Source: SVBJ
Showing posts with label san jose vta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label san jose vta. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
New mixed-use project proposed off Bascom and Southwest Expressway
Bay West Development is proposing a significant residential and office development right next to Bascom Light Rail station. The 6.4-acre project would have 447 residential units and 200,000 SQFT of commercial space. Today the site is a half-empty strip mall and smog testing station. The residential building would be eight stories (respectable density outside of Downtown) while the office building would be seven stories. There would also be an undisclosed amount of retail on the ground floor and a landscaped public space connecting the two buildings.
Source: SVBJ
Source: SVBJ
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
VTA's BART Phase II Update
Below is a webinar with the latest updates on the $4.69 billion BART Phase II project. This will be the most expensive transit project in Silicon Valley history and add a subway through Downtown San Jose with three stations along with a new terminus station in Santa Clara.
The video is 40 minutes long, but well worth watching if you are interested in transportation projects. One question that came up multiple times is why the heck we are building a completely redundant station in Santa Clara that is already serviced by Caltrain instead of evaluating running BART to San Jose International or Santana Row. Unfortunately, the response was very mediocre--it takes a long time to plan these projects and voters already voted for this specific alignment. I have to say that is a disappointing answer and is completely misaligned with the pace of change in Silicon Valley. It will be 9 years (at least) until this project is completed, so we should make sure we build that most effective system that will maximize utilization instead of making multi-billion dollar errors because we did the easy thing instead of the right thing.
BART itself is built on 45 year old technology. I have been a huge advocate and supporter, but honestly am starting to have doubts that BART will be the most effective transportation solution in 2026. Self-driving cars will completely change the transportation landscape within a decade, and costs will come dangerously close to public transit for point-to-point transportation in a private cabin. I hope that VTA is agile enough to keep up with transit innovations and make sure we are building these epic projects for the future and not for the past.
Video Link
The video is 40 minutes long, but well worth watching if you are interested in transportation projects. One question that came up multiple times is why the heck we are building a completely redundant station in Santa Clara that is already serviced by Caltrain instead of evaluating running BART to San Jose International or Santana Row. Unfortunately, the response was very mediocre--it takes a long time to plan these projects and voters already voted for this specific alignment. I have to say that is a disappointing answer and is completely misaligned with the pace of change in Silicon Valley. It will be 9 years (at least) until this project is completed, so we should make sure we build that most effective system that will maximize utilization instead of making multi-billion dollar errors because we did the easy thing instead of the right thing.
BART itself is built on 45 year old technology. I have been a huge advocate and supporter, but honestly am starting to have doubts that BART will be the most effective transportation solution in 2026. Self-driving cars will completely change the transportation landscape within a decade, and costs will come dangerously close to public transit for point-to-point transportation in a private cabin. I hope that VTA is agile enough to keep up with transit innovations and make sure we are building these epic projects for the future and not for the past.
Video Link
Thursday, January 26, 2017
VTA Next Draft Plan
Fortunately, the VTA logo isn't the only thing that is changing about our transit system. There are significant route changes in the works to coincide with the arrival BART in the fall that sound very promising. In general, VTA is planning to reduce or eliminate routes with very low usage and re-utilizing that budget in highly trafficked corridors.
The proposed changes are too numerous to mention (list over here), but below you can see what the travel times from Downtown San Jose would look like before and after the changes. The area you will be able to get to within 30 minutes of Downtown will roughly double in size. However, your mileage may vary. If you live in the suburbs, say deep in Evergreen or Almaden, then your coverage area will likely shrink. To see exactly how you may be impacted, you can do your own simulation over here.
Current VTA Travel Times from Downtown San Jose
Proposed VTA Travel Times from Downtown San Jose
Our Light Rail system will get a major overhaul as well. The lines will finally be named after colors like most other metro systems in the world and a brand new line will be added that will run from the Alum Rock to Mountain View. Here are the proposed changes:
If all of these changes get implemented that means Light Rail will run every 7.5 minutes (not including express trains) all day long during the workweek throughout all Downtown, Milpitas, Santa Clara, North San Jose, and East San Jose Stations. That would be a significant increase in service.
The proposed changes are too numerous to mention (list over here), but below you can see what the travel times from Downtown San Jose would look like before and after the changes. The area you will be able to get to within 30 minutes of Downtown will roughly double in size. However, your mileage may vary. If you live in the suburbs, say deep in Evergreen or Almaden, then your coverage area will likely shrink. To see exactly how you may be impacted, you can do your own simulation over here.
