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VTA Media Relations Frequently Asked Questions
VTA Media Relations Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs about VTA light rail service
Question: Can you please provide an overview of the VTA light rail system?
Answer: Light rail service in Santa Clara County first began on December 11, 1987. Since that time, the system has expanded to include 42.2 miles of service, 65 stations and currently serves the communities of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas, San Jose and Campbell. VTA’s fleet of 100 light rail vehicles is based out of the Guadalupe Division on Younger Street in San Jose, near where First Street and Interstate 880 cross.
VTA operates two light rail lines: The Mountain View to Winchester line and the Alum Rock to Santa Teresa line are the official names of the two lines. The two share common track between the Convention Center Station in downtown San Jose and the Tasman Station in north San Jose. A shorter, spur line is also operated between the Ohlone-Chynoweth and Almaden stations in south San Jose near Oakridge Shopping Center.
The Alum Rock to Santa Teresa line offers service frequency of every 15 minutes during much of the service day; while the Mountain View to Winchester line offers 15-minute service frequency during commute hours and service every 30 minutes for most of the remaining service day.
Question: What does the term "single tracking" refer to?
Answer: Most sections of VTA right of way (ROW) contain two sets of tracks; with one set typically used by trains headed in one direction and the other used by trains traveling in the opposite direction. An important safety message VTA regularly conveys to the public, however, is that trains traveling in either direction can appear on either track at any time.
Some sections of VTA ROW only contain a single set of tracks, however, and travel by a train headed in one direction must be completed before a train traveling in the opposite direction enters that same section of single track. This occurs mostly on sections of the Mountain View to Winchester line, both in the Campbell and Sunnyvale areas.
A second example of how VTA uses the term single tracking would be when one set of the double tracks are closed, either due to maintenance or safety concerns. Planned single tracking, such as to accommodate maintenance work, is typically done during non-peak hours when fewer trains are operating or during hours of non operation which, varying on location, are generally between midnight and 4 a.m.
Unscheduled single tracking, however, such as to avoid an automobile stalled on one set of tracks, can seriously disrupt scheduled service because of the delays caused by the need to have the single set of open tracks serve trains traveling in opposite directions.
Question: What is a bus bridge?
Answer: Bus bridge is a shorter term for substitute bus service. VTA typically institutes bus bridges when some sort of light rail service disruption is being experienced and service to one or more of its light rail stations is being impacted. When a bus bridge is in effect, light rail passengers are switched to buses at the last open light rail station, and the bus then transports them past the service disruption to the next open station. In order to not strand passengers at closed stations, the bus bridge serves each closed station while it travels between open stations.
Question: What is a crossover and what is a switch?
Answer: Crossovers are located periodically throughout the light rail system and allow light rail vehicles to move from one set of tracks to another. Switches are mechanical devices that realign short sections of track so a train can access a crossover or enter a different section of track. Switches operate remotely, without warning, and are one reason VTA works to educate the public on the danger of walking on the light rail alignment, except in designated crossing areas.
FAQs About VTA Bus Service
Question: Can you please describe VTA’s bus operation?
Answer: VTA offers bus service to 326 square miles of urban and rural Santa Clara County, with 75 different routes. The breakdown by type of those routes is: 19 core/primary; seven local/secondary; 11 feeder; 22 community bus; 12 express; and, four limited stop. There are 3,818 bus stops throughout VTA’s service area and 793 of those stops have covered shelters. VTA also operates 15 transit centers and 45 park and ride lots.
The active bus fleet consists of 401 large coaches and 49 smaller community buses. The highest ridership line is Route 22, which runs from the Palo Alto Transit Center down El Camino Real, through downtown San Jose and ends at the Eastridge Shopping Center in east San Jose. Other heavily used lines include Route 25, which serves Story Road and Valley Medical Center in San Jose and Route 23, which runs between De Anza College in Cupertino and the Alum Rock Transit Center in San Jose.
General FAQ's
Question: How many people ride VTA?
Answer: Using May, 2009 as a reference point:
• Total combined boardings (light rail and bus) for the month were 3,660,722.
• Average combined weekday boardings were 144,022
• Average combined Saturday boardings were 78,637
• Average combined Sunday/holiday boardings were 64,517
• Average weekday bus boarding were 111,224
• Average weekday light rail boarding were 32,798
Average weekday ridership is generally considered the most accurate measurement tool for comparing both monthly and annual ridership changes because it reduces discrepancies in monthly ridership caused by the comparison months having a different number of weekdays; as well as ridership fluctuations caused by large weekend special events; and, also, ridership changes caused by seasonal events, such as students returning to school in September, for example.
Question: Can you describe the typical VTA rider?
Answer: VTA’s ridership is as culturally diverse as Santa Clara County itself. Here are some factoids from a detailed 2005 ridership survey:
• 71 percent of passengers walk from home to begin their VTA trip
• 50 percent of those surveyed have been riding VTA for three or more years
• 81 percent required no more than one transfer to complete their one-way trip
• 39 percent said they did not need to transfer to complete their one-way trip
• 44 percent completed their one-way trip in less than 30 minutes
• 25 percent of all riders describe themselves as students
• Five percent described themselves as age 65 or older
• 54 percent of riders were male and 46 percent female
• 37 percent described their ethnic heritage as Hispanic/Latino
• 76 percent of riders paid an adult fare and 13 percent of riders paid a youth fare
• 38 percent used a monthly flash pass and 27 percent a cash-single ride fare
Question: What and who are VTA Ambassadors?
Answer: Ambassadors are VTA employees who are temporarily assigned to specific transit locations to assist customers with information about bus and light rail service or to help them find answers. Generally, ambassadors are dispatched during planned service disruptions, such as, special community events, major repairs and construction activities. Ambassadors are also dispatched to the field during significant unplanned service disruptions in order to convey significant service information to patrons.
Question: Does VTA have educational or safety programs aimed at students?
Answer: Yes. During the 2008-2009 school year, VTA partnered with 32 school districts, made 249 presentations and reached 8,938 students. The content of the presentations includes safety rules
Question: Are there other programs that promote public safety?
Answer: Yes. Here is a partial list:
• Night Stop Program—Allows bus passengers at night to request an alternate bus stop closer to their final destination.
• Safe Place Program—Offers immediate assistance to any child in need.
• Transit Watch—Educates and encourages riders to report all suspicious circumstances.
• Operation Lifesaver—Targets rail safety education for children.
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