2024 Transit Service Plan

A transit service plan lays out where bus routes travel and stop, how often buses come, and how early and late they run. These service level details for each route are decided based on a route’s service category.  

• VTA’s most frequent route categories (Light Rail, Rapid, and Frequent) are considered a core part of the network. This Frequent Network runs at least every 15 minutes on weekdays and also tends to run earlier, later, and more often on weekdays compared to other routes in the network.  

• Local and Express routes, for example, tend to run less frequently than the Frequent Network and may offer varying service levels during peak hours, midday hours, and weekends. These route categories also tend to serve specific needs such as school service, transit shuttle service, or commuter-hour service that only runs in one direction during morning and afternoon peak hours. 

Every transit service plan is co-created by VTA and its riders every year and involves: 

1. A draft plan discussed with the community in the summer 

2. Revisions worked on by staff that incorporate community feedback 

3. A final plan and a Title VI-driven service equity analysis report presented to VTA committees and the Board in the fall 

4. A schedule and service that takes place the following January 

A transit service plan is typically the community’s chance to discuss possibilities for more frequent service, earlier service in the morning, later service in the evening, and service to new areas.

VTA is still working hard at recruiting to fill both bus and rail operator vacancies to bring service back to pre-pandemic levels. Between operator shortages and the challenges we sometimes face in receiving equipment to bring more buses to good repair, it is, unfortunately, taking a little longer than anticipated to provide not just full, but reliable, service.  
 
We are close and are currently running about 93% of our pre-pandemic service levels as of April 2023.

Major and minor service change definitions are determined by VTA’s Title VI Policies. These policies exist to ensure that VTA delivers on, provides meaningful access to transit service, and does not pose disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority populations and low-income populations. 

Major service changes must be adopted by the VTA Board after going through the annual service planning process. These changes are usually implemented in January following the annual service planning process. Examples of major service changes include:  

• Major changes to routing affecting >25% of a route 

• Major changes to frequency or hours of operation affecting >25% of a route 

• New routes 

• Discontinued routes 

• Anything potentially controversial 

Minor service changes can be made by staff as necessary and are any changes that don’t meet any of the “major” criteria. These changes can usually be implemented in April, August, or October. Examples of minor service changes include: 

• Adding a bus stop along a route’s current routing 

• Matching schedules to school bell times 

• Matching schedules with other transit schedule changes (e.g. BART, Caltrain, ACE Train, etc.) 

• Schedule changes due to seasonal traffic conditions 

• Minor revisions to schedules to accommodate rules for setting operator shifts  

A transit service plan lays out where bus routes travel and stop, how often buses come, and how early and late they run. These service level details for each route are decided based on a route’s service category.  

• VTA’s most frequent route categories (Light Rail, Rapid, and Frequent) are considered a core part of the network. This Frequent Network runs at least every 15 minutes on weekdays and also tends to run earlier, later, and more often on weekdays compared to other routes in the network.  

• Local and Express routes, for example, tend to run less frequently than the Frequent Network and may offer varying service levels during peak hours, midday hours, and weekends. These route categories also tend to serve specific needs such as school service, transit shuttle service, or commuter-hour service that only runs in one direction during morning and afternoon peak hours. 

Every transit service plan is co-created by VTA and its riders every year and involves: 

1. A draft plan discussed with the community in the summer 

2. Revisions worked on by staff that incorporate community feedback 

3. A final plan and a Title VI-driven service equity analysis report presented to VTA committees and the Board in the fall 

4. A schedule and service that takes place the following January 

A transit service plan is typically the community’s chance to discuss possibilities for more frequent service, earlier service in the morning, later service in the evening, and service to new areas.

VTA is still working hard at recruiting to fill both bus and rail operator vacancies to bring service back to pre-pandemic levels. Between operator shortages and the challenges we sometimes face in receiving equipment to bring more buses to good repair, it is, unfortunately, taking a little longer than anticipated to provide not just full, but reliable, service.  
 
We are close and are currently running about 93% of our pre-pandemic service levels as of April 2023.

Major and minor service change definitions are determined by VTA’s Title VI Policies. These policies exist to ensure that VTA delivers on, provides meaningful access to transit service, and does not pose disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority populations and low-income populations. 

Major service changes must be adopted by the VTA Board after going through the annual service planning process. These changes are usually implemented in January following the annual service planning process. Examples of major service changes include:  

• Major changes to routing affecting >25% of a route 

• Major changes to frequency or hours of operation affecting >25% of a route 

• New routes 

• Discontinued routes 

• Anything potentially controversial 

Minor service changes can be made by staff as necessary and are any changes that don’t meet any of the “major” criteria. These changes can usually be implemented in April, August, or October. Examples of minor service changes include: 

• Adding a bus stop along a route’s current routing 

• Matching schedules to school bell times 

• Matching schedules with other transit schedule changes (e.g. BART, Caltrain, ACE Train, etc.) 

• Schedule changes due to seasonal traffic conditions 

• Minor revisions to schedules to accommodate rules for setting operator shifts