History

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) began as a County department created by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on June 6, 1972 to oversee the region’s transportation system. VTA's primary responsibility since its creation has been the development, operation and maintenance of the bus and light rail system within the county.

VTA separated from the County of Santa Clara and merged with the region’s Congestion Management Agency in January 1995, thus undertaking another responsibility: managing the county's blueprint to reduce congestion and improve air quality. This dual charge will be accomplished through a combination of highway and transit capital improvements, lessened demand on the transportation system and improved land use planning.

Working under the direction of a 12-member Board of Directors, VTA has a $295,220 million annual operating budget (FY 2000-01). VTA's 500+ vehicle bus fleet serves a 326 square mile urbanized area. The 28.4 mile light rail system is operated with a fleet of 50 cars. VTA employs approximately 2,650 people within the following divisions.

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Office of the General Manager and General Counsel

Provides administrative support for all VTA, with primary functions including:

• Board of Directors Support
• General Counsel
• Government Affairs
• Policy and Program Management
  

Administrative Services

Established in the latter part of fiscal year 1994, and providing human resources support, including:

Employee Relations

• Equal Opportunity
• Labor Relations
• Employee Development

Employee Services

• Recruitment and Selection
• Classification and Compensation
• Personnel Services
• Retirement Services
• Benefits Administration

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Marketing & Customer Service

Provides a variety of information services to internal and external customers, with primary functions including:

• Community Outreach
• Customer Service
• Eco Pass Program
• News Media & Employee Communications
• Promotions and Advertising

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Fiscal Resources

Administers systems to measure and manage VTA funds and report financial information, including:

• Budget & Analysis
• Contract and Materials Management
• Disbursements
• Financial Accounting
• Mail Service
• Information Services Group
• Internal Audit
• Investment Services
• Purchasing
• Revenue Services
• Risk Management

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Planning and Development

Responsible for major transit plans and all phases of transit capital project development, including:

• Copy Center/Records Management
• Environmental Planning
• Facility Design/Construction
• Grant Programming and Development
• Hazardous Materials Investigations
• Land Use Planning (development review; joint development; transit-oriented development)
• Long Range Planning
• Property Acquisition
• Property Management
• Space Planning
• Transit Corridor Studies

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Rail Design and Construction

Responsible for completing project design and construction for rail transportation and related capital improvement projects, including:

• Construction Administration
• Design and Construction Management
• Permits and USA Locating
• Project Controls
• Rail Design
• Survey
• Systems Design
• Utilities

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Operations

Provides bus and rail service to approximately 180,000 passengers per day, with primary functions including:

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Paratransit Planning
• Building Maintenance
• Bus Operating Division (3)
• Light Rail Operating Division
• Maintenance of Light Rail Stations
• Maintenance of Park—n-Ride Lots
• Maintenance of Way, Power & Signal
• Overhaul & Repair of Revenue Vehicles
• Passenger Facility Maintenance
• Protective Services
• Radio Control Center
• Rail Operations Planning
• Road Supervision
• Service Development

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Congestion Management and Highway Programs

Responsible for developing and updating the Congestion Management Program (CMP), the Valley Transportation Plan 2020 (VTP 2020) and related technical documents, with primary functions including:

• Bicycle Plan Technical Guidelines
• CMP Conformance
• Capital Improvement Program Preparations
• Program Discretionary State Funds
• Program Discretionary Federal Funds
• Plan, Design & Construct Selected Highway and Roadway Projects
• Transportation & Land Use Planning
• Valley Transportation Plan 2020 (VTP 2020)
• VTP 2020 Bicycle Plan

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