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VTA Board Authorizes Revised Service Reduction Plan
| Release Number: | nr 09 10 01 |
| Release Date: | Oct 02, 2009 |
Budget Deficit Leads to VTA Bus and Light Rail Service Cuts
San Jose, Calif. – Last night, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors authorized a revised service reduction plan to fill a budget deficit due to the elimination of the state transit fund and the decline in sales tax revenue. The revised service reduction plan will be in effect begining January 11, 2010.
Many other transit agencies in the region are facing similar service cuts. VTA’s revised service reduction plan consists of, on average, an 8 percent reduction in bus service and a 6.5 percent reduction in light rail service. The service reduction will generate approximately $6.4 million in cost savings.
“We recognize that VTA offers a safety net to our passengers who take bus and light rail to work, school, and medical appointments,” said Dolly Sandoval, VTA Board Chair and Cupertino City Council Member. “We made a very difficult decision to cut service, but due to the continued sales tax revenue decline, there will be more pain in our community as we move forward.”
The Board adopted a revised service reduction plan that incorporated public comments and input from VTA Advisory Committees. In August, VTA held seven public meetings throughout Santa Clara County to solicit feedback from communities. VTA heard residents and modified the plan. There were many adjustments to the initial proposed plan including to bus lines 22, 34, and 76. Light rail adjustments include a reduction in trains and a discontinuation of a light rail line during non-peak hours.
During the same period, VTA hosted an environmental public hearing and filed a negative declaration in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
“We are facing a significant budget deficit and have implemented many cost saving strategies, but it is not enough,” said VTA General Manager Michael T. Burns. “To meet fluid economic realities, we must make fundamental business changes.”
For service reduction and fare changes visit www.vta.org or contact VTA’s Customer Service Center at (408) 321-2300, TTY for the hearing-impaired only, (408) 321-2330. To sign up for VTA bus/light rail email updates please click on the blue envelope icon.
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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special
district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality
of our region. VTA is responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; countywide transportation planning and provides these services throughout the county including the cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County
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