Current VTA Travel Times from Downtown San Jose
Proposed VTA Travel Times from Downtown San Jose
Our Light Rail system will get a major overhaul as well. The lines will finally be named after colors like most other metro systems in the world and a brand new line will be added that will run from the Alum Rock to Mountain View. Here are the proposed changes:
- Green Line (902)
- Northern end would become Old Ironsides
- Increase frequency from 30min to 15min during the weekday, all day long
- Yellow Line (Commuter Express)
- Northern end would become St. James Park
- Double frequency from 3 trips per peak period to 6 trips
- Orange Line (NEW)
- New line between Alum Rock and Mountain View that would connect Light Rail to BART
- Would run every 15min during the weekday and 30min during the weekend
- Potential express service is under review
- Blue Line (901)
- No changes
- Purple Line (900)
- No changes
If all of these changes get implemented that means Light Rail will run every 7.5 minutes (not including express trains) all day long during the workweek throughout all Downtown, Milpitas, Santa Clara, North San Jose, and East San Jose Stations. That would be a significant increase in service.
Monday, January 23, 2017
VTA introduces abysmal, terrible, AND horrific new logo
As regular readers know, I am usually pretty upbeat and optimistic. Unfortunately, this post will be a bit uncharacteristic of this blog... we are making a terrible mistake that will impact the region for at least the next decade. Before I get too it, let me start off by saying that I respect all the hard work the VTA has been putting in on trying to improve local transportation and later this week we will discuss some of the exciting route changes that will have a net positive impact for our city.
Switching gears, let's have a good look at the logo and slogan that will adorn hundreds (maybe thousands) of buses and light rail trains in the region. This is what will represent transportation in the most technologically advanced and innovative region in the entire world:
What... the... %@#&.
The first thing I think of when I see this logo is a Christian Fellowship. I'm Catholic and have nothing against religion, but that is not the vibe a transportation company should exude, except for perhaps a mortuary, hearse manufacturer, or ambulance company. Speaking of which, that is the second thing that comes to mind--a hospital like Good Samaritan or O'Connor. Have one more look.
Next the slogan seeps into your brain... "Solutions that move you." As Sal points out in his piece, "Solutions that move you" makes our transportation system sound like a laxative. That's right, the perception is that VTA is something that helps you go to the toilet. If you think I'm overrating, show the image below without the "Valley Transportation Authority" text to anyone that is not familiar with VTA and ask them what product they think this company produces:
To prove that this is not an early April Fools joke, here is what all of our buses will eventually look like:
Switching gears, let's have a good look at the logo and slogan that will adorn hundreds (maybe thousands) of buses and light rail trains in the region. This is what will represent transportation in the most technologically advanced and innovative region in the entire world:
What... the... %@#&.
The first thing I think of when I see this logo is a Christian Fellowship. I'm Catholic and have nothing against religion, but that is not the vibe a transportation company should exude, except for perhaps a mortuary, hearse manufacturer, or ambulance company. Speaking of which, that is the second thing that comes to mind--a hospital like Good Samaritan or O'Connor. Have one more look.
Next the slogan seeps into your brain... "Solutions that move you." As Sal points out in his piece, "Solutions that move you" makes our transportation system sound like a laxative. That's right, the perception is that VTA is something that helps you go to the toilet. If you think I'm overrating, show the image below without the "Valley Transportation Authority" text to anyone that is not familiar with VTA and ask them what product they think this company produces:
To prove that this is not an early April Fools joke, here is what all of our buses will eventually look like:
Let me ask you, what about this logo represents Silicon Valley? Where do you see innovation, or diversity, or technology, or sunlight, or even transportation in this logo? I can't imagine a more vapid representation of Silicon Valley to slap on the side of our entire transit network.
How did this happen? There were focus groups, people voted, this was a community decision. This logo is supposed to represent a peaceful ocean and sky, the white reminiscent of a seagull gliding through the air. Of course people are going to like in isolation, the logo reminds them of a vacation in a coastal town. But guess what--we are not Santa Cruz, Monterrey, or Hawaii, and we are definitely not San Francisco. Where does the ocean touch Silicon Valley? When was the last time you saw a seagull gliding through Downtown San Jose?
This is so misguided, it's apalling. The last time the VTA changed their logo was 1998. That means we could be stuck with this aberration for the next 20 years! We have so many intelligent, creative, passionate people working in San Jose. We shouldn't settle, we can do better than this. We have accomplished so much as a region, we cannot let this be our brand.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
San Jose BART Station - latest updates
San Jose is just one year away from finally being connected to BART. Below is the latest update from the VTA, which is responsible for the extension to Silicon Valley. Both the Milpitas and San Jose stations should be open in late 2017. Watch the short video below for construction photos and details.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Ride VTA's historic trolley during the holidays
The VTA’s "Holly Trolly" is already decked out for Christmas and is circling Downtown San Jose. I did drop the ball a bit since it actually began service on October 14th with a Halloween theme.
The Trolley operates between the Civic Center and San Jose Diridon light rail stations and the best part is that the ride is completely free all holiday season!
Riders can expect some fun surprises including a Virtual Reality experience using Google Cardboard. Don’t forget your smartphone and to download the Cardboard app through Google Play or the App Store, or view VR videos on YouTube.
Instructions for Google Cardboard:
1. Download the Google Cardboard app, then select your video. Or select a VR video on YouTube.
2. Place your smartphone in the front of the Google Cardboard and secure your device.
3. Push the play button on the side of the Cardboard to start your video.
4. Enjoy your VR experience!
2016 Historic Trolley Service:
October 14 through December 31, 2016.*
Fridays 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays 2:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
*Weather permitting. Please check vta.org for updates on service.
For more details and to plan your trip, call VTA Customer Service at 408-321-2300 or check the schedule and hop on board!
The Historic Trolley, Car 2001, was built in Milan, Italy in 1928 where it originally operated until the mid-1980s when it was donated by the Italian government to the San Jose Trolley Corporation. VTA's Car 2001 is one of six restored trolleys maintained by VTA.
The Trolley operates between the Civic Center and San Jose Diridon light rail stations and the best part is that the ride is completely free all holiday season!
Riders can expect some fun surprises including a Virtual Reality experience using Google Cardboard. Don’t forget your smartphone and to download the Cardboard app through Google Play or the App Store, or view VR videos on YouTube.
Instructions for Google Cardboard:
1. Download the Google Cardboard app, then select your video. Or select a VR video on YouTube.
2. Place your smartphone in the front of the Google Cardboard and secure your device.
3. Push the play button on the side of the Cardboard to start your video.
4. Enjoy your VR experience!
2016 Historic Trolley Service:
October 14 through December 31, 2016.*
Fridays 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays 2:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
*Weather permitting. Please check vta.org for updates on service.
For more details and to plan your trip, call VTA Customer Service at 408-321-2300 or check the schedule and hop on board!
The Historic Trolley, Car 2001, was built in Milan, Italy in 1928 where it originally operated until the mid-1980s when it was donated by the Italian government to the San Jose Trolley Corporation. VTA's Car 2001 is one of six restored trolleys maintained by VTA.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
San Jose Bus Rapid Transit overview video
VTA's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line is getting closer to reality. Despite several delays, the line connecting East San Jose and Downtown should be fully operational in 2017. The blue hybrid "accordian" buses are already being used on the route. These are the nicest buses in the VTA fleet with comfortable seating, free WiFi, and bike racks both inside and outside the bus.
When the BRT line is complete, each stop on the route will get stations similar to Light Rail. These will have real time information for arrival times, local artwork, bright lighting, and 24/7 security cameras.
The other major improvement that BRT will bring besides the stations is faster travel times. This will be accomplished using dedicated bus lands in the median of Alum Rock Avenue as well as transit signal priority (green lights will stay on longer if a bus is present). You also won't have to worry much about catching a specific bus since they are only 10 minutes apart during peak hours.
Have a look at the 3 minute video below for a quick overview of the new system.
When the BRT line is complete, each stop on the route will get stations similar to Light Rail. These will have real time information for arrival times, local artwork, bright lighting, and 24/7 security cameras.
The other major improvement that BRT will bring besides the stations is faster travel times. This will be accomplished using dedicated bus lands in the median of Alum Rock Avenue as well as transit signal priority (green lights will stay on longer if a bus is present). You also won't have to worry much about catching a specific bus since they are only 10 minutes apart during peak hours.
