Related Links

San Jose- As part of its continuing effort to provide improved transportation service to the public, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will enter a new era of bus service beginning January 14, 2008.   The newly revamped system includes more frequent service on many major routes, expanded express bus service and a significant increase in low-fare community bus routes.   In addition to the scheduling and/or route alterations for 57 routes, service will be discontinued on seven underutilized routes, so that buses can be rerouted to areas of greatest demand. 

Last August, VTA’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the new service plan supporting the transit agency’s efforts to improve efficiencies and position the service to attract more riders.  “VTA implemented a lower-cost community bus service in Gilroy and Morgan Hill and a new express route designed to make public transit for South County residents much more convenient,” states VTA Board Member and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chair Don Gage. “These smaller, more efficient buses are also more environmentally friendly.”

The most notable changes to service are as follows:

Central San Jose

Central San Jose will benefit from an increase in the overall level of and frequency of service.  “The increased level of service and improved connections in the downtown area will make taking public transportation a more convenient and desirable alternative to driving,” states San Jose Council Member Sam Liccardo.   “University students and employees commuting to and from downtown will have more flexibility around their school and work schedules with buses running every 15 minutes or sooner,” adds San Jose State University Director, Disability Resource Center/ADA Compliance Officer, Marty Schulter.

Routes with 15 minute or better service frequency include Lines # 10, 22, 23, 25, 26, 60, 61/62, 64, 66, 72, 73, 180/181 and 522.   Other routes in the area with increased frequencies are Lines # 63 and 82.   Additional significant impacts include New Community Bus Line 11 and the discontinuation of Routes 36 and 85.

East San Jose

The New Bus Service planned for January better serves the residents and commuters from East San Jose with increased mid-day and evening service and more frequent service to other parts of the county.

Routes in the area with 15 minute or better service frequency include Lines #22, 23, 25, 26, 64, 70, 77 and 522.   Other significant impacts include New Community Bus Line 39 and the discontinuation of Route 36.

Fremont/ Milpitas

The New Express 181 and other improvements on Express Service from the Milpitas  area will provide commuters a desirable alternative to driving.

Routes in the area with 15 minute or better service frequency include Lines # 66, 70, 77 and 181.   Significant service improvements include the New Express Line 181 from Fremont to downtown San Jose .  Lines 44 and 59 will be discontinued.

NorthCounty

“The City of Palo Alto  appreciates the  expert services  of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in studying the transportation  market and existing resources and  proposing  a service structure  to fit our unique needs,” says Palo Alto Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto.

Bus Line 22 will start and end at the Palo Alto Transit Center, with service to Menlo Park discontinued.  Major rerouting occurs on bus Lines # 35, 40, 51, 53, 54 and 88.  Other significant impacts include New Community Bus Lines 32, 34, 88, 89 and the discontinuation of Line 305.  Segments of Line 23 in Los Altos, Line 88 in Palo Alto and Line 53 in Cupertino.

South & Southwest

Routes in the area with 15 minute or better service headways include Lines # 26, 60, 61/62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 and 73.   Other significant impacts include New Express Bus Line 168 from South  County to downtown San Jose and the discontinuation of Routes 38 and 67.  New Community Bus Line 37 will be the primary service to Saratoga and West Valley College from Southwest San Jose, providing an alternative to the discontinued segment of Line 27.

VTA’s new bus service includes new bus Lines # 11, 42, 43, 45, 61, 89, 168 and 181.   In order to improve overall service and operational efficiencies, underutilized bus routes throughout Santa Clara County will be discontinued; they include Lines # 36, 38, 44, 59, 67, 85 and 305. 

To ensure an easy transition to the new service, VTA has launched an extensive outreach and communications program which includes a redesigned easy to use website with interactive maps and on-line trip planning, personal trip planning sessions throughout the valley, free informational materials and live customer service and trip planning via VTA’s customer service line or our downtown Customer Service Center.

For those wanting to learn more about VTA’s new bus service, please visit www.vta.org or contact VTA Customer Service Call Center (408) 321-2300.

Background on VTA New Bus Service

In August 2007 the VTA Board of Directors adopted a new Bus Service Operating Plan which will make major modifications to the current bus transit network.   The Plan

was the product of a Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA), an 18-month effort to develop a transit investment policy, evaluate market opportunities and identify improvements to VTA’s bus transit network. 

The Plan includes introducing Community Bus Service throughout Santa Clara County.  This service features smaller vehicles with an identity tied to the individual communities served.  Planners of the New Bus Service anticipate the changes underway are not going to incur additional costs to VTA or taxpayers through economies realized by a reallocation of services to create overall operational efficiencies and utilization of the smaller community bus vehicles.

The new Bus Service Operating Plan strikes a balance between providing Santa Clara  County  with needed community transportation services and a core system of routes with frequent service capable of carrying large numbers of riders.

 Go To Top

About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.