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VTA Offers Service to Weekend Special Events

Release Number:	nr07-03
Release Date:	Jul 07, 2009

          Two Events in Downtown San Jose Expected to Draw Large Crowds

San Jose, Calif. — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) fun question of the week goes something like this: 

Question: What’s green, tastes like (teriyaki) chicken and has a “spokesperson” associated with the Tour de France?

Answer: Being environmentally positive by riding VTA light rail or buses this weekend to downtown San Jose and then enjoying two fun-filled events: The Obon Festival in Japantown and the Lance Armstrong Foundation-sponsored Livestrong Challenge Festival, which is being staged near the Center for the Performing Arts on Almaden Boulevard.  

First, the explanation for the reference to teriyaki chicken. The 75^th annual San Jose Obon Festival will be held in Japantown on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, beginning at noon both days. The festival will be staged on Fifth Street, near Jackson Street, which is a short walk from VTA’s Japantown/Ayer Light Rail Station. Food booths serving teriyaki chicken, and other Japanese cuisine, are always a popular part of the Obon Festival.

The event is both a religious and cultural celebration of Japanese culture, featuring Bon Dori dancers in colorful kimonos, cultural exhibits, food, music and other events and is sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church. For more information, visit: www.sjbetsuin.com.

The Tour de France “spokesperson?” This would be the Lance Armstrong Foundation event on Sunday known as the San Jose Livestrong Challenge Festival. Mr. Armstrong is previously engaged and won’t be able to attend this weekend. (Armstrong is currently attempting to win his eighth Tour de France title).

The main festival area is on Almaden Boulevard, near Park Street and is one block from the VTA Convention Center Light Rail Station and two blocks from the downtown Transit Mall, which is served by a number of VTA bus routes.

Despite the ties to Lance Armstrong, a bicycle isn’t really needed to enjoy the Livestrong Challenge Festival, as walking and running events are also included and informational and vendor booths will be set up on site at festival headquarters. The Lance Armstrong Foundation raises money to benefit cancer survivors and funds cancer research. For more information, visit:  www.livestrong.org.

Finally, there are actually two parts to the green aspect of the VTA Fun Question of the Week. First is the money one can save by parking the car and riding public transportation. The American Public Transportation Association estimates an annual savings of $8,000 a year when someone chooses to ride public transportation instead of driving.

The second explanation for green being part of the fun question is the reduction in air pollution realized by riding public transportation. One national study shows, on average, a solo commuter switching his/her commute from a private vehicle can reduce CO2 emission by 20 pounds per day - more than 4,800 pounds in a year. For more information on costs saving and pollution reduction through riding public transportation, please visit the “Dump the Pump” section of the APTA website: www.publictransportation.org.

So, if you are ready this weekend to be green, eat teriyaki chicken and support the fight against cancer, then plan on riding VTA to downtown San Jose.

For travel arrangements, you use the handy trip planner located to the left of the VTA homepage, or call one of VTA’s friendly customer service representatives at (408) 321-2300, TTY only at (408) 321-2330 and from the 650 area code and far southern sections of Santa Clara County, (800) 894-9908. During your visit to www.vta.org click on any blue envelope icon to sign-up for VTA bus/light rail email updates.

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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 to cities throughout the county including 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 ClaraCounty

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