All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 37 Subject: Neighborhood Line 37 Thank you for the continuation of Line 37. Today I spoke to a customer service employee downtown, and she suggested I register my appreciation for the bus that stops at the end of my street at Quito Road. Now that I have a new Clipper card, I will use it more often to travel to Campbell, and will use the card when my husband and I travel downtown on Light Rail to symphony concerts. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Re‐design compliment Angela; I wanted to applaud your idea; thank you for the effort and share w‐you some feedback; I find your approach of involving the community here on the project as the most sensible and innovative outreach effort I've seen in a long time coming from a CA government official. I expect that as the proponent of such positive change you'll face herculean resistance. This is, after all, CA politics. Buckle up & don't despair! If changing the world for the better was easy it wouldn't need changing. You're now made yourself into the role model of many, whether you like it or not. I hope many more were as inspired as I was. Kudos! Routes: 31 Subject: Line 31 Most of the evening classes at Evergreen Valley College start at 6:00 PM. The 31 bus gets to Evergreen Valley College at 5:57 PM. Is there any way to have the bus come a few minutes earlier to enable students time to get to class by 6:00PM Subject: Why do the 64 a and 64b have the same Routes: 64 number when they appear to be two different lines. On the Network 70 and the network 80 options there is a 64a and 64b. Why do these lines have the same number when they appear to be two separate lines. Is there any special reason they were not given different numbers? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Communication Tower at Tasman Station Reward those of us who could ride more often only if wifi were available at your Tasman station. All connectivity ceases when swapping trolleys at this main station! Routes: 22; 23 Subject: Breaking up routes I see an enormous advantage to having very long routes. Doing so increses the probability that the route will include both an origination and destination point for each passenger without the need to tranfer. However, there are other constraints that may be adversely affected by long routes. For instance, on time performace might be difficult to achieve due to changing traffic congestion or unanticipated pasenger loads. This may result in the bus becoming delayed. Alternatively, if traffic is light or passengers few, the bus would need to be driven more slowly than traffic would otherwise be required. In addition, some segments of the route may require different headways for best productivity. Also, routes would need to include additionaI time to ensure there was adequate time to make up delays. I was wondering if these were significant issues for lines like the 22 and 23. If so, would it make sense to have both of these lines split in two. A possible splitting point would be downtown San Jose. For those prefering the current route the 522 and 523 could remain as they are now. Routes: 22; 522; General Project Comment Subject: Mountain View All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I favor not cutting service. One huge unintended consequence of cutting lines is that the "OutReach" service will be cut off for many of our residents. That's simply un‐acceptable. Also, it's time to break the silos between our agencies. In particular with Samtrans. It's not acceptable that Palo Alto is viewed as the end of the bus network and San Jose at its center.; this does not reflect at all the way we live our lives in North County. For starter, why not extending the 22/522 to Menlo Park or even Redwood City and run that line jointly with SamTrans? Routes: Light Rail Subject: winchester to mv I don't support the change for Winchester to MV and make a stop at Old Ironsides. I think there is a big group of people who get on the train from Downtown sj or South SJ take the Winchester to MV light rail. It will have a big impact on this group of people. Instead of adding a new line from Alum Rock to Old Ironsides, why not increase the frequency of the train? If people needs to go to MV, they can always switch train at Tasman. Increase the frequency and efficiency of the train is much more important than adding new lines and much easier too! I know most people don't take the light rail is because it takes too long even longer than driving with horrible traffic on the road. Routes: Light Rail Subject: complaint one ticket for light rail and bus Make it possible when get a light regular ticket that would be valid for the whole ten hours on the bus routes too, when get these tickets the benefit is not there if can not ride the bus and the light rail on the same ticket this is why many people do not ride the service needs to improve by you improving and more people would ride both the bus and the light rail this is very important and when bart starts yes there will be people that will not ride neither so make this better and if you get a ticket on any bus route including the flex this needs to be valid on the light rail for the next 10 hours too increase the time make travel better Subject: community input re: changes to the VTA Route Routes: 88; General Project Comment 88 schedule I write to provide feedback regarding changes rumored to be afoot regarding the VTA busses that courrier high school students from various parts of midtown Palo Alto across the train tracks to Gunn High school. Having witnessed a couple permutations of proposed changes to this over the past 15 years, my take is: ? I strongly recommend VTA realize that, unlike other more fluid demographic patrons, students, right now at least, are more or less a completely captive client base, esp. during the rainy season when those that would otherwise walk or ride their bikes are weather inhibited to do so. ? I would imagine it would behoove not just VTA's bottom line but also the perception of goodwill amid the communities they serve, to focus their energies in trying to figure out how to BETTER service this demographic group instead of only how to plump up their revenue via cost cutting/route reductions. ? The long revenue view of course is that every advance in the highly disruptive driverless car arena correlates to a nail in VTA's and public‐transport‐as‐currently‐designed‐coffin. ? my understanding of the current schedule is that VTA88 runs hourly throughout the day (with extra runs at bell time) via this route and a corollary ? I have also been given to understand that any bus that only runs for school bell times would be inadequate because high school kids keep irregular hours. This is becoming even more true as they are given more schedule design autonomy as is the current Gunn trend of allowing student demand for classes to determine staffing/scheduling. ? Fact = students sometimes go to school before or after the first bell. Some leave early for jobs. Some stay late for extra‐curriculars. Students require transport throughout the day. These students are the precisely the same ones that are less likely to ride the morning bus if the bus doesn?t serve their return‐trip needs. ? This would also explain why there is so much need for flexibility in the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan timing/routing; it has been fantastically wonderful to observe that when the bell schedule at Gunn flexes, so does the VTA routing for these two midtown bus routes! ? one of my children rides either of the two buses [there are two slightly different routings but both service midtown/Louis Rd. area]; every time she does, she reports that the buses are completely standing room only, packed ? this is esp. true on rainy days; apparently someone maintains a VTA 88 email list so that students can report when the buses are standing room only except that my student reports that she's never seen or heard of anyone ever using the reporting feature. ? Given that I am aware that VTA will actually increase the runs to accommodate increased demand, perhaps more outreach could be made to insure that VTA knows how crowded or not it's busses actually are. I would assume those ridership numbers are at VTA's fingertips but if not, installing a simple wireless camera in the busses should do the trick. Takeaway = don't "take away" any current routing flexibility. On the contrary, consider how to add more. Routes: 35; 88; 89 Subject: Palo Alto The maps are extremely difficult to read‐‐nearly illegible. Every option I can discern appears to pander to San Jose, creating bus lines that move people more efficiently between Palo Alto and San Jose or nearby areas‐‐without giving any real attention to local needs for bus service. I have been a long‐time supporter of VTA taxes. I WILL NOT vote for a VTA transit tax, and I will actively campaign against one if VTA doesn't get their act together in Palo Alto to serve out needs instead of San Jose's. This looks like another VTA attempt to reduce Palo Alto service and redirect resources south, pandering to a San Jose controlled VTA Board. Palo Alto needs east/west service, particularly to Gunn High School. The current 88, 88L 88M buses are heavily used by Gunn students. These buses significantly reduce morning peak hour traffic on the severely impacted Charleston‐Arastradero Corridor. It is hard to tell from the micro‐ map, but it appears that the current 88 bus is rerouted through Mountain View (which will make it a longer commute and will discourage student use of the bus). I think it is time to reorganize VTA and its governance, combining VTA with other transit agencies to achieve greater collaboration among modes like trains and buses and to create better connections across current agency boundary lines and to provide fair representation to north county communities. VTA is failing us. Again. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Commuter express on highway 87 I live in south San Jose and work in north San Jose. I see huge potential in connecting south San Jose with the tech companies in north San Jose with an express service covering the distance in under 30 mins.. Is that something being considered. The existing express service is only till downtown. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: kudos and a complain Normally I only write in to complain about wifi not working on ight rail. Yesterday, on the 7:48 from mtn view, again, the wifi didn't work, No signal. So a little different than usual. But that's not why I'm writing this time. The driver stopped the train to get ducklings off the track. I wanted to thank the driver and commend her for doing the obvious right thing, and keeping us informed. It was a couple minutes delay, no one seemed to mind. Thanks for having good drivers like that and letting them make common sense decisions.. Stop for ducklings every time! if you can fix the wifi I would appreciate it, otherwise I just use my cell phone data, but I do prefer the wifi. Subject: Why so few connections between buses and Routes: Light Rail VTA LRT? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan There are very few connections between the light rail system and the bus system outside downtown. Some buses seem to go out of their way to miss a station (see the 28, in Campbell.) Did you look at incorporating LRT as a strong element adding to the bus grid? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Comment : I'd like to suggest: 1. Have a bus run the length of Saratoga Avenue (especially once BART reaches Santa Clara Station) 2. Make sure there is bus service along Expressways 3. Use the Caltrain corridor to run another "LRT" line from Gilroy to PA ‐ use trainsets like are running along the SMART corridor in the north bay) ‐ should be faster/cheaper than speeding up LRT thru SJ Downtown ‐ may be more popular and faster than ECR BRT ‐ include a station stop at Kiely ‐ have demand shuttles where needed akin to FLEX or DASH Subject: How do/will riders get to the "ridership" part of Routes: 522 the network if the "coverage" part is left out. I certainly enjoy my trips on the 522, part of the "ridership" class of the network (though the ridership from Palo Alto to Sunnyvale seems to average fewer than 10 riders). I wonder if all other routes are reduced further, how do you expect riders who live more than 800 yards from a stop on El Camino to continue to use the bus network? I can only make it work by bike, now Routes: 88 Subject: VTA 88 bus route changes I'm the mother of two Gunn High School students here in Palo Alto. We live three houses away from a VTA 88 bus stop on Charleston Road. The boys ride the bus to and from Gunn on a regular basis. It seems there are some changes considered to this bus route. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the community meeting tomorrow to get more information and give my input. So I just wanted to state here that we really rely on the VTA 88 bus as a mode of transportation for the kids to school. Routes: 35 Subject: Bus 35 is essential My wife has a severe illness and relies on a caregiver from East Palo Alto who takes the 35 bus twice a day during the week. Please don't discontinue it! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Middlefield Through Service Please explore the Middlefield corridor: it is cleanly bounded on the South by El Camino / Caltrain and on the North by the great pedestrian barrier that is 101. From Menlo Park to Sunnyvale it serves office parks, residential, schools, parks, and some retail. I would love to see an anchor from downtown Menlo, serving SRI, McCandless, and USGS (I work in this area) down through Palo Alto (parks, schools, residences, retail) and down into Mountain View (higher density residential and office) ... I could get off at Whisman to pick up my child from preschool in the retail mall at that location, then board the bus again down into Sunnyvale. I live on Maude near the shopping complex at Mathilda, which is an increasingly dense commercial area. I could make these trips by Caltrain but the service is infrequent and out‐of‐the‐way. There is no through service via Middlefield as the lines on the street are designed as Caltrain feeders: Caltrain should be fed by perpendicular routes ... let us get more parallel routes that flow up and down the peninsula: the potential of the Middlefield corridor reminds me very much of the success you see on El Camino, which is a convenient straight line serving diverse interests in the local community, without any need of connecting to Caltrain. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA ‐ Bus Line Feedback All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I work from home to avoid the traffic. I do errands during the day when traffic is light. I live about a mile from grocery stores and banks I frequent often with Costco a cross El Camino trip. Bottom line is there is zero need for me to take a bus and I haven't ridden one since the 1980s. Gridlock traffic is ALREADY terrible at the El Camino San Antonio Road crossing due to over development. Most of the people buying or renting here that can afford $3,000 to $6,000 a month probably work at Google, Tesla or Facebook which isn't on the El Camino bus route. So... I vote to run the buses where they do the most good and NEVER EVER take away lanes on El Camino for more buses. If you think it is too crowded, STOP BUILDING along Al Camino. Require new office buildings to also include new housing units for the young workers they hire. Routes: Light Rail Subject: 2017 Light Rail Service Plan I would prefer any scenario that provides direct service between Alum Rock and Mountain View. Current transfers at Tasman can cause frequent delays for numerous riders. Thanks. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Service change feedback I would ride mass transit more frequently from Mountain View and Whisman if you offered an express service to downtown San Jose and the San Jose airport. Also, why not partner with Mountain View on a line adjacent to Google? It's a bit odd that there is one for Lockheed yet Google has a large base and would be a big help. Subject: suggested fix to vta.org & BRING BACK CASH Routes: General Project Comment PAYMENTS FOR DAY PASSES since almost every stop now has a 5‐digit‐number assigned to it, please change the website so that when someone goes to vta.org ON THE HOMEPAGE / LANDINGPAGE / FIRST PAGE DISPLAYED you have a box to enter the stop number to instantly show the realtime due data. this would show your new silicon valley professional rider that you understand what data is most important to your modern smartphone enabled new ridership. please bring back the ability to pay cash for a daypass, forcing visitors to our valley to use a clipper card is stupid and i know people who used uber instead of vta because they could not buy a clippercard at the airport or on the #10 bus. Routes: Light Rail; General Project Comment Subject: Mass Transit Down 85 Highway 85 is packed. I would like mass transit down highway 85, either express buses or light rail. It must be popular with all the company buses driving the route. Routes: Light Rail; General Project Subject: Question on Tasman Express proposal with Comment Scenario 2 The Tasman Express enhancement seems most useful as a way to speed up commuter connections from BART‐‐how would that work if added to Scenario 2 where it's an extension of the service from Winchester? [Would there be a timed transfer? Or is a ridership increase expected from the Winchester users?] Also, it looks like you left off the "l" on all the "Aum Rock" stations in the maps. Routes: Light Rail Subject: I'm surprised anyone uses the light rail : I tried using the light rail between Mountain View and downtown San Jose. It's horribly slow. Plus parking costs money. So between that and the fares and having to get to the train station, it's three times as fast to drive and the same cost. What's the point of transit? When I decide to take transit to San Jose, even San Jose State, I take Caltrain. Even Caltrain plus a walk is faster than light rail... All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Overall Transportation System I would like to see more focus on reducing motor vehicle traffic and increasing the ease of using human powered vehicles. Hedding Ave is great now ‐ until you get west of Guadalupe River, or east of 17th st. How about adding a traffic light at Hedding and 17th ? Routes: 35; 88; 89 Subject: PALO ALTO LIKE MORE ROUTES IN PALO ALTO ‐ DON'T SEE WHY THIS DOESN'T INCREASE RIDERSHIP. Routes: 66 Subject: Regarding your information on Nextdoor Not so sure who should i direct my questions/concerns to. I have contacted the VTA authorities multiple times, however their responses in this regards has been simply mundane. I saw the information on Nextdoor regarding Community Meeting in Milpitas, but missed attending the meeting & hence thought of writing this up in the email. I believe my request is a development opportunity to VTA & City of Milpitas & the residents living here & hence I am writing my request to you. Please forward it to anyone whom you deem necessary. This request is regarding route change of VTA bus route‐66(bringing it closer to Dixon landing park area). I am a proud resident of Milpitas and a regular VTA bus/light‐rail commuter. Typically me along with my family members take Route‐66 for commute to/from work. The first/last stop for Route‐66 bus is on North Milpitas Blvd (Intersection of North Milpitas Blvd & Dixon Landing Road) In‐order to take Route‐66 bus, we have to walk approximately 1.2miles one way from my home on daily basis. I live in one of the homes behind Dixon Landing Park.There are many communities(listed below) in and around Dixon landing area whose residents also faces similar situation of walking ~1.0 to catch the bus. ‐ Housing Community on the Back of Dixon Landing Park ‐ Mill‐Creek Apartments ‐ Housing Communities on intersection of Milmont & Summerwind/Seaside drive ‐ Non‐profit Swaminarayan Temple (>1000 people gather here on weekends & holidays) ‐ Non‐profit Shirdi Sai Parivar (>1000 people gather here on Thursdays, weekends & holidays) ‐ 100+ businesses on Milmont Drive, California Circle, Fairview Way, Cadillac Ct etc. ‐ Spinnaker Pointe Apartments ‐ Apartments between Dixon/North Milpitas & Dixon/Milmont drive. In addition, true‐marks homes is building up a community of 125 homes on California circle. There are lots of residents(~20+, many of whom are kids & elderly parents) whom i know are eagerly looking forward for Route ‐66 to come closer to the Dixon Landing park area & California Circle. I happen to see lots of elderly parents, some walking >1mile in scorching heat/wind/cold to catch the bus or are walking back towards Dixon & Milmont drive after being dropped at Dixon & Arizona. There are more than 1000+ residents living in & around Dixon Landing park, who could benefit from this noble cause, if the City can helpVTA change their route, i.e. to bring it closer to Dixon Landing Park area. Doing some research, i found out that similar request was made some 7 year ago as well by one of the temple authorities on California Circle. Like me, they were also informed that extending Line 66 to this area is not operationally feasible at this time. However, we will be looking at this area for a possible service expansion in the future. So based on this data, it looks like this would never be a possibility. Because 7 years is a long time to think upon. Analyzing the route, I believe it could be practically feasible. Route‐66 bus after reaching Dixon & Arizona(last stop) halts there for a period of 10‐15mins after which it goes to the intersection of Dixon & North Milpitas Blvd(near Walgreens) to start the route again. Instead of stopping over at Dixon & Arizona, it could continue towards Dixon & Milmont Drive, stop over here or continue further towards California Circle, route through the entire California Circle & come back to Dixon & North Milpitas Blvd(near Walgreens) to start the route again. This way the impact on bus timings could be almost minimum to none. To add to that, we now have Bart passing through this route as well. I sincerely request the VTA to consider looking into this matter All Comments Received on the Draft Plan as it would hugely benefit lots of residents living around this vicinity. 1/2 mile of an extension would help residents significantly as well as increase revenue prospects for City & VTA. Looking forward to hearing back from you soon. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Suggestion that would help Sjsu students VTA helps SJSU student very much with a free transport solution. Just wanted to suggest that people living outside of San Jose doesn't have a VTA and have to pay travelling charges.... if you could help students with adding only one route free from their homes on their clipper to the VTA link station that could help them save. Thank you. Subject: Re: VTA WANTS YOUR INPUT FOR OUR NEXT Routes: General Project Comment TRANSIT NETWORK ‐ HOW SHOULD IT SERVE YOU? PLEASE do not remove auto lanes from El Camino! Whenever I see a VTA bus on ECR, I look and see hardly anyone inside. Why do you need more buses if people don't ride them? Most people live far from a bus line and the places they want to go are usually far from a bus line. I just don't see how VTA buses work here. Subject: VTA WANTS YOUR INPUT FOR OUR NEXT Routes: General Project Comment TRANSIT NETWORK ‐ HOW SH 've heard about the new project. I think it's a very bad idea. You are going to cause traffic issues. This is a horrible plan. (Nextdoor) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Rail Passes and ridership I wanted to provide feedback that might increase your ridership. I don't use the rail system because the passes are only good for 8 hours. This doesnt serve me because I work eight hours and my ticket woudl be expired by the time i get off work. If you made the pass good for 10 hours I would use it more often. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Add Transit route Please add a new route from the corner of San Antonio at E. Charleston in Palo Alto to the San Antonio Caltrain station and the corner of El Camino. It will benefit the senior residents in Moldaw Residences and nearby communities. Thank you. Subject: Re: VTA WANTS YOUR INPUT FOR OUR NEXT Routes: General Project Comment TRANSIT NETWORK ‐ HOW SHOULD IT SERVE YOU? no more taxes, sales tax is too high now! Bart is taking too long, and costing too much. (Nextdoor) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Transit system redesign Glad to hear that the VTA is finally putting effort into their real mandate ‐ to improve our public transportation system. But until the Freeway 85 plans are tossed off the table, I will not vote for 1 cent of increased funding for the agency. (Nextdoor) Routes: Light Rail Subject: Los Gatos Light Rail Extension? 1. How can Town of Los Gatos work with VTA to assess developer fees to fund Light Rail extension from Campbell to Los Gatos? 2. Who is the project manager for Vasona and Hacienda Light Rail All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Stations? 3. Would it be possible for you to schedule and notice VTA Next Transit Network meetings in Los Gatos and nearby Campbell? Thank you! Routes: 328 Subject: bus stop and parking for 328 bus at Bascom I would love to take the 328 bus to work but there is no parking at Bascom where I could catch the bus. Too bad the city or county can't condemn the dumpy houses between the old Taco Bell site and the new Taco Bell and create a mini transit hub. Anne Isbell Routes: General Project Comment Subject: vta plans I cannot attend meetings, but have suggestion: Pilot with Google self‐driving cars in lieu of buses in areas such as Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View. This could replace buses using electric cars that can be called at will or even be scheduled on a route like El Camino without the need for special lanes. they can run more frequently and with four passengers in each car (or van). You are in the Silicon Valley. Benefit from the expertise of the companies in the area. Subject: Learn More About VTA's Next Transit Network Routes: General Project Comment Effort at .. What would be most important to me is direct transportation from Gilroy to San Jose and return with varying departure times. I live in Gilroy and work in the downtown region of San Jose, near the SAP Center. My typical work schedule is from 9‐5:30. (Nextdoor) Routes: 18; 19 Subject: bus on Sunrise and Ranch Hills we used to have a bus that went thru our neighborhood, I think it was 18 or 19 It would be nice to have that bus back again. It makes it easy to get around town without having to take the car, especially taking a bus to Cal Train Station. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network: Frequency and Ridership As I mentioned above, "Once a route is operating every 12 to 15 minutes, the level of service is generally good enough to attract choice riders unless buses are so full that people cannot board." Of course, you still won't be able to some satisfy potential riders, who demand a bus every 5 minutes or they'll drive. But at least they have that choice; not so for those transit‐dependent riders where the disappearance of a 60‐minute coverage route would sever their only connection to the outside world. If this new BART bus route is so full that it's turning people away, then yes it would justify higher frequency. However, it's also worth noting that voters approved the transportation sales tax in 2000 with the expectation that those monies would pay for new BART service (even if it's just a bus connection at this point), not siphon away service hours from the rest of the network. So even if this route is temporary, full BART service optimistically is still many years away. In the interim, that route will be taking away resources from elsewhere. In fact, the 2000 ballot committed VTA to operate a fleet of 750 buses. Right now, there are 495 buses in the fleet, only 384 of which are in peak operation. Unfortunately, VTA's existing super high‐frequency service (every 6 to 8 minutes on El Camino (22/522) and Stevens Creek (23/323), and every 4 minutes on Santa Clara Street (22/23/522)) has not generated the results we would expect given the vast amount of resources devoted to them (about 25% of VTA's bus service hours). While these are important routes and do have relatively high ridership, buses on those routes are nowhere near capacity and in fact in some cases their "productivity" is quite weak considering their high level of service. For example, Line 323 carries fewer people per hour than Lines 53, 54 or 82, routes that would be severely dismembered and/or eliminated under the 80‐20 and 90‐10 scenarios. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a frequent All Comments Received on the Draft Plan level of service on the main corridors, but only that there are diminishing returns once we go below 12 to 15 minutes in VTA's context. We shouldn't oversaturate a handful of routes when there are so many other needs in the county. It would be great if everyone who needed transit could just move and reorient their entire lives around the main corridors, but in a dispersed area like Santa Clara County where there is also a housing crisis, that simply isn't reality. Telling these taxpayers "too bad" will only increase the indirect social costs of isolation and job inaccessibility, even if VTA no longer bears the direct costs of providing service to them. And let's not forget that many of those riders also transfer to the main routes. If they can't make one leg of their journey on transit, they won't ride the main routes either ‐ which is why it's very hard to increase systemwide ridership in a robbing Peter to Pay Paul scenario. It's buried in the Transit Choices Report, but VTA's consultant makes an important point: "[O]ne of the major observations of this report has been to note the substantial decline in total transit service per capita in Santa Clara County over the past 15 years. As we?ve explained, this issue impacts the overall viability of the transit system as a useful travel option for all sorts of trips, as fewer resources are available for all the competing demands placed on transit, whether delivering frequent service to high‐density places, extending late night hours or weekend service, or maintaining lifeline coverage service to lower‐density places." "If voters approve a transportation sales tax ballot measure in 2016, new funds will be available which VTA could use for a variety of purposes, including the construction of important regional capital projects. Some portion of these resources could also be invested into bus operations, beginning to reverse the recent trend of falling transit service per capita." (Headways Blog Post) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts Well, in 2016 we're out of the recession and employment is pretty much at all‐time highs. (hopefully, the next downturn won't be so bad). Over the past 15 years, we've implemented exactly what the 80‐
20 and 90‐10 Next Network scenarios advocate: slashing coverage service to focus on "productive" routes. It wasn't just 2001 either. VTA tried the same thing with the Comprehensive Operations Analysis effort years later. As a result, a huge reallocation has already occurred. If this formula has been so successful, why hasn't bus ridership rebounded as the economy rebounded? Why is total systemwide bus and rail ridership today lower than in 1991, when there were far fewer people and jobs here? With buses every 6 to 8 minutes, the El Camino and Stevens Creek corridors are maxed out. Throwing more resources at them ‐ or for that matter in corridors that are already operating every 10 to 15 minutes ‐ doesn't make a whole lot sense when the rest of the network is so weak. It's not as if those buses are so full they are leaving people behind. Perhaps VTA planners may already realize this. To their credit, they have started to take some positive steps to focus on putting the rest of the network back together (e.g., beefing up Saturday service on the 35 and the former 51; midday service on the 32, the former 51 and 89; Sunday service on the 57 and 60; weekend service on the 66 and 68). This should really help the mobility of these underserved areas and start to make the system as a whole more viable. But I worry that with this Next Network, we're going to start repeating mistakes from the past. I think we pretty much agree that we need funding. As plenty of successful efforts across the country have shown, the way to build advocacy for new revenue measures is to create a vision and develop scenarios of what we might do with more funding. I don't understand how VTA can be asking for countywide support for ENVISION on the one hand, while floating scenarios to completely remove service from vast areas of the county and stranding people on the other hand. Finally, even during economic downturns, there are ways to soften the landing. At my boss' tech company, everyone took a pay cut from top to bottom and as a result no one was laid off. It may require difficult negotiations, but there are more humane options to deal with financial crises: Service cuts not only impact riders, but transit drivers and their families as well. (Headways Blog Post) All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Project There was a comment by Jason earlier but it may have been taken down. His assessment basically echoed the same findings as the present consultant and the prior revenue improvement effort by VTA called RIDES. It happens that when there is less service deployed then there is less revenue from riders by an equal amount. Jason and the consultant pointed out that service has been curtailed by ~20% (MTC shows it as down 15%) since 2000. In that time the County population has gone up 20%. VTA apparently has had other priorities than having our transit service levels keep pace with the population. Hopefully, FLEX and being smart about serving destinations will help. VTA also needs to attract the emerging adult demographic ‐ get them while they are young. If kids aren't using transit then they likely won't as adults. FLEX could be a boon in that regard. Routes: 323 Subject: The Ridership Recipe ‐ VTA's Next Network SUMMARY: Study more transit service in freeways and expressways. Grade separation means faster travel times with Bus Rapid Transit. In my experience, transit has not been time‐competitive for me for almost any trip. The trip from Santana Row to downtown SJ, as quadshock has noted takes an absurdly long time. The 323 follows a linear route with no detours through a dense urban area. However, it has to stop at traffic lights, pull in and out of traffic at stops, and so on. Buses need signal priority whenever possible because they carry more people than private cars. A busy corridor like Stevens Creek or El Camino Real demands dedicated median lanes to cut through the congestion. I hope that VTA will aggressively improve and grow the core network. However, It occurred to me that if I were driving on Stevens Creek/San Carlos the trip would be faster. But not a lot faster. I'd still have to stop at all the lights and deal with congestion. Of course, if I were driving from Santana Row to downtown SJ, I would take I‐280 and have a much faster trip. There is no transit corridor on I‐280, only a handful of rush hour express buses. This makes sense; a freeway is designed for the free flow of auto traffic. A bus might make uses of the carpool lanes for non‐stop segments, but there is no way for a bus to stop in the middle of the freeway to pick up passengers. But the freeways are a large high speed right of way that could be used for fast transit trips. VTA should consider them for frequent, all‐
day service. Bus‐only lanes could be established and Bus Rapid Transit stations in the median could be built, with easy access from the street above or below the freeway. Los Angeles does this with Silver Line. VTA light rail does have a freeway median segment along 87 and 85. From what I understand, it doesn't get much ridership. The stations areas tend to be at freeway interchanges with wide arterial roads. They are pedestrian‐hostile and in suburban neighborhoods so they can only attract ridership from park‐and‐ride lots. But freeway transit is not necessarily doomed to failure if the surrounding neighborhood still meets the four criteria for ridership. Rockridge BART station in Oakland is an example. The area is surrounded by the dense Rockridge neighborhood and College Ave, the main commercial street. Mercifully, the nearest freeway exit is at Claremont Ave, away from the neighborhood area. It is very easy to navigate by foot or by bike and there is frequent bus service. The freeway is higher off the ground and doesn't feel as oppressive or unsafe. What are some potential corridors worth studying? Lately, the West Valley cities have opposed widening Highway 85; in particular, Cupertino has supported light rail in the Highway 85 median. Could BRT be a cheaper and more flexible alternative to congestion? Imagine a line from Ohlone/Chynoweth station to Mountain View. Buses could follow the freeway and stop at Good Samaritan Hospital, De Anza College, and other stations in the median. Then the bus could get off the freeway and stop in Downtown Mountain View or continue on to the Google offices at North Bayshore. Light rail would not have the same flexibility. Lawrence Expressway, with pedestrian improvements could also have BRT service. Both of these ideas are NORTH/SOUTH routes and could help provide connections in the west county All Comments Received on the Draft Plan between the frequent El Camino and Stevens Creek corridors and Caltrain. Even if the immediate area is not the most dense or walkable, the ability to make easy connections could be great for cross‐
county trips. To borrow another LA example, the Green Line light rail runs almost entirely in a freeway median. Unlike the street‐running lines, the Green Line has a very high average speed and provides fast connections between the Blue Line light rail, the airport, and parallel bus routes. The under‐
construction Crenshaw line will allow the Green Line to provide even more rail connections. While not all freeways are surrounded by good transit markets, the County is sitting on a huge network of grade‐separated transit corridors. Protection from traffic makes these candidates for rapid transit when it is expensive to build new elevated structures or tunnels. Any comprehensive public transit system should make good use of the freeways and expressways. I hope VTA will study the possibility. (Headways Blog Post) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: The Ridership Recipe ‐ Next Network The main reason that I hear from my peers about why they don't use the services is because they're slow. If driving takes 20 minutes, but transit takes a full hour, people are much less inclined to use it. This is mainly a light rail issue, but not exclusively. There are plenty of spots where there's very little car traffic and I just wished the train would speed through and save a precious minute or two each time. Some buses go from downtown SJ to Santana Row every 13 minutes, but it still takes like 40 minutes go get there for some reason. I also think San Jose lacks a clear concept of "hubs" and "corridors". Most people know that there are probably stops downtown for most routes on most modes of transportation, but if you ask them for a second area they would probably draw a blank. When I take transit in other cities it is very clear where my possible general destinations are. There are neighborhoods/districts that I would just neatly group most of my destinations into. We don't have a clear set of transportation hubs within San Jose where I always know for sure how to get to, and it makes me less inclined to take transit. It might be good to branch out from downtown where transit is probably at its most popular in the south bay. So my opinion is that VTA can't really expect comprehensive growth at once. Either focus on a few nodes within a city and make that transportation really good first, or make sure there's coverage from every corner of the city to every other corner, even if it takes 2 hours end‐to‐end. I'd say the hub/node focus makes a lot more sense given the limited budget and the limited success thus far with the less popular routes. I understand that transit is usually tied to lower income housing, but as highways hit max capacity I think we may see a slightly different picture with South bay. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: The Ridership Recipe ‐ Next Network Re: Productivity refers to the number of trips, or boardings, that occur on a transit route per hour Next Gen is also called Transit Ridership Improvement Program (TRIP). First report from consultants just published is Transit Choices. Details above come from that report. What is important to some of us is that VTA has two conflicting goals. One is Ridership (70%). But the other is Coverage (30%). That is all other riders using services other than the Core network in all of the County. If you look at projects proposed for the November ballot (VTA Envison), you will not find any for Coverage. Be aware that "Ridership" has a specific (and not common use) meaning when talking to VTA. I think this should have been start of SCVTA response to Jason 5 days ago. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I embody the conundrum that VTA planners face. For 5 years, I rode a meandering bus line that transformed a 15 minute drive into a 20 minute ride, 5 minutes of waiting, and 20 minutes of walking (a little over a mile). The buses were 60 minutes apart and ended relatively early. Yet the schedule All Comments Received on the Draft Plan was serviceable (due to a less convenient route that backed up the last bus), and the morning buses were standing‐room‐only. Then my office moved, the walk became 30 minutes, and I have ridden only a few times since. So coverage matters even if speedier and more frequent service are much appreciated. Can we have an 80‐40 inspiration plan? In addition to examining how to divide fixed pie, we transit advocates should be seeking a bigger pie by showing our elected representatives how much richer the network can be if we devote a few more dollars per taxpayer. The new routes look intriguing (as a Sunnyvale resident, the 523 extension to Mountain View is enticing), and I would love to see what is possible if we filled in some of the gaps in the 70‐30 map. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts This!! Seriously! Especially in West County, as the gaps that the 90/10 network would require most residents to walk is absolutely staggering. For example, I live in Saratoga and work in South San Jose. The gap left by the disappearance of the 37 would mean I would have to walk for 3 miles to a light rail station or transfer 4 times, thus taking much longer. For my family living around Branham, transit would no longer be an option. Also I can't help but notice how East County gets smothered in frequent service in each proposal. Inequality much? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I'd personally rather see more coverage rather than faster coverage; serving a larger area will allow more access to the transit network for both individuals and businesses. Most individuals I know would not drive to a bus route, particularly since there is no parking for most stops Routes: 13 Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I posted earlier about my specific situation, seeing how many go from the light rail to the 13. But let's look at the bigger picture. Years ago, VTA tried exactly this "Next Network" approach, which they then called a "Comprehensive Operations Analysis" but employed the same underlying philosophy. Guess what? Ridership has been stagnant ever since. In a zero‐sum game, whatever ridership increases occurred on the busy routes have been offset by losses on routes sacrificed. And who will be riding more under VTA's proposed concepts? Obviously those who are closer to stations or can get there. The less fortunate among us living farther away are the ones who will suffer, the ones who barely make it now and need transit. How can VTA decide to systematically shaft the ones who need the service the most? Does this organization have no conscience, excusing its behavior in the name of efficiency? Moreover, many people riding the lower ridership routes also use the busy routes. If they can't connect to those busy routes because one leg of their journey is disrupted, they'll stop riding altogether if they have any other means of getting where they need to go. If this approach didn't work in the past, why would it be any different this time? Routes: 22; 522 Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts How certain can we be that increasing the frequency on some routes to once per 5 minutes will increase ridership? It seems like a Bart rider waiting up to 5 minutes is no more likely to ride the bus than waiting up to 6 minutes, or indeed up to 7.5 minutes. Question the assumptions. I think the problem with the 522 Rapid line on El Camino Real is not that it is not frequent or rapid enough, but just that it skips too many stops. Look at BRT in other places. Spacing of 2 miles is very rare for stops. If you switch to a 1 mile spacing, I bet you make a big ridership increase, even if it slows (slightly) the travel time of the average ride. Few people are making a ride long enough that the speed change is important. Increase line 522 to a stop every 1/2 mile and you might be able to totally eliminate or drastically curtail the hours of the 22 service "every stop now defined". You could even replace 22 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan with smaller routes that made loops around the areas away from El Camino, but interconnecting at the 522 stops. This would be a better way to conserve resources than to drop routes in lightly used areas and ramp up the frequency to obscenely wasteful short intervals. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts There certainly is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to frequency. On an hour‐long route, increasing frequency from every 7.5 minutes to every 5 minutes requires 4 additional buses (12 buses instead of 8). The same amount of resources could be used to increase frequency on 4 routes from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes (each requiring 3 buses instead of 2). Or those resources could be used to reintroduce 60‐minute weekend service on 10 routes (4 buses x 5 days per week = 1 bus x 2 days/week x 10 routes). David is right: riders would be hard pressed to notice any difference between a 5 or a 7.5 minute wait. However, shortening wait times from 30 to 20 minutes tends to be when transit starts to become a more viable choice for potential riders. So in this example, you could make a marginal, barely‐noticeable improvement on one route. Conversely, you can make much more impactful and ridership‐generating improvements on 4 routes or provide lifeline weekend service on 10 routes. Unless people are being turned away because buses are too full, which I've never experienced on VTA, it doesn't make sense to keep increasing service on already well‐supplied routes. The math shows that huge sacrifices are required on coverage routes (often leading to substantial ridership losses and isolation of vulnerable populations) to generate only incremental benefits on preexisting frequent routes (where ridership gains, if any, rarely offset these losses). Plus, those folks using the frequent route who have to transfer to a coverage route might see their overall travel times lengthen dramatically. This is why there should be deep concern over doubling down on the robbing Peter to Pay Paul approach, which has not worked for VTA in the past and will likely not succeed in the future. 3 ? Reply?Share ? Avatar Jason David ? a month ago Great points. In the East Bay, AC Transit is doing exactly what you are proposing on their International Boulevard and Telegraph BRT line. Currently, there is a local and rapid service. They are consolidating both routes into one (operating every 8‐12 minutes) that stops approximately every 1/3 mile. Saving $2.7 million annually in the process, they are using new voter‐approved funds and redistributing resources from this corridor to beef up service on other lines from every 30 to 15‐20 minutes. In an effort to boost their transit network and increase ridership, they are spreading high‐quality service over a larger area without sacrificing overall service coverage. Routes: Light Rail Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I don't understand why you'd consider the bus network without considering the LRT network. You should allow free transfers between bus and LRT and design a fully‐integrated system where the two modes of transit work hand in hand. Then you can achieve system efficiency and fare‐box efficiency. Btw, years ago you guys put out proposals for a new LRT route map (breaking up the Winchester‐MV line and adding the red line, etc). What ever happened with that? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I think focusing more on ridership is important as those are the passengers that ride and depend on VTA. At the same time we cannot forget the areas where ridership is low. To combat this problem, I believe VTA should implement FLEX in those low ridership areas, but have Flex broken up into different coverage zones to help keep Flex wait times low i.e. Flex North/South/West. Also is there a way to see the individual routes that are in each planned service proposal? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts All Comments Received on the Draft Plan 90/10 is definitely the way to go. Increased frequency builds ridership because it gets rid of one of the major inconveniences of public transportation: inconvenience. More people will use the system if they don't need to plan their trip time. If you can just to a stop, and expect a ride quickly (less than 5 minutes) then you are far more likely to use the system. I know people who live in NY, and when the trains take 15 minutes after 2AM, they will just pay for a taxi even though they have a pass for the subway. It's unfortunate that to improve our system we will have to remove some lines, but the system needs to work well somewhere before it can work everywhere. We need to be even more aggressive than the 90/10 stratagy in my opinion! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts I have ridden public transit in San Jose since arriving in the 70?s. If VTA wants to increase ridership, the solution is pretty obvious. What everyone in this Valley needs is more free time. So VTA should aim to decrease the home‐to‐destination and return time, the more the better. Why bother taking transit if you can get there much faster by car, assuming you have one? This is most urgent for the daily commute since many people have to go to the workplace five days a week. VTA already knows this. See, for example, the rise of the 102 versus the near demise of the 101. It?s not rocket science. The question is how you can dramatically decrease the transit time. Now, do the 80‐20 and 90‐10 concepts adhere to this goal? The few lucky ones living next to the trunk lines may salvage a couple of minutes due to the increased frequency. But who care about that? VTA is, with few exceptions, very slow. The overall time reduction would be in the margins. And if one worries about two minutes, he or she would hop in the car and pick up 20, 30 or more. Transit is not even on their radars. And for those who don?t live along a trunk line, change to either 80‐20 or 90‐10 can bring disaster, as I commented previously. So the most likely thing to happen is the downward ridership spiral in the outlying areas if one of these concepts is implemented. It?s hard to ride the bus if you cannot even walk to it in any reasonable time. So I suggest VTA should shelve any thought of decreasing neighborhood coverage. Instead, think of how it can increase the speed of its vehicles. And it doesn?t hurt to advertise where VTA already gets people there quickly. I have been a bit mystified as to why more people don?t ride the 102 like I do. It?s at least as fast as driving yourself if you go during peak hours. And I look forward to the day when I can ride the 13 down to Oakridge Mall for a Saturday sale! The transit system is definitely not all about the major lines. (Headways Blogpost) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts The problem that VTA faces is that a most of Santa Clara County is not dense enough to support wide scale public transit. The capital cost of providing transit is too high for basically a bunch of suburbs (outside of San Jose). See the challenges with SF and MUNI? SF is more dense than Santa Clara County, but if you look at the neighborhood maps, most of the density is in the Northeastern neighborhoods and South of Market. Even SF isn't dense enough for good transit (take away the union issues, etc.) If you really want transit, then the South Bay needs to densify. A lot. Otherwise you get what we have with VTA. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts In my mind, it's about time. Commuters who could use VTA over a private vehicle usually have very little time and would only choose VTA if it's equivalent or better to driving. Riders who use VTA because they have no private vehicle usually have a lot of time, or at least more than commuters. If you want to serve the first group, and reduce traffic congestion, then you have to make the trips as fast and as frequent as possible between well‐defined hubs (3‐5 x per hour with limited stops), raising fares as necessary to keep the service sustainable. If you want to serve the second group, you need All Comments Received on the Draft Plan more routes that run less frequently, and reduce frequency to maintain a consistent fare. Trying to focus on both groups at the same time will serve both groups suboptimally. I claim that VTA is aimed at the second group, even though it thinks it is serving both groups. Proof: Caltrain clearly serves the "professional commuter" crowd, and even though Diridon is a VTA hub, the bulk of Caltrain riders drive to the station. These are people who are make a conscious effort to take a public transit system, pay a great deal of money to do so, yet still opt to not use VTA. (Headways Blogpost) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA's Next Network Concepts These three maps illustrate the horrible consequences on mobility and accessibility that will occur if VTA pursues a policy to "rob Peter to pay Paul." Even the 80‐20 scenario would deprive huge areas of usable transit service ‐ for example, there would be extremely limited north‐south off‐peak service west of Sunnyvale, a 3‐mile gap between Curtner and Blossom Hill, cuts to already skeletal service in Los Gatos and the Almaden Valley and nothing in the East San Jose foothills. The 90‐10 scenario would be markedly worse. Page 45 of Mr. Walker's Transit Choices Report highlights an astounding fact. Even under the current 70‐30 service allocation, over 600,000 Santa Clara County residents (34%) have no transit service. Isolating even more residents in an 80‐20 or 90‐10 scenario is not only unsound policy, it also borders on being unconscionable. Consider what life would be like if you are a senior, person with a disability, youth or a non‐driving adult who is stuck in a transit desert in one of the richest counties in the United States. To add insult to injury, you are also paying sales taxes to support VTA and getting nothing. The bottom line is that a 70‐30 allocation is the bare minimum in a vast area like Santa Clara County. Unless there is first a usable underlying countywide transit network with adequate coverage, it's a highly questionable premise whether pouring more resources into relatively well‐served routes will increase ridership. VTA has already tried this approach, and it has not worked. Case in point: Over the past fifteen years, while overall service levels have dropped 20% (page 10 of Mr. Walker's report), VTA has continued to reallocate service to the Stevens Creek and El Camino corridors. Most places have far worse service today than fifteen years ago, but Stevens Creek and El Camino are at their highest service ever (every 6 to 8 minutes). Yet between 2001 and 2015, average weekday ridership on those two corridors (buses 22, 23, 323 and 522 combined) dropped from more than 36,000 to approximately 28,500, a 20% decrease consistent with systemwide ridership losses. Why might that be? Most people don't confine their daily travel to one‐dimension along a single corridor; they travel in two‐dimensions, which typically requires multiple routes on transit. Unfortunately, VTA service cuts on connecting buses have made transfers so burdensome and inconvenient that it is hardly surprising that thousands of people have abandoned transit altogether. There are two scenarios that VTA should add to this analysis: (1) A 70‐30 base scenario with a 20% service increase ‐ representing a restoration of all the service hours that were cut between 2001 and 2015 (2) A 70‐30 base scenario with a 30% service increase ‐ representing service levels if they had kept up with population growth between 2001 and 2015 What would these maps look like? Would we start having a much more robust countywide transit network? Financial constraints may not make service growth feasible at this time, but why focus only on austerity and zero‐sum? Why not create a positive vision that excites people? This is being done all over the country, in places like Seattle, Oakland, Denver and even Phoenix. They have all seen massive infusions of operating funding because they gave voters a comprehensive system they could see themselves riding, not one that left hundreds of thousands of people isolated. As a result, they are creating truly functional transit systems and generating long‐term ridership increases. Is VTA's ENVISION proposal for the November ballot restricted to capital projects or does it include any money for day‐to‐day operations? If not, why not? The equivalent of a very modest $3 per month from each Santa Clara County resident would generate over $65 million annually for operations, which could fund 20% more transit service to get us back to where we were in 2001. When there are real plans to bring game‐changing improvements All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to transit (like the BART vote in 2000), the voters of Santa Clara County will say "yes" in overwhelming numbers. see more ? Reply?Share ? Avatar Jason Jason ? 2 months ago VTA's own historic ridership indeed provides evidence that more service coupled with a more even ridership/coverage balance results in higher transit ridership. In 2001, VTA operated 16% more bus revenue hours (1.49 vs. 1.28 million) and 24% more bus revenue miles (1.88 vs 1.51 million) than in 2015. Not only was there more service overall, but the service was more widely distributed. At that time, VTA still offered great levels of service (15 minutes or better) on the highest ridership routes but not at the expense of other parts of the network. VTA provided decent headways (30 minutes or better) with longer hours of service on a grid covering most of the valley. As a result, most people had reasonable transit options and there were fewer transit deserts. But then there became this singular focus on improving "productivity" to boost farebox recovery. The results speak for themselves: Today, average weekday bus ridership has fallen by 46,494 (30%), which exceeds the entire light rail system and is pretty much the worst drop in the country. Round after round of service cuts on "low productivity" routes compromised the entire network's viability, creating the perverse outcome of falling productivity (25.4 today vs 31.9 rides per hour in 2001) and no substantive farebox recovery increase as riders and their fare revenue have left the system. In other words, the pursuit of productivity in and of itself ‐ which sounds eerily familiar with the 90‐10 and 80‐20 "Next Network" concepts being floated ‐ failed to achieve its stated goal and resulted in plummeting ridership. To this day, VTA has not recovered. Why should we expect a different outcome this time? So it isn't unreasonable at all to set a goal of getting back to where we were in 2001. Routes: 77 Subject: INPUT FOR NEXT TRANSIT NETWORK Some thoughts: ‐ Take efficiency into account while planning better coverage. Protect environment by not running or running fewer empty buses ‐ Adapt service based on usage statistics ‐ Do you have some real usage data for Line 77 on McCandless Drive in Milpitas? On average, how many riders are there on a day? Routes: Light Rail Subject: Squarespace comment on 6/3 16 As a Mtn. View resident, I would prefer Scenario 1 with the first two enhancements. This would provide us with direct service to downtown San Jose as well as to Bart, which all scenarios give to the people on the Alum Rock line. With a chance to transfer at Baypoint, it also doubles the frequency of trains leaving the Mtn. View station, possibly getting the headways close enough to make the trip to San Jose fast enough to be useable. Now if you could only speed up the trains though downtown San Jose. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Squarespace submission 6‐4‐16 I'm a senior. Although I do drive for the last 6 months I have been unable to drive because of foot surgery (in a cast) and then I fell, breaking several fingers and ending up not being able to drive again. Although I attempted to check, I could not find any transportation to take me from Santa Teresa/Cottle to Oakridge. The only transportation seemed to go to the east side. If there isn't a route going to Oakridge, I believe that would be a good idea. Routes: Light Rail Subject: suggestions for Next Network The highest priority to bring the VTA into the 20th century (one step at a time) is efficient and direct connection with San Jose INTERNATIONAL airport. The response to this need can not contain the words 'shuttle bus' as this is not efficient. Both BART and the Light Rail MUST have a direct line to the airport. The airport is becoming more international with British Air and Lufthansa and ANA. Lack of All Comments Received on the Draft Plan direct public transportation to it is an embarrassment. You can't call yourself a 21st century transportation system when you don't have direct linkage to the international airport at your center. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Portable toilets and charge stations Could you include portable toilets in your major train and bus stops as well as convenience outlets for the passengers to charge their cellphones. Almost all of the stops have solar panels. And it's just minimal power consumption to recharge a cellphone. I hope that you include these suggestions of mine. Thank you. Routes: 53 Subject: ROUTE 53 ‐ Coverage to Saratoga ( line 53 ) When I chose our current home, one of the things that decided the location was bus service. I am unable to drive. Thus I depend on bus service to take me to appointments, shopping, library, etc. In the almost 20 years I've lived here, the bus service to stops near me has decreased from 2 buses with nearby stops, to one. And from 7 day a week service, including evenings, to only 5 days, and only daytime. Frequency decreased from every 20 minutes to once an hour. My children took the bus home from high school. Current 80% proposal would mean that they wouldn't be able to do this, since the "peak" hours are not high school release hours, which vary according to day of the week and their particular schedule ‐‐ not everyone gets released at the same time. Because of the way the school district boundaries are drawn, it is a 3 mile walk from our house to the school ‐ Monta Vista High School . Even now, it is a 1 mile walk from the school to the bus stop. You already eliminated service to the middle school. Now you would be eliminating service to the high school, and both of the Junior Colleges. And the library, senior center, etc. Besides the trips involving one bus, you'd also eliminate ridership on the "busy" lines. If I can't get to El Camino Real by bus, I won't be taking the 22 either. Besides myself, in my household my son takes the bus daily to De Anza College. My daughter is also dependent on the bus, as she is unable to drive due to disability. She's currently job hunting ‐‐ how can she get to work if there isn't service? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: The TRIP alternatives report is corrupted Under Document Library/TRIP alternatives report (http://vtaorgcontent.s3‐us‐west‐
1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/TRIP%20Alternatives%20Report%20Web.pdf) some of the text is corrupted and unreadable. Please fix and re‐upload so we can read the whole report. Contacted us a second time with same complaint, which was referred to Tricia. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Help Design VTA's New Transit System South County Collaborative Membership: Because so many of your clients depend o VTA, take advantage of this opportunity to help shape VTA services. If unable to attend, please send them your comments. Routes: 17; 18; 19 Subject: Cannot attend VTA Workshop Saturday I had been invited to attend this Saturday?s VTA workshop and RSVP?d yes. Unfortunately it turns out that Saturday happens to be the 50th birthday party (wine tasting road trip in a limo) for one of my very best friends. A strictly gotta be there gig as I?m sure you must agree. So unfortunately instead of learning about local transportation issues and being a good, active citizen I will be enjoying the pleasure of celebrating with and for good friends while taking advantage of our local transportation infrastructure. Hopefully I?ll be able to make one of these workshops. So sorry to be missing the Saturday one. Apologies for the false RSVP and thanks again for the invitation. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 35 Subject: can't make Mountain View Ethan, A work assignment just came up and I have to be in San Francisco at 1:30. Unfortunately, I can't make any of the other workshops. I apologize for the last minute cancellation. Please let me know if I can be helpful in any other way. I do appreciate the opportunity for public input. Laura Monczynski District 2, San Jose President, Hayes Neighborhood Association Public transit user by choice Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 I'm writing to urge you NOT to cancel routes 88 and 35 which are critical to so many people in the Palo Alto/ Mountain View area. In order to better serve people in the South Bay, I know your company is planning to keep only the 22 and 522 routes for those of us who live farther North. I also know that your meeting in Palo Alto, which included some City Council members, refused to accept the options you offered and I agree with them. I think you believe that by cancelling these routes and increasing access to buses in the San Jose area, more people will ride. However, A LOT more needs to be done to improve the bus riding experience before that will happen. Also, you should consider who your primary base of riders has been and continues to be, e.g., elders, youth and the poor, and not take away, in many cases, their only mode of transport. So I'm asking you to reconsider you plan and rather than just holding meetings and acting as if resident input is going to change that plan, instead please really listen to those of us who have valid objections to it. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Service in Los Altos I am a senior who no longer drives. I have a clipper card issued through Foothill College that will allow me to ride the bus for free. However: Since the VTA discontinued the Fremont Avenue route, my closest bus stops are on Grant Road (.7 miles away), or on El Monte Avenue (1.2 miles away). Both are east / west routes, requiring a transfer somewhere along the line to get to either Foothill College, or El Camino Real. I would use the bus to get to Foothill College and the Los Altos Civic Center (Library), but the walk to a bus stop is a real challenge (in a City with few sidewalks). Any redesign of the VTA network must include good routes to get cross town first. Would love to see a route down Covington Road, where one could easily transfer to points west (Foothill) or east (El Camino Corridor). Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Health Trust program leader My names is John Arnold, I'm the Program Coordinator for AGEnts, which is a project provided by the Health Trust as a part of its' Healthy Aging Strategic Initiative. The project is comprised of seniors and older adult volunteers who advocate for policies, programs and issues which impact seniors. Good morning Ethan, I was looking forward to contributing to the development of VTA Next Network. As the Program Coordinator for AGEnts for Change we view the development of the network as a major opportunity for seniors and older adults to provide a perspective of how changes to the outline of the tranportation system can provide significant benefits to our demograhic. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I would like to vote for scenario 3 Routes: 35 Subject: Light Rail I live in Palo Alto and use line 35, so concepts 1 and 2 look OK. Concept 3 does not. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Milpitas ‐ Palo Alto connection The concept is good. But it should have a express bus run from the east bay(Milpitas) to South Bay(Mountain view/Palo Alto), then there will be more commuter utilize the service and connection the Caltrain or BART system. If there is other buses running inside the town for the commuter to connect to work. I am sure more people are willing to take public transportation instead of sitting in the traffic. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: 06 17 16 Mountain view Stakeholders meeting This gentleman, along with several other members of the audience, engaged in disruptive behavior by continually yelling out questions to the presenter. The result of these many loudly presented questions from this small group was the end of the meeting was rushed. Routes: 35; 51; 52 Subject: 06 17 16 MV Stakeholder meeting At this stakeholder meeting, this gentleman was one of four people who repeatedly disrupted the meeting by shouting out questions during the presentation Routes: 21; 51; 52 Subject: 06 17 16 MV Stakeholder meeting At this workshop, this individual was one of four people who repeatedly disrupted the meeting by shouting out questions at the facilitator. As a result of the many disruptions, the end of the workshop was very rushed. Routes: 21; 51; 52 Subject: 06 17 16 MV Stakeholder meeting This individual was one of four individuals at this meeting that disrupted the proceedings by repeatedly shouting out their questions. The disruption was great enough the final portion of the workshop was very rushed. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Inquired about next round of TRIP meetings Caller would not provide name. Caller states she does not have a phone or access to the internet. Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Keep 35 and 88 Caller is a senior citizen that depends on these two routes to travel around town. She asks that these two routes not be changed or diminished. She also mentioned school trippers. Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 88 and 35 Caller is a Palo Alto resident and notes PA contributes sales tax dollars to VTA so it deserves service. Scenario three would leave Palo Alto with no bus service. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: MV Stakeholder Workshop Poorly Ran Attended 6/17 Workshop in Mountain View. Had oped‐and needed‐ to learn a lot about transit proposals. Instead the workshop was dominated by 3 hostile people from Palo Alto, with their own agenda. Speaker needed to be more in charge. Subject: Favors scenarios that keep direct LR line from Routes: Light Rail Downtown SJ to MV Please do not take away a direct line from downtown San Jose to Mountain View (scenarios 2 and 3). With all the housing development underway in downtown San Jose and it's emerging urban All Comments Received on the Draft Plan renaissance, we need to continue to provide fast and convenient public transportation to the centers where jobs are: Mountain View/Sunnyvale and all along the Tasman/Santa Clara corridor. In fact, another line that takes a more linear route from downtown SJ to MV along the Central Expressway would be ideal to increase ridership and convenience. Why not keep the Winchester to MV line intact and simply add another line along the existing tracks from Alum Rock to MV in order to link the BART to the Levi's Stadium? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Coverage vs ridership Coverage is very important. There are seniors with problems of driving to a dr's appointment, shopping, library, movies etc. Transit service should take care not only of workers or students, but of seniors as well considering the demographics of the area north of San Jose. Shuttles, similar to Mountain View Community Shuttle, not necessarily buses, should be considered to fill in the gaps and improve coverage. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Scenario 2 & 3 with with Tasman Express service I think connecting BART and GreatMall to Mountain View through Scenario 2 or 3 would be a great idea to reduce congestion on the road and encourage more public transit use. Also the express service would be great as the greatest complaint now for most people is that commuting on VTA Light Rail takes longer than driving even in peak traffic. Thanks for all your great work in the VTA, Routes: Light Rail Subject: VTA Light Rail Service Plan feedback Don't like existing plans/routes to begin with. Proposed options still continue existing design. Long route lines = low frequency. Shorter lines = more focused service = higher frequency. Give up on ][ route shape. Instead have service lines aligned to major streets. Basically, T on top of ^. 1. Mountain View <‐> Alum Rock (Central, Tasman, Capitol) 2. Tasman <‐> San Jose Downtown Core (N First Ave) 3. San Jose Downtown Core <‐> Winchester 4. San Jose Downtown Core <‐> Santa Teresa Have right idea with "optional" express service enhancements 2 & 3. But need to extend to all 4 lines listed above. There are many stations in the system, need express service to get between long stretches, only stopping at key stations to save time. Perhaps alternating with local service that makes all stops. See Caltrain schedule. I travel from Diridon to Crossman everyday for work. It's a 1 hour trip each way. Providing an express service up/down N First between Tasman <‐> San Jose Downtown would make transit more efficient and effective. Proposed Tasman express would also help, but even more so if goes to Tasman Stn on east end. Would gladly make two transfers each way, if it meant shorter trips with express service. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Whisman Park & Ride Lot Full The Whisman park & ride lot is full of cars from the local residents. What will VTA be doing to ensure the lot is available to their paying customers? Routes: 122; 168 Subject: express bus connection It would be more effective if express bus # 168 would connect with express bus #102 at Ohlone Chynoweth VTA transit station. This would be a shorter and much faster route from Gilroy or Morgan Hill to Palo Alto. Thank you for considering it. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Direct from San Jose to mt view All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I ride everyday to work taking it from San Fernando to borregas in Sunnyvale. It's a horrible idea to cut direct service from Winchester to mt view. The train is crowded the entire trip. So many people rely on direct service. I'd stop taking for sure if you cut the service. I think a lot of others riders would be upset too. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I realize that I lack ridership information other than myself, but, I have been using the MV‐WInchester line since 2010 to go from Mountain View to Cisco and my other jobs along the 1st/Zanker corridors. As a Mountain View‐area resident, I must use my bike to get to LR. It would be difficult, and perhaps drive me away from VTA, if I had to change trains with my bike, interrupting my work. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: defending VTA I wanted to weigh in on the future of VTA. I believe that public transit is meant to function as a public service‐‐that is to say, it should be there for everyone, regardless of popularity. Honestly farebox recovery should not really be a priority of public transportation, because it is public and there should not be too much concern for the bottom line. Perhaps it would be a good idea to try to capture more riders, since public transportation is generally more environmentally friendly than driving in a car, and also it reduces traffic congestion. But at the end of the day, it is better to keep an unpopular route that functions as a lifeline for an elderly grandmother, than to just focus on the 22. Public transportation is supposed to be there for you, popular or not. Routes: Light Rail Subject: TONS OF MONEY.. Every cent is LOST!! All the people aboard the vta light rail have no proof of purchase if the machines at specific but not entirely to the Santa Teresa light rail station.. You can't pay for a ticket if the machine simply doesn't accept the legal tender supplied by the United States of America.. People will continue to walk all over and take advantage to your flawed buocracy and as a citizen of the USA. There has to be a way to rectify this discrepancy.. ‐Lucifer(L.O.L) Routes: Light Rail Subject: Thumbs up Network 90 I really like the concept of light rail 903 which is a direct east‐west service. With the new bart stations, there will be more people using the light rail to commute from east bay to Sunnyvale/Mountain view area. A direct 903 line will save the commuters a lot of time, and improve the traffic along 237. Great idea! Routes: 18; General Project Comment Subject: Suggestion for vta 18 I would like to see the san benito county buses have better connections with vta 18 bus lines. It's ridiculous I have to wait 40 minutes at gavilan college for a 18 to pick me up. I informed san benito county and they are just as clueless about making sure connections take place so that people can get to work on time. It makes me frustrated because I been voicing my opinion for some time now and I feel as if people that dont even take the bus are making all the decisions on how buses should connect better. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Reliability Besides ridership, connections and efficiency, VTA should focus on improving reliability! Reliability has been very spotty, even in the early morning (e.g., around 6AM), when there is very little other traffic. Much of that appears to be due to lack of concern for schedules on the part of some operators. Once All Comments Received on the Draft Plan they get behind schedule, there seems to be little if any attempt to make up for lost time. And the schedule should allow for that opportunity, within reason. Better to add a few more minutes to travel time so as to be reliable, than to sacrifice reliability for the sake of a few minutes less. Reliability will increase ridership, allow for better connections, and improve efficiency (though have a slight hit on time efficiency). Routes: Light Rail Subject: Vta train locations please provide a real‐time map of vta train positions like Uber does. I just now missed my train by 60 seconds. This is very annoying and makes the whole system undependable. Especially for people like me who use Vta to get to Cal train. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Proterra electric buses? Elevated monorail? ‐ are you guys looking at the Proterra electric buses? The HQ of the company is here in the Bay Area, in Burlingame. It's a full sized bus like the Gillig and New Flyer buses that you guys use but it is fully electric (not hybrid). Like the Gilligs, it is Made in USA. :) ‐ whatever augments or replaces Light Rail should be elevated, in my opinion! It definitely needs to be grade separated. Also, why is the top speed of light rail only 55 mph? Could it not go faster? I thought the speed limit for trains without special track technology was 80 mph. :) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: About timings and wifi Hi,I frequently travel in vta services but the trains never come on exact timings and also you provide free WiFi services even in that your department lags in it.Please,Try to improve this basic things. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail input I'm a newer resident and over the past year and a half since moving here, I've been trying to figure out how to make a light rail commute make sense for me. It takes longer than driving, even when driving solo from downtown SJ to MV. However, I think I've finally figured it out since recently moving to within a stone's throw of one of the stops on First Street: my employer allows me to use the time on the train as work time so that by the time I walk into my office, I've been working for 45 minutes. Having my commute time serve double duty as work time is fantastic. I can leave the office early but still have put in a full days' worth of work and the non‐productive portion of the commute is less time than driving. I take the 901 line north and don't have to make any changes in trains, so my train‐work time is wholly uninterrupted. If a change were implemented that required me to transfer trains and this transfer took more than 5 minutes, that interruption might move use of the light rail back into the category of "more hassle than it's worth" for me. Thus, I would be more in favor of the first scenario, than the second or third ones. Unless you propose a fourth scenario which involves an express line from downtown SJ to the MV/Sunnyvale area, in which case that *might* be more favorable, depending on where it began and ended. Additionally, the frequency of the Winchester‐Mountain View line is currently sufficient to my needs. However, as someone who can hear the trains from my bedroom at ALL HOURS of the day and night, I would appreciate that any increased frequency be accompanied by measures to reduce the noise, most notably the train identification announcement, which is the most intrusive operational noise. As one of my supervisors put it, if I'm going to have to put up with the noise of the light rail, I might as well be able to take advantage of it too. I hope that continues to be the case. Subject: TRIP: Coverage reduction will eliminate most Routes: General Project Comment paratransit trips All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Unless policy is changed, reduction in route coverage will eliminate most paratransit service as well. At present, if your city doesn't have transit ‐ say for example, no weekend service ‐ then paratransit won't provide a ride on weekends. Policy will only permit it to provide service where there is existing bus service. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail expansion Light rail needs to go to Cupertino, Tens of thousands of workers there each day! Reduce auto traffic . Light rail needs to be extended from Santa Teresa to Morgan Hill to reduce congestion on 101 and connect residents to city Routes: Light Rail Subject: Better shoulder service for LR I live 200 yards from the Curtner light rail station and cannot take light rail to my job at SJC airport as I start at 5:45am or pm shift can go until past 2 am if planes are late. Hospital workers, airlines, hotel, many industries would benefit if light rail went 24 hours‐even 1 per hour ALL NIGHT. As a native Chicagoan the trains ran to both airports (MDW and ORD) 24/7. We are the 10th largest city in America ( actually larger than SF) and act like Albuquerque ! If you're concerned about $$, sporadically sprinkle some fare checkers after 5 pm‐everybody knows nights are HOME FREE ! LR Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Why Can't VTA do this? http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952072/local‐motors‐3d‐printed‐self‐driving‐bus‐
washington‐dc‐launch Routes: Light Rail Subject: More frequent light rail I live next to a diridon station and work next to moffett park station, but I don't take light rail because it takes an hour. Even a Caltrain light rail combo is faster. Riding a bike 12 miles is faster (it takes me 50 mins to bike). We need express trains. Also, dont lessen trains to the N First St area, with Apple and Google taking up space there, ridership will go up, since 101 can't get any wider. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: bus service balance I appreciate that this can be simplified to a single dimension, and I do think the overall best choice is to optimize for ridership, but I'm a little uncomfortable making that decision in an information vacuum. Things like quality of bike routes, availability of bike share stations, affluence of residents (corresponding to use of private vehicles and ride sharing services) seem like they would be vital in making final routing decisions. Personally, I think biking + transit can be a good solution in general, although for my commute it's significantly faster to bike to work even though I live near CalTrain and work near the light rail. Bike+transit is also challenging with small children, but I'm not really sure what to do about that other than make sure buses can accommodate bikes with child seats. I also hope that some areas which would lose bus service might be able to have on‐demand shuttles or something similar, but that seems more like a google research project than a near‐term solution. Thanks Routes: Light Rail Subject: Next Network Light Rail Service Plan I'm curious if VTA has ever done any consideration for new light rail lines? Its unfortunate there's no light rail coverage from Alum Rock down, the gap in East/South San Jose between the Santa Teresa and Alum Rock lines. And no coverage to the west say along the 280 N corridor to Cupertino. Seems the Winchester line is as far south west as you can get. Be nice to have something bridge the gap All Comments Received on the Draft Plan down Mountain view or up from Winchester. Also would be nice if we had Mountain View line extend further into Palo Alto. But I must be dreaming with these types of expansions... Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Partnering with Uber/Lyft/private sector I'm curious to what approaches would be taken in this area. Some thoughts that came to mind would be: * those services accepting Clipper card account as payment, since VTA now uses that * perhaps some special discounted/negotiated rates if using the private sector service when the destination or pickup location is a VTA stop (light rail station, Bart station, or a bus stop), or particularly when both pickup and destination is to such stops. * VTA mobile app that links to these private sector services. One app to handle public transportation where there some partnership with private sector transport. No need to go to separate app. Maybe via use of the private sector's APIs (if available). Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network and better transit information How will VTA make the public aware of any bus network overhauls and major frequency changes? Will there be some kind of ad campaign concurrent with the Next Network rollout? Also, this redesign would be a great chance for VTA to re‐evaluate how it presents information to passengers, as hinted in the Transit Choices report. Are there plans to create a new map with lines based on frequency? And are there plans to improve legibility of information at bus stops and on bus displays? For example, the current bus stop signs say nothing about frequency or span of services. Moreover, buses only display the destination, with no information about what route the bus follows. Naming bus routes after the corridor (as SF Muni does: http://humantransit.org/2011/05/bus‐signage‐can‐be‐beautiful.html) can make the network easier to understand, especially when multiple lines terminate at the same transit centers. If VTA decides to beef up its major corridors, this could be a great way to emphasize those changes. Routes: 23 Subject: Bus service to USPS in Los Altos Please add bus service to the largest Post Office in Los Altos on Miramonte Avenue (by Loyola Corners). The 23 Route use to go by it but was discontinued years ago. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail expansion looking at the entire system map, the glaring unserved and inaccessible area is the community along 85 corridor. The "heart" of Silicon Valley where most companies are located is along 101 and the bedroom community supporting these companies are along 85. While one can use the Winchester‐
MV line, but it's a long 1hrs+ having to go through SJ downtown. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Improve efficiency I've lived in the berryessa area for a good 10 yrs. what I have observed is at certain times every bus or train that passes by is empty. VTA needs to reasses the most active routes and discontinue unused routes that waste resources and money. Why keep a bus route for 1 bus fare? Instead maybe have a smaller city vehicle. Subject: Scenarios for VTA Light Rail Service Routes: Light Rail Enhancements Thank you for the clear and thoughtful explanations of the proposed light rail service scenarios and enhancements. Two of them include direct service from Mountain View to Alum Rock. I think these would be most welcome, as it will relieve congestion on CA‐237. Is there any way to combine this with All Comments Received on the Draft Plan the Old Ironsides‐Mountain View express enhancement? That is, it would be great to be able to travel from Milpitas to Mountain View with no connection, and have the section through Sunnyvale be an express, for at least some of the trips. Otherwise, if there be a quick connection at Old Ironsides from a Winchester‐bound express to an Alum Rock train, that would be a second choice. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Proposed VTA changes So much development along Winchester corridor but light rail remains worse possible way to get from west San Jose to Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mt. view, with. Otho g going to Cupertino. Too many stops all by this line to ever make it efficient. Takes me 20 minutes,tops, to drive to Santa Clara via Washington, layfayette. That one hour and 45 minutes via transit. Why would anyone choose transit? Routes: Light Rail Subject: Lightrail and CalTrain Scheduling I have called about the poor scheduling of Lightrail and CalTrain timing. The end result was we cannot change the time because if there is a delay we throw the schedule off. That is unacceptable. Coordinate the bus, train and BART systems to run accordingly ‐ when either transportation comes into a hub, time the systems for an 5‐7 minute delay. This allows passengers to leave one transit to transfer to the next in a timely manner. I have found myself running from train to light rail and then waiting for one train 20 minutes; bus system (2 come into Winchester and take breaks at the same time) wait for 20 minutes.This is why I don't take your transit to get to work. I would if you ran the system efficiently. Why don't you experiment with the system, get out of your vehicles for one full week and take transit to and from work. See how hard it is to get around the county using your poorly scheduled system. Also you may take a little guidance from European systems that run very well! We live in Silicon Valley! Be forward thinking. Subject: Bus lines 88 and 35;proposed cuts in service. I Routes: 88 protest this action! I am 90 yrs of age, a retired physician. I live in a continuing care residence community(Vi at Palo Alto). I am a loyal devoted patron of public yransit; VTA, Samtrans and Caltrains, since I surrendered my driving license in 2013. I ride Bus 35 8‐10times every week. Imy destinations are Walgreens on Middlefield, Oeet's Coffee on charleston, Avenidas for classes and to varios merchants in and around Palo Alto. I find the local free shuttle service not suitable for my needs. VTA drivers are superb drivers, polite and of good humor. Cuts in VTA service scedules would inflict severe negative consequences on me. Please do not stint on public transit. You are needed now more than you Ever have been. Routes: Light Rail Subject: lightrail scenarios I really like scenarios 2 and 3, because Evergreen/Alum Rock/Berryessa areas need a direct line to Mt. View. What would it take to have all three lines end at Mt. View? So many of the jobs are in sunnyvale and Mt. View area. In addition, there would then be multiple ways to get to Levi stadium. Just my thoughts... Routes: General Project Comment Subject: I have a concern about the northern county I live in Palo Alto and work in Santa Clara. I read the plans and although I think they are very exciting and great improvements there is nothing in them to fix the issues I find more frustrating about transit in the area. Particularly: ‐ very poor connectivity to light rail from Palo Alto (really only the 35 once an hour) the 22 / 522 comes close but not close enough. I could take caltrain but it's expensive, very crowded and only connects once an hour during rush hours (Cal Ave station). ‐ Going north (Menlo All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Park, Redwood City...) is bad ‐ there's no accommodation for transfers (you pay double fares ‐ and wait) ‐ The north / south is served well by the 22 / 522 but the east / west not so much. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Comment about Next Network South Bay employment keeps growing. Last month, over five thousand jobs were added in the South Bay. That is a rate of over seventy thousand jobs a year. However, there is a severe lack of housing to accommodate these new workers. The only way to solve the housing crisis is to build high density housing along public transit routes. For that to happen, public transit will need to be more frequent and reliable. Therefore, I recommend more emphasis on the high‐frequency routes. Routes: 58 Subject: Don't isolate Alviso! I live in Santa Clara and work in Alviso. Currently line 58 provides service out there. Two of the three concepts seem to drop that service. It is almost 2 miles from Alviso to First and Tasman.... Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail service plans I think options 1,2 ,3 do not address the main issues with Lightrail: It is very, very slow to commute past a few stations in north santa clara. This means people who use it are mostly people who can't drive or have a very simple transit. Any option 1,2 ,3 would be OK to cut cost, as long as you change how lightrail operates to speed travel up: 1‐ sync the red lights and light rail to promote a faster transit, and remove stations where the train waits to sync with published schedule. Make the LR a priority vehicle on Tasman. Have that voted in Santa Clara city. 2‐ extend the service to match the bart and CalTrain. 3‐ for off hours, offer a minibus service if it is cheaper to run, also make it run all night once an hour, AND allow the busses to drive on lightrail tracks, and serve the same station. If LR travel from Levis to Mountain View or BART takes 15mn instead of 35mn then you have a solution folks will want to use. This means no more than 1mn 1'30" between stations. Notice: if you make a hub at baypointe where I never waste more than 2mn for the next train, it's a non issue. If I have to wait 30mn then it's failed. Dan‐ Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Japantown BART Shuttle When BART Berryessa opens, there should be an (all electric, preferably) Japantown BART/Light Rail shuttle, going along Mabury/Taylor between the new BART station and the Japantown Light Rail VTA station on N 1st Street. It should be "wrapped" with JapanTown imagery. It will be great for locals ‐ so many new and soon to be built apartments along that route, plus for tourists coming to the new "end of the BART line"! Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Service Plan I would like to see a direct route from Alum Rock to Mountain view and keep the Winchester to Mountain view route as well, Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail options Going to 15 minute headways on the Winchester to Baypointe/Old Ironsides is fine, but rationalize the headways from Convention Center to Tasman so that a car comes every 7‐8 minutes. Now, you get two cars back to back then nothing for at least 10 minutes, if not more. Subject: Emailed regarding bus line 23 to Alum Rock Routes: 23 Village All Comments Received on the Draft Plan This evening Mary and I attended a VTA meeting at the Alum Rock Library. Unfortunately, I felt forced to use my car to drive that 2.5 miles, up Alum Rock Avenue, because of a change that was made to bus route 23 over ten years ago. Prior to the time the light rail service began, route 23 used to continue up Alum Rock to the Alum Rock village. Unfortunately, it now heads down Capitol to the light rail station ... which really isn't much of a destination. My question to you is simple. What would it take to have someone look at possibly allowing 23 to continue up Alum Rock to serve the Alum Rock community. Mary used to ride all the time to get gardening supplies from Orchard Hardware. I wonder if the loss of that route has something to do with the fact that she doesn't do much gardening anymore. ‐‐ Robert E. Van Cleef, Community Advocate Subject: asks for an express connection from Morgan Hill Routes: 168 that to Ohlone VTA station Lots of Morgan Hill residents who work in Palo alto have to depend on Caltrain which it not as reliable and timely as the VTA buses. They would greatly benefit if express bus 168 would connect with exp bus 102 at Ohlone VTA station (right where hwy 87 intersects with 85). It would be wonderfully faster!! I do hope you would consider this in the near future. Thanks! Routes: 35 Subject: Preserve service on 35 Caller suggested Next Network rider survey should ask people if they are a rider or not and that info be compared to whether they support a 70, 80 or 90 network. She also said Line 32 route maps and schedules are never on Mountain View buses. I sent that complaint to customer service for more attention. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Subject: Bus Network Preference I think Network 80 is the best of the options presented. We get an increase in ridership with minimal impact on coverage. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Response to Next Door Ken P., LEAD I will be submitting my ideas on the website. In the meantime, I have a number of questions/comments, which can be found at the link below. The biggest question that should be asked by the board and should be studied is whether VTA can be both an effective Congestion Management Agency and Public Transit Agency. In a world that is moving to mobility solutions and private ride‐sharing services, perhaps it would be better for VTA to focus solely on congestion management, similar to how the FAA ensures flight paths, but doesn't run the airlines. This doesn't necessarily mean an end to subsidizing mobility for those lacking adequate means, as mechanisms could be put in place to continue to ensure affordability (although with the potential for autonomy to reduce the cost of mobility, the amount of subsidies could be much less in the future, as outlined in the second link, which paints a picture of what mobility might be like in Silicon Valley in the year 2040. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z1qh... http://viodi.com/2014/06/02/googles‐pote... Original post by VTA Public Affairs Ethan Winston from Valley Transportation Authority (1 reply): VTA?s I‐280 Corridor Study is the topic of an open house/public meeting at San Jose City Hall on Thursday, September 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. Anybody who uses I‐280, or lives nearby, is invited to... Sep 27 in General to 5 areas in Valley Transportation Authority Routes: Light Rail Subject: Make Light Rail more user friendly All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Light Rail can be made more obvious to new users and visitors in a few key ways: Reduce the amount of text‐based signage used to inform passengers of procedures of riding and replace with reduced text paired with international icons. Accept Light Rail fares as bus fares within a reasonable time window, such as the two‐hour transfer rule. Eliminate announcements about not stopping at every stop for lines that actually do always stop at every stop. In general, reduce audio announcements by half or more. Place simplified signage (no words, just a bus icon and route number with directional arrow) at Light Rail stations directing riders to connecting bus stops. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto My son is riding this line everyday to school. Please do not cut it. Thanks Routes: 27; 63; 65 Subject: Routes 27, 63 and 65 Concept 90 shows no service for most of the Cambrian area (centered roughly around Camden and Blossom Hill). I use routes 27, 63 and 65, and these are eliminated, with no service within reasonable walking distance. These routes are used by many seniors such as myself. The other two concepts preserve the routes, we rely on them, please do not eliminate them! Thank you. Routes: 182 Subject: Rt 182 to Palo Alto There is a large contingent of commuters who take Caltrain to reach Palo Alto from Morgan Hill. If you considered extending the coverage area of express bus 182, departing from Caltrain VTA to Palo Alto, it would benefit an enormous amount of people. Caltrain offers a very limited number of trains to Morgan Hill, and unfortunately its services are not reliable, due to mechanical failures or heated tracks that halts traffic. Many commuters would greatly appreciate if you could please revise the route for bus 182. Thank you! Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto We are concerned with the proposed cuts to VTA service to Gunn Highschool in Palo Alto. Please consider providing enough coverage for morning and afternoon commute to cut the traffic on Arastradero. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 I am hoping to talk with you about another matter about VTA service. I understand the VTA is considering cutting the 88 bus in Palo Alto in favor of other routes. My daughter is a Gunn High School student and will be along with many other Gunn students affected by this planned change. Can you let me know what I or other affected by this plan could do to keep the 88 bus service. I know there has been a heavy letter writing campaign to the general manager. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto My son is a freshman to Gunn High School. VTA88 and 88L is our only option for my son to go to school. I do not want any changes to be done these lines. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I use the 88 to get to school every day because I live 3 miles away from school so if I biked I would have to bike 6 miles every day. Also, when it rains my parents can't drive me to school so I would have to bike, but if I bike I would be soaked by the time I got to school. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Please keep the bus for kids sake. Please connect with city of Palo Alto to find better local solutions. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Likes LR scenario 3 Scenario 3, a new line of service from Alum Rock to Mountain View. Winchester to Baypointe is perfect! Make a good used of the Baypointe station. Current transfer at Tasman station is dangerously over flow and when it rain, it is miserable for the riders. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I'm resident of Palo Alto and my daughter is using bus bus route 88 and 88L to Gunn High and home at West Bayshore Rd. Instead of cutting back or eliminate route 88, VTA board should expand its service frequencies and the route. VTA bus provide students and public with excellent public transportation to avoid further traffic congestion on Arastradero Rd and other roadways in Palo Alto. VTA bus for students and workers in Palo Alto city and should have bicycle racks. The bus size could reduce to medium size if it's to make more efficient, but reducing or eliminating the service is not for public interests. I'm requesting VTA Board not to remove 88L during the school days at least during school start and dismissal time. There are many students living in apartments in West Bayshore Rd, Amarillo areas; please keep the service during the school days. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bus Route Number Size It would be nice if ALL bus route numbers would b really big n bold on the bus and on the bus stop s cuz I have two challenges with my ears b eyes it's hard cuz I can't hear the bus number n some business their route number is really light n when I'm trying to find the bus stop like at the mall I can't see its to high I have to take a picture b zoom t Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Service Plan For scenario 3 to be best implemented, we would need well timed transfers at Baypoint to get up to Mountain View (and vice versa). I presume this is part of the plan. I like the 15‐minute all day/night interval for the Winchester‐MV line. Most modern light rail and subway service in other cities (as well as in Europe) run every 3‐6 minutes. I appreciate that this is a bit often for today's cummuter population, but even 15 minutes is pretty slow in comparison, and 30 minutes is simply intolerable if one misses a train. Routes: 35 Subject: Route 35 in Palo Alto We live in Palo Alto. Elderly mother‐in‐law lives in Mountain View. Currently she can take bus# 35 to get within about 1/2 mile of our house to visit which is about the limit that she can walk. Even eliminating stops in Midtown Palo Alto would make the route unusable. My understanding of many of the proposals being considered is that they basically sacrifice coverage for higher frequency on "popular" routes. While it would undoubtedly benefit some to have express busses running along El Camino every 5 minutes, for us, eliminate bus#35 and you eliminate any use of the bus and support for funding it. We endured drastic cutback(s) in service along line 88 used by students here in Palo Alto a few years ago. Now VTA is considering cutting bus#35 and essentially leaving only service along El Camino which would be of little to no use for anyone who lives in Palo Alto residential neighborhoods (far too far away from our homes for elderly folks to walk that distance). At the same time services are being eliminated, VTA is asking for an increase in sales tax which will go almost exclusively to funding BART which has sucked up most previous sales tax funding with no benefits to All Comments Received on the Draft Plan north county residents who pay into the sales tax pot too. If you want people to support transit, it has to be practically useable for more than a very small minority and this means it has to have reasonable coverage. The main reasons it can't achieve higher ridership is that there is so little overlap between routes that you can't get from point A to B on the system without walking long distances and making multiple transfers. This increases the transit time much more than simple frequency of bus service on trunk lines. Routes: 35 Subject: Route 35 in Palo Alto I want to provide some feedback on the ?concept proposals? for potential restructuring VTA bus service in Santa Clara county. We live in midtown Palo Alto and have an elderly relative living in Mountain View. Currently her only method to come visit her grandson is to take bus#35. Eliminating this route or eliminating local stops in midtown Palo Alto along Middlefield road to increase service frequency on other routes along El Camino would mean she would be stranded. No more use for the monthly bus pass and we would have no use for the overall bus network as there would be no route coverage within several miles of our home. Looking at the concept proposals I can?t help but get the bitter feeling that ?network 80? and especially ?network 90? should be re‐labeled ?all resources go to servicing San Jose BART?. Its particularly painful since we have been paying sales taxes for BART extension for years and derive no benefit from the BART extension and seems like it is indirectly resulting in additional service cuts. A few years ago the bus route #88 that was more useable for us was gutted. Implementing something like ?network 90? would mean essentially the end of all useful bus service north of San Antonio road on the border of Mountain View. If VTA really is interested in discovering ?How can VTA make sure our transit service is best meeting the needs of travelers throughout Santa Clara County?? you should keep in mind the part about ?travelers throughout Santa Clara County? and not just focus on a small number of trunk bus routes which will make the system useless to a large majority of residents of the county who won?t be taking BART into San Jose from the East Bay. The bus system should serve at least most of the geographic areas in the county that contribute to paying the operating costs. What does it matter if you have light speed service every 2 minutes if the nearest pickup point is > 5 miles away. Its bad enough trying to solve the first mile/last mile problem without having to worry about the first/last 5 mile problem. Please consider not to eliminate Bus #35's stops in Midtown Palo Alto. Thanks! Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto My family relies on VTA bus 88 to carry my son to school so that his parents can get to work on time and leverage our own mass transit options. Next year another son will ride too. The Arastradero and East Meadow corridors on Palo Alto are very congested and it is highly dangerous to consider reducing VTA bus service for students leading to increased bike and student‐driven car traffic. VTA bus 88 is highly used and the negative impact of reducing that route on traffic and public safety would be substantial. Thanks for listening! Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto We are Palo Alto residents who rely on bus 88L and bus 88 to get our son (and next year second son) safely to and from school and athletic practices. The impact of reduced service for 88 or 88L would be substantial on our family and on the traffic and safety of travel in Palo Alto. The East Meadow and Arastradero corridors are jammed and already dangerous without adding more cars and/or more kids on bikes. Those buses are well used. Further, our kids being able to use the bus means that I can leverage mass transport to get to my own work thus one less car on HWY 101. Please support 88 and 88L! Thanks for listening All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Please do not cancel the 88 bus route. It is the only safe option for kids with working parents. Our 2 children will be hoping to take it safely to high school next year. One already does. Without it, the traffic situation will get worse, and the roads are generally already backed up with school traffic at the start and end of the school day. Having the bus available for after‐school activities is healthy for kids and for the neighborhood, since more students are encouraged or enabled to stay later in productive activities. Of course this also reduces congestion at 3pm. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Need more late bus service Need more later bustle Routes: 65 Subject: A potential bus line for Branham Lane It would be great if there was a bus line that ran from Camden and 85 through a significant portion of Branham Ln. There are a few schools and plenty of grocery outlets, and it would ease stress of making connections as well. I would be going for the Network 70 plan (can't seem to vote on here). Could the 65 line run every 30 minutes from both directions on the weekdays until 9PM? Not just going from downtown. Thanks for reading! Routes: 88 Subject: Please save bus route 88! My children need it to go to high school. Please. Routes: 35 Subject: Discontinuation of VTA route 35 in Palo Alto The following is with reference to today's hearing on VTA routes in North County. I object strongly to the proposed discontinuation of the #35 bus line through Palo Alto. Although I own a car, there are occasions when the #35 serves as a lifeline for me (age 74) and for my guests between my residence near Oregon & Middlefield and downtown Palo Alto, and between my residence and the Charleston Ave shopping center. The use of hybrid buses has been a substantial plus on this route. A constructive solution would be to replace the present full size bus with a half‐ or shuttle‐sized bus. We need more public transportation, not less. I urge you to support the #35 bus route through Palo Alto. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 I am writing to protest the last minute notice on the meeting being held today at 2:00 p.m regarding important bus routes in Palo Alto. The Brown Act requires that notice of such meetings must be posted at least 72 hours in advance. This does not give citizens adequate time to respond to the proposed changes. The 88 and 35 lines are crucial to many people who work in Palo Alto and who commute to Stanford and local schools. It has already been a hardship to have the frequency of buses on these routes reduced. I voted to support an increased sales tax that benefits public transportation agencies like the VTA, but I feared that VTA would once again ignore the needs of people living in the northern part of Santa Clara County. Please give adequate notice for these changes and postpone any decisions until citizens have a reasonable chance of making their voices heard. Routes: Light Rail Subject: LR Scenario map should feature Caltrain, ACE In addition to featuring BART on these LRT scenario maps, you should include Caltrain and ACE/Amtrak, showing the transfer points at Mtn View, Lick Mill, Diridon, and Tamien. That would All Comments Received on the Draft Plan emphasize one downside of Scenario 3 and highlight the stakes involved in choosing which line(s) reach Mtn View. Highlight regional connectivity! Routes: 27 Subject: Route 27 assessment Your assessment of Route 27 as serving both ridership and coverage purposes is correct. Yes, west of Almaden Expressway it primarily serves a coverage purpose, but this is by virtue of its current termination at the hospital. However, it's very worth noting that 27 serves as the fastest link between the West Valley area and Winchester station and South San Jose employment sites, so by anchoring it at Winchester you could capture the thoroughfare market which currently takes the Winchester line to Downtown, transfers to Santa Teresa, then takes that line to the station. This market is underserved, as you said. It's a long arduous commute which could easily be short‐circuited by the 27. It is also worth noting that the route which 27 takes is fairly direct, favoring Blossom Hill for the most part, leading again to faster travel times. As far as the space issue at Santa Teresa goes, this can easily be rectified by consolidating some of the express bus stops. Looking at the scheduling, by my understanding, Express Bus lines 182 and 102 can share the same stop as the 182 only stops to pick up or drop off and does not lay over. 122 and 304 can also share a stop with the 122 laying over elsewhere in the transit center as their scheduled departures do not overlap at all (for reference, the one and only 122 departure is at 5:52 AM and the first 304 departure is at 5:56 AM). The 122 could lay over in front of the drivers' shack at the non‐angled area of the curb. When ready to depart, it could drive forward and back into the stop stall to pick up then depart. This would free up two stalls for two terminating bus lines, one of these being the 27. The other stall could be used for layover or perhaps another bus line like the 66. Activity may be a little tight in the mornings, but this should not be a problem for VTA's skilled drivers. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: More notice needed for 11‐18 meeting First, if you are really serious about getting inputs from community and participation in your meetings, you need to give advanced notice ‐ not a notification given less then 24 hours before the meeting ‐ especially when discussing something of this importance to the community. Keeping 35 and 88 buses is of extreme importance. Without them, you would force hundreds more cars on the road driving students to/from school. This would cause not only increased congestion, but make it even less safe for those biking. How do you justify funding you receive from our community if you are going to reduce services? Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 Housing Choices is a non‐profit organization that helps people with developmental disabilities secure affordable housing throughout Santa Clara County. According to the Department of Developmental Services, there are 222 adults with developmental disabilities living in Palo Alto. Most adults with developmental disabilities do not drive and thereby rely on public transit as their primary source of transportation. But routes 35 and 88 are important to the citizens of Palo Alto because they lead to important destinations such as libraries, community centers, downtown Palo Alto, and downtown Mountain View. These routes are especially crucial to our clients? because they enable them to get to work, grocery shop, attend day programs, and etc. by themselves. Cutting these important bus lines would limit transportation accessibility to our friends and neighbors with developmental disabilities and thereby restrict their independence. Getting rid of the 35 and the 88 bus would have a tremendous negative impact on residents with developmental disabilities. As you make this important decision, please consider the transportation needs of Palo Alto residents with developmental disabilities. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Rebecca Byrne Housing Development Advocate, Housing Choices Coalition Routes: General Project Comment Subject: access My concern with the plans that reduce the number of lines is ‐ access. Which communities will be most affected by the lines that are taken away in those plans. I'm concerned about further disenfranchising communities, especially communities of color, that may already be affected by limited ways (with limited frequencies) of methods to get to work and school. Routes: 35 Subject: Route 35 Please don't close line 35. It gets me to Kaiser Mt View and Palo Alto and Mt View transit centers without a car. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Please do not cancel the 88, 88L and 88M bus routes in Palo Alto. That is the bus that all the kids from my neighborhood ‐ including my own children ‐ take to get to/from Gunn High School every day. Getting rid of that bus would severely impact how kids get to school and put even more cars on an already overcrowded commute. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto About VTA 88 Bus Service My daughter is in Gunn High School 9th grade. She depends on VTA88 to come home across town after school because both my husband and I need to work full‐time and we can't pick her up at 3pm to 4pm time frame. Pleasee don't cut VTA88 bus service. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 88 is the bus that most of gunn high schoolers take on their daily commute to school. Being parents, we are really concerned that this bus route will be removed. Please keep it and give all school kids a convinient and safe ride. Thank you. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Service Plan I prefer either scenarios 2 or 3, and the Tasman Express enhancement. Not clear is weather the Tasman Express would terminate at Old Ironsides (i.e. reverse direction), or continue on to Alum Rock with a regular schedule and all regular stops, without the need to transfer Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Service Plan ‐ Reliability I ride the LR every work day for over 15 years. I find that the most frustrating part is the spotty reliability, often apparently due to variations in the operators' attitude. Why has reliability not been a prominent issue in your assessment? I think it does have an significant impact on ridership. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto We live in the Barron Park neighborhood of Palo Alto, and have 2 children attending Gunn HIgh School. The 88 bus is essential, because one of my children has a vision impairment & cannot see well enough to ride a bike or drive a car. Even for Gunn students who live farther &/or just want to drive a car, reducing service on the 88 increases car traffic, increases pollution, decreases safety for bicyclists All Comments Received on the Draft Plan & pedestrians. Please cooperate & collaborate w/ the City of Palo Alto and Gunn PTA to find better local solutions than the current Next Network concepts! Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I have 3 kids at Gunn who depend on the 88M DAILY both ways, to get to school and come home. The youngest is unable to bike due to physical limitations. Their backpacks are typically 18‐20 lbs (yes, I've weighed them) with books and it's not practical for them to ride their bikes safely daily for the 3+ mile commute, crossing Middlefield Rd, Central Expressway, and El Camino Real. This bus only runs during the school year. Is it necessary to impact the 300 students who use this bus daily, in our community this way? I would think that a bus is a low stress way to transport them, vs. having rely on parents who are running late to work and increasing traffic in the school zone. Please reconsider this schedule change. The impact will be huge. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto PLEASE DO NOT CUT LINE 88 !!! A lot of kids depend on VTA to get them to and from school. I have a current rider and an upcoming rider. He rides 5 days a week and also on weekends. The majority of my son's friends and classmates are also riders. Without the bus, students are forced to walