Balbir Kalsi

albir Kalsi values clean air in the Bay Area and hopes a daily commute on VTA light rail is helping improve the region’s air quality.

It is.  Studies show a solo driver commuting by car 20 miles round-trip daily, who switches to public transportation, can reduce his/her annual CO2 emissions by 4,800 pounds a year.

Balbir’s employer, Juniper Networks, is also doing its part for clean air in the Bay Area.  Juniper Networks provides every full-time employee at its Sunnyvale site with a VTA Eco Pass.  These annual passes, purchased in bulk at one low cost to the employer, allows individuals to board VTA buses, shuttles and light rail just by showing their Eco Pass sticker affixed to their employee badge.

The arrangement benefits everyone.  The employer reduces the need to provide  parking and realizes increased employee productivity; the employee reduces commute costs and enjoys increased personal time; and, the community benefits from less air pollution and reduced congestion on local streets and highways.

Balbir takes advantage of the ride to work and then again home, about an hour each way, with reading and relaxing—two favorite uses of the increased free time experienced every day.  Balbir has no complaints about VTA Customer Service.

No complaints, but maybe one small suggestion: Run more trains during commute hours. 

VTA wants to assure Balbir, as well as everyone else, it will continue to do everything it can to provide rides to as many people as possible while also addressing air quality issues in Santa Clara County.