rail service.

The Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount Card allows eligible individuals to purchase discounted monthly stickers that are valid on all VTA Bus and Light Rail service. RTC cards have a new look! The older version is still valid until the expiration date, but all new cards will now include a Translink logo to signify compliance with the new Translink program. Please do not punch a hole in the new Translink Card. Lanyards are available at VTA free of charge.

December 2007 RTC Sites	Date and Time
Campbell Community Center Banquet Hall 1 West Campbell Ave., Campbell	Thursday, Dec. 6 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Mt. View Senior Center 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View	Friday, Dec. 7 10 a.m to 12 p.m.
Cupertino Senior Center 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino	Tuesday, Dec. 11 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Gilroy Senior Center 7371 Hanna St., Gilroy	Friday, Dec. 14 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

January 2008 RTC Sites	Date and Time
Mt. View Senior Center 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View	Thursday, Jan. 3 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Milpitas Senior Center 540 S. Abel St., Milpitas	Tuesday, Jan. 8 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Gilroy Senior Center 7371 Hanna St., Gilroy	Tuesday, Jan. 15 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sunnyvale Senior Center 550 E. Remington Ave., Sunnyvale	Wednesday, Jan. 16 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Santa Clara Senior Center 1303 Fremont Ave., Santa Clara	Thursday, Jan. 31 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

More Platform Retrofit Work to Begin in February

VTA is planning to begin platform retrofit work on its last 13 stations requiring modifications early next year. When the work is completed approximately one year later, level boarding and exiting between station platforms and light rail vehicles will be possible at all 62 stations on VTA’s light rail system. 

The VTA Board of Directors is scheduled to review construction bids from potential contractors at its December meeting and the project will begin in early 2008 if a bid is deemed acceptable.

The stations to be retrofitted are located on the Alum Rock to Santa Teresa line from the Children’s Discovery Museum Station in downtown San Jose south to the Santa Teresa Station in south San Jose, and also include both stations located on the Almaden spur near Oakridge Shopping Center.

While the other stations will close for approximately eight weeks during construction, Tamien Station will remain open on weekdays only during construction and a temporary platform will be built at Santa Teresa to avoid closing this critical southernmost station on VTA’s light rail system.

Substitute bus service will be provided during the station closures. During the one year of construction, there will be no station closures over the 4th of July holiday, which is traditionally one of VTA’s busiest service days. Stations located near Oakridge Shopping Mall will also remain open during the holiday shopping season.

Level boarding benefits mobility impaired individuals, such as someone using a wheelchair or walker, and also benefits cyclists, students with wheeled backpacks, seniors with folding shopping carts and anyone else who might have problems navigating steps or stairs.

PHASE	STATION	START	FINISH
phase 1	Children’s Discovery Museum, Virginia	Late February 08	Late April
phase 2	Tamien*	Late February	Late May
phase 3	Curtner, Capitol	Late April	Early July
phase 4	Branham, Ohlone/Chynoweth, Oakridge, Almaden	Early July	Late September
phase 5	Blossom Hill, Cottle	Late September	Late November
phase 6	Snell, Santa Teresa**	Early December	Early February

*open weekdays during construction
**remains open during construction

VTA Customer Service Call Center:  (408) 321-2300

From 650 area code and South Santa Clara County toll area:  (800) 894-9908

•   Listen to recorded route and schedule information
   -   24 hours a day
   -   English, Spanish and Vietnamese
•   Speak with an Information Service Representative
   -   Weekdays: 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
   -   Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hearing Impaired TDD only:  (408) 321-2330

VTA Website:  www.vta.org

VTA Downtown Customer Service Center
2 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95113
Weekdays: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., closed weekends and most holidays
VTA   River   Oaks Administrative Offices
3331 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95134
Weekdays: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., closed weekends

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