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VTA Ridership Hits Record High

Added Service and Employer Membership also on the Rise

San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) continues to see a spike in ridership this year, reaching a record high for light rail boardings. Ridership during the summer typically dips due to kids being out of school and people on vacation. Combined with the high cost of fuel and the green consciousness to protect the environment, the total ridership on VTA’s bus and light rail system continues to climb.

In June 2008:

• Total monthly system ridership for bus and light rail was 3,832,862, an increase of 7.6% over June 2007;
• Average weekday ridership was 150,320, a jump of 9% compared to 2007 and the highest since June of 2002;
• Average weekday bus ridership was 112,784, an increase of 10.2% from June of last year;
• Bus ridership for fiscal year 2008 is up 4.6% compared to fiscal year 2007;
• Light rail recorded an average weekday ridership of 37,536, a 5.6% jump from last year and the highest June average for weekday light rail ridership in VTA history.

The implementation of VTA’s new bus service this past January has also contributed to VTA’s effort to build ridership and enhance customer focus by providing services where and when it is used most. To alleviate overcrowding, additional light rail cars were added in a few early morning and evening trips. Moreover, bus trips were added to the ever-increasing popularity of Express Line 168 from Gilroy and Limited Stop Line 330 from south San Jose to Milpitas.

Enrollment in the Eco Pass Program has also increased by 23% over the past year. The Eco Pass Program provides employers of all sizes with a way to offer an attractive, low-cost employee benefit while providing alternative transportation options to employees.  The Residential Eco Pass Program also offers discounts to residents of housing developments like condominiums, apartments, townhouses, and neighborhood and community associations.  Eight new clients have joined since January including 550 Moreland Apartments, Infinera, Connexus, and EORM.  A Santa Clara County employee and Eco Pass participant, Patricia Carrillo wrote, “With soaring gas prices and wear and tear on my vehicle, I decided to make some changes in my travel habits.  I used to count the minutes it would take for me to get to my stop, but now I just enjoy the ride and catch up on my reading.”

For more information on how to enroll in the Eco Pass Program or for personalized trip planning, please contact VTA Customer Service.

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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.