Have a look at the 3 minute video below for a quick overview of the new system.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Envision Silicon Valley - preliminary VTA project evaluations
The VTA has started doing very early research on a variety of potential future transit projects. It would almost definitely take an increase in sales taxes for any of these to become reality, but it is interesting to see the ideas that are being tossed around.
There were several projects in the study that are already well into planning-mode. These include BART to Downtown San Jose, a Light Rail extension to Eastridge Mall, a Light Rail extension to Los Gatos, and expanding the Express Lane system on our freeways. However, there were also brand new projects that I have never heard even mentioned before. This include a billion dollar Downtown San Jose Subway (nice!) that would significantly speed up the whole Light Rail system, a $1.5 billion Light Rail line that would go from Downtown San Jose to Santana Row/Valley Fair and eventually De Anza College, a new Light Rail line that would go from that NASA/Bayshore station to North Bayshore in Mountain View, and a ton of highway interchange improvements.
You can find some of the project "evaluation cards" below, but I recommend going through the whole list over here.
Source: Robertee from the San Jose Development Forum
There were several projects in the study that are already well into planning-mode. These include BART to Downtown San Jose, a Light Rail extension to Eastridge Mall, a Light Rail extension to Los Gatos, and expanding the Express Lane system on our freeways. However, there were also brand new projects that I have never heard even mentioned before. This include a billion dollar Downtown San Jose Subway (nice!) that would significantly speed up the whole Light Rail system, a $1.5 billion Light Rail line that would go from Downtown San Jose to Santana Row/Valley Fair and eventually De Anza College, a new Light Rail line that would go from that NASA/Bayshore station to North Bayshore in Mountain View, and a ton of highway interchange improvements.
You can find some of the project "evaluation cards" below, but I recommend going through the whole list over here.
Source: Robertee from the San Jose Development Forum
Sunday, January 31, 2016
VTA Plan for the Super Bowl
There are going to be some major VTA route changes during the Super Bowl next week. The most substantial of which is a complete closure of Light Rail in front of the stadium itself. If you are one of the lucky ones with Super Bowl tickets and are planning to take Light Rail to the big game--or you just plan on using Light Rail at any time on February 7th--you should watch the video below.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
VTA FLEX Program
One of the many challenges of public transit in Silicon Valley is that both offices and homes are spread out over a large area. This makes point-to-point transit available only in a few limited areas. VTA has just launched an innovative program called FLEX to help address this issue.
FLEX is an on-demand transit system where you use an app to request a pickup and drop-off in one of many designated service stops in North San Jose. Software will then automatically route vehicles to pick up other customers along a similar traffic route. There are no set schedules, the whole system is on-demand. Payment is even done via the smartphone app. You can think of it as a public version of UBERpool.
The vehicles that will be used for FLEX are ADA-accessible buses with capacity for 26 passengers and two bikes. Service is available Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 8:30pm and the cost is only $2 during off-peak times and $3 during peak times.
If the program is successful, you can expect other areas to get a similar service in the future. For more information click here.
What is it?
FLEX is an On-Demand, shared-ride public transit service. Other riders that have similar travel destinations may be picked up and dropped off during the course of your ride.
FLEX is ideally suited for smartphone users. Riders can use the app to request a ride.
FLEX Service Area
Scheduling a Ride
On the App – easiest
On the Web - please visit vta.ridecell.com
Service Days & Times
FLEX’s service area is approximately 3.25 square miles in North San Jose (surrounding VTA’s Tasman Light Rail Station)
Boundaries are
Monday – Friday; 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fares*
Single Ride - $2.00 (Off-Peak Hours)
Single Ride - $3.00 (Peak Hours)
No Shows/Cancelations
Customers who fail to cancel a ride before the bus is dispatched or have failed to show up for their rides will be charged the regular fare.
You can download the VTA Flex Fact Sheet here.
FAQ
What VTA fare can I use on FLEX?
Currently you must pay for your ride using an account that you set up on the FLEX app. Once you complete your ride on FLEX your account will be charged. FLEX does not accept Clipper cards, VTA Monthly Passes, VTA Day Passes, VTA Express Day Passes, Cash, Eco Pass nor any other VTA forms of fare.
How do I know if I’ve been assigned a driver?
You will be notified via text message when booking through the app. If booked over the phone, the customer service representative will let you know once you’re assigned a driver and their estimated time of arrival. You can also check out the web or app to see real-time updates about your requested ride.
How long does it take for my driver to pick me up? Can I track my driver?
It depends on trip requests at any given time. The web and app interface will show you an estimated time of arrival, based on the driver’s GPS location and current trip load.
Where will I wait for the FLEX bus? Are there bus stops?
X marks the spot! The app will provide you walking directions to the FLEX stop where you will be picked up. The stops are marked with FLEX floor decals.
Can I bring an Animal onboard FLEX?
Only service animals are welcome on FLEX. The animal must be under the control of the passenger throughout the trip and while boarding and exiting. Service animals may sit on the floor or in the rider’s lap. Service animals may not sit in a passenger seat.
Can I contact the driver?
No, you cannot contact the driver, but you can determine the driver’s location through the real time mapping on the app.
If I cancel my ride request, then make another one, will my request go to the end of the request queue?
Yes, every time you cancel and resubmit a request, the process starts all over again. Your request will be put at the end of the queue and then be assigned to the next available driver.
I don't have a smart phone, can I create my account online?
Yes, you can create your Flex account through the web on this page.
*FLEX is a pilot program and the fare structure may change during and/or after this pilot program phase. Please continue to check this page for updates.
FLEX is an on-demand transit system where you use an app to request a pickup and drop-off in one of many designated service stops in North San Jose. Software will then automatically route vehicles to pick up other customers along a similar traffic route. There are no set schedules, the whole system is on-demand. Payment is even done via the smartphone app. You can think of it as a public version of UBERpool.
The vehicles that will be used for FLEX are ADA-accessible buses with capacity for 26 passengers and two bikes. Service is available Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 8:30pm and the cost is only $2 during off-peak times and $3 during peak times.
If the program is successful, you can expect other areas to get a similar service in the future. For more information click here.
What is it?
FLEX is an On-Demand, shared-ride public transit service. Other riders that have similar travel destinations may be picked up and dropped off during the course of your ride.
FLEX is ideally suited for smartphone users. Riders can use the app to request a ride.
FLEX Service Area
Scheduling a Ride
On the App – easiest
On the Web - please visit vta.ridecell.com
Service Days & Times
FLEX’s service area is approximately 3.25 square miles in North San Jose (surrounding VTA’s Tasman Light Rail Station)
Boundaries are
- North – Route 237
- South – Montague Expressway
- East – Coyote Creek
- West – Guadalupe River
Monday – Friday; 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Peak Hours 5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- The last Flex ride MUST be completed by 8:30 p.m.
Fares*
Single Ride - $2.00 (Off-Peak Hours)
Single Ride - $3.00 (Peak Hours)
No Shows/Cancelations
Customers who fail to cancel a ride before the bus is dispatched or have failed to show up for their rides will be charged the regular fare.
You can download the VTA Flex Fact Sheet here.
FAQ
What VTA fare can I use on FLEX?
Currently you must pay for your ride using an account that you set up on the FLEX app. Once you complete your ride on FLEX your account will be charged. FLEX does not accept Clipper cards, VTA Monthly Passes, VTA Day Passes, VTA Express Day Passes, Cash, Eco Pass nor any other VTA forms of fare.
How do I know if I’ve been assigned a driver?
You will be notified via text message when booking through the app. If booked over the phone, the customer service representative will let you know once you’re assigned a driver and their estimated time of arrival. You can also check out the web or app to see real-time updates about your requested ride.
How long does it take for my driver to pick me up? Can I track my driver?
It depends on trip requests at any given time. The web and app interface will show you an estimated time of arrival, based on the driver’s GPS location and current trip load.
Where will I wait for the FLEX bus? Are there bus stops?
X marks the spot! The app will provide you walking directions to the FLEX stop where you will be picked up. The stops are marked with FLEX floor decals.
Can I bring an Animal onboard FLEX?
Only service animals are welcome on FLEX. The animal must be under the control of the passenger throughout the trip and while boarding and exiting. Service animals may sit on the floor or in the rider’s lap. Service animals may not sit in a passenger seat.
Can I contact the driver?
No, you cannot contact the driver, but you can determine the driver’s location through the real time mapping on the app.
If I cancel my ride request, then make another one, will my request go to the end of the request queue?
Yes, every time you cancel and resubmit a request, the process starts all over again. Your request will be put at the end of the queue and then be assigned to the next available driver.
I don't have a smart phone, can I create my account online?
Yes, you can create your Flex account through the web on this page.
*FLEX is a pilot program and the fare structure may change during and/or after this pilot program phase. Please continue to check this page for updates.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
VTA Adding Monitors to Light Rail Stations
VTA is in the process of adding a huge convenience feature to the Light Rail system. The 20 busiest stations are getting 47-inch passenger information monitors that will let riders know when the next train arrives. Every station marked with an "i" below will have the new system by January 6th.
There are a total of 62 VTA Light Rail stations and it is possible that the other 42 will get the real-time information monitors at some point in the future. It would also be nice to get these installed at the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations and popular bus stations.
The monitors were provided by Allied Telesis, a San Jose company based at 3200 N. 1st Street.
Source: SVBJ
There are a total of 62 VTA Light Rail stations and it is possible that the other 42 will get the real-time information monitors at some point in the future. It would also be nice to get these installed at the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations and popular bus stations.
The monitors were provided by Allied Telesis, a San Jose company based at 3200 N. 1st Street.
Source: SVBJ
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Hack Your Ride on June 6th!
VTA is hosting a great event for technical minds next Saturday called "Hack My Ride." This is actually part of a Knight Foundation grant to make Downtown San Jose even more exciting and innovative. The challenge is transforming how people get around Silicon Valley using a variety of apps and tools. Goals include making it easier to plan trips, wayfinding, connecting with surroundings, and generally make transportation a better experience.
Along with the Hackathon, Microsoft Silicon Valley is sponsoring a free lunch via two food trucks: Oh Miso Hungry and The Kabab Job. You can also be the first to learn about Downtown San Jose's new Bluetooth beacons and compete for $30,000 worth of prizes across 8 different categories.
If you're a techie--and I know many of us are--this is a great way to put your skills to use in a way that will benefit the whole community! You can either scroll down for more info or head over to the VTA event page over here.
Along with the Hackathon, Microsoft Silicon Valley is sponsoring a free lunch via two food trucks: Oh Miso Hungry and The Kabab Job. You can also be the first to learn about Downtown San Jose's new Bluetooth beacons and compete for $30,000 worth of prizes across 8 different categories.
If you're a techie--and I know many of us are--this is a great way to put your skills to use in a way that will benefit the whole community! You can either scroll down for more info or head over to the VTA event page over here.
Five Reasons to Hack Your Ride |
Hack My Ride 2.0 challenges you to transform how we get around in Silicon Valley. Build working apps and tools that will make it easier for people to plan trips, connect with their surroundings, and enrich their transportation experience.
If you're still on the fence about whether to join us for the kickoff hackathon on June 6, here are five reasons you should sign up:
This is a three-month online app challenge kicked off with a hackathon at The Tech Museum of Innovation on June 6, 2015. RSVP to the hackathon learn about the data available (including being the first to access the beacons we’re testing), form a team, and start developing your submission.
Learn more about the three-month challenge, including rules, prizes and the submission process, at hackmyride2.challengepost. To get your creative juices flowing, Microsoft Silicon Valley and Knight Foundation are generously offering $30,000 in prizes in eight app challenge prize categories, so there are plenty of opportunities for your app to win. Or submit several times, if you have a bunch of great ideas and can’t pick just one!
Follow @VTA on Twitter, like our Facebook page, or click here to subscribe to updates from Headways, VTA’s official blog.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2015
VTA Proposing Increased Service in New Two Year Plan
VTA has been holding public meetings to review proposed changes to transit services, and there are quite a few items on the list that would impact San Jose residents. The two new lines that really caught my eye are Line 11 and Line 56.
Line 11 would directly link the Airport with Downtown San Jose! It runs from Diridon Station, past the Convention Center, down 1st Street, then onto Highway 87 and does a full loop of SJC hitting both terminals (see the map below). Needless to say, Line 11 would be extremely convenient for Downtown residents and visitors alike. The line would run every 30 minutes from 5am to 11pm, seven days a week. Service will hopefully begin in October of this year.
Line 56 runs between the Component Lightrail Station in North San Jose and the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station (via Arques/Scott/Central Expressway). This would improve access and transit options for all of the companies in the Golden Triangle, including the burgeoning Renovation Row area.
For all of the details, head over to this VTA page.
Line 11 would directly link the Airport with Downtown San Jose! It runs from Diridon Station, past the Convention Center, down 1st Street, then onto Highway 87 and does a full loop of SJC hitting both terminals (see the map below). Needless to say, Line 11 would be extremely convenient for Downtown residents and visitors alike. The line would run every 30 minutes from 5am to 11pm, seven days a week. Service will hopefully begin in October of this year.
Line 56 runs between the Component Lightrail Station in North San Jose and the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station (via Arques/Scott/Central Expressway). This would improve access and transit options for all of the companies in the Golden Triangle, including the burgeoning Renovation Row area.
For all of the details, head over to this VTA page.
Friday, March 6, 2015
VTA Opens Innovation Center
The VTA opened an innovation center a couple weeks ago at its River Oaks headquarters (3331 N First Street). This is a space where VTA teams, companies, and students can get together and work on new transportation technology. VTA is looking at a variety of ways to improve the customer experience and this new innovation center will help them focus on these efforts.
Below are some examples of the technology projects that VTA is currently working on:
Source: VTA
Below are some examples of the technology projects that VTA is currently working on:
- A zero emissions vehicle with dynamic, on-demand routing directing its driver to pick you up with a request from your smartphone—we’re requesting proposals for the software to drive this and looking closely at the operational challenges.
- Bluetooth beacons throughout the system to tell smartphone apps where you are so they can help you plan your trip, improve accessibility or offer you coupons—this will be a central focus of Hack My Ride 2015, VTA’s app challenge starting this summer.
- Expanding our popular TransLoc real-time light rail arrival app to our bus fleet, as requested by our customers.
- An open-source, multimodal trip planner for any combination of transit, walking, biking, park and ride, bike share and driving (if you must). You can customize your biking directions based on your safety, climbing and speed preferences.
- Touch screen and LCD monitors at light rail stations and transit hubs to provide real-time information, trip planning help, and more.
- A pilot big data project with Allied Telesis to share and analyze camera feeds, sensors and social media in the cloud, enabling better collaboration with security partners for Super Bowl 50.
- Working with startup Transitmix, a Code for America spinoff backed by Y Combinator, to move from paper and spreadsheets to an immediately responsive online transit planning tool that can engage the public and improve planning.
- Working with our North San Jose neighbor Cisco on the Internet of Things for transportation—buses that talk to trains that talk to bus stops that talk to traffic signals that talk to bikes that talk to...you get the idea.
Source: VTA
Sunday, February 1, 2015
BART to San Jose Update Video
Below is a quick update on the progress of the Milpitas BART station.
Source: Usedmedia on the San Jose Development Forum
Source: Usedmedia on the San Jose Development Forum
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Future of VTA Light Rail
Last week there was a "Future of VTA Light Rail" presentation to SPUR San Jose. Below are the slides. Here are some interesting notes:
Source: I Heart SJ
- Light Rail has 35,000 average daily riders, 62 stations, 79.6 miles of track, and 100 trains
- The most used stations are San Antonio, Santa Clara (both in Downtown San Jose), and Tasman
- Compared to other systems of similar size, boardings per mile are quite low and farebox recovery is the second lowest in the country (only DART in Dallas is lower)
- The current goals of VTA Light Rail are to increase ridership, speed up the system, spend money wisely, and be more relevant to the needs of the Valley
- Recommended Capital Improvements
- Grade separation on North First and Montague Expressway
- Fencing North First to increase top speed from 35 MPH to 45 MPH
- Pocket track at Ohlone/Chynoweth
- New Great America Station
- SJSU Extension to 11th Street (???)
- Almaden Branch, Mountain View, and Vasono Double Track
- Use bollards to separate tracks in Downtown San Jose and speed up trains
- Mountain View Double track to be completed by the end of 2015
- Levi's Stadium events are attracting 8,000-9,000 boardings on game days
Source: I Heart SJ
Sunday, September 14, 2014
El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Below is a short video the VTA put together for the El Camino Real BRT project. Note that BRT is going to be branded as "Breeze" and is closer to Light Rail than bus service. There will be limited stops, partial dedicated lanes, and comfortable stations almost identical to Light Rail. The El Camino Real BRT line will start in Downtown San Jose and go all the way up to Palo Alto. For more info, have a look at the BRT Webpage.
Friday, August 29, 2014
VTA Express Bus Service to Levi's Stadium
As you all probably have heard, parking at Levi's Stadium can be both an expensive and time consuming proposition. Light Rail may seem like the next best option, but VTA is experiencing the highest volume of passengers it has had in a long time--perhaps ever--during games. Waits could easily exceed an hour to get on a train after the game. So what other options are there? VTA has a ton of express buses from all around Silicon Valley that will travel to Levi's Stadium and back with minimal stoppage. Check out the map below to find the stop closest to you. While I'm at it, I also included a couple videos about the express bus service, a map showing the epic Light Rail service on stadium days (with rare triple trains), and a link to the VTA Webpage for Levi's Stadium Service.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
VTA News - BRT Artwork and Real-time Bus/Light Rail Info
There were a couple nice tidbits of information related to VTA improvements in Sam Liccardo's latest newsletter. The first is a partnership between VTA and the City of San Jose to add localized artwork to 20 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations when they go online. Read the excerpt below for a listing of some of the stations:
"Several of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bus Rapid Transit stations will be getting enhancements with public art thanks to a collaboration between VTA and the City of San Jose. 20 stations in all (most including an east/west bound) which will feature vibrant color and unique designs. The artists and each local community collaborated to capture each individual community's spirit. The designs range from informative to whimsical. The art project is in its 'design/development' stage and the stations receiving the art enhancements will include: The Arena (SAP Center), Santa Clara, City Hall, 17th, 24th, King, Jackson, Alum Rock, Story Road, Ocala, Eastridge."
The second bit of news is that VTA now provides their riders with real-time information on where buses and light rail trains are, so you'll never have to guess whether you missed a train or when the next one is arriving. Again, more details below:
"VTA has created a series of four videos to help our customers use their real-time information app for bus and light rail. These real-time information tools tell you when the next bus or train will arrive, which means you don’t have to carry a paper schedule, can anticipate bus arrivals in between published stop times, and can estimate when you’ll arrive at your destination.
Each describes how to access real-time information using a different tool: by calling 511 on your landline or cell phone; visiting m.511.org or 511.org on the Internet; or downloading the TransLoc mobile app for real time light rail information. The TransLoc app for real-time light rail information is also very popular. For more information visit VTA Realtime."
"Several of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bus Rapid Transit stations will be getting enhancements with public art thanks to a collaboration between VTA and the City of San Jose. 20 stations in all (most including an east/west bound) which will feature vibrant color and unique designs. The artists and each local community collaborated to capture each individual community's spirit. The designs range from informative to whimsical. The art project is in its 'design/development' stage and the stations receiving the art enhancements will include: The Arena (SAP Center), Santa Clara, City Hall, 17th, 24th, King, Jackson, Alum Rock, Story Road, Ocala, Eastridge."
The second bit of news is that VTA now provides their riders with real-time information on where buses and light rail trains are, so you'll never have to guess whether you missed a train or when the next one is arriving. Again, more details below:
"VTA has created a series of four videos to help our customers use their real-time information app for bus and light rail. These real-time information tools tell you when the next bus or train will arrive, which means you don’t have to carry a paper schedule, can anticipate bus arrivals in between published stop times, and can estimate when you’ll arrive at your destination.
Each describes how to access real-time information using a different tool: by calling 511 on your landline or cell phone; visiting m.511.org or 511.org on the Internet; or downloading the TransLoc mobile app for real time light rail information. The TransLoc app for real-time light rail information is also very popular. For more information visit VTA Realtime."
Sunday, April 13, 2014
VTA Light Rail Turns 25!
Last Friday, VTA celebrated 25 years of Light Rail service in Silicon Valley. Each morning during my commute, I am seeing more and more people hopping on Light Rail along Tasman. I think with the 49ers Stadium, BART, and the upcoming efficiency improvements... the system is finally going to get the traction it deserves.
Check out the map below to see what the system will look like in 2017. There will be a new Red Line from Mountain View to Alum rock, which will include express service during peak hours. Mountain View will get double tracked, Santa Clara will get pocket tracks near the Stadium for peak transit during games and events, and Almaden will get a direct connection to Downtown San Jose and Mountain View. There are also talks of expanding the system from Alum Rock to Eastridge Mall and from Winchester to Los Gatos.
Check out the map below to see what the system will look like in 2017. There will be a new Red Line from Mountain View to Alum rock, which will include express service during peak hours. Mountain View will get double tracked, Santa Clara will get pocket tracks near the Stadium for peak transit during games and events, and Almaden will get a direct connection to Downtown San Jose and Mountain View. There are also talks of expanding the system from Alum Rock to Eastridge Mall and from Winchester to Los Gatos.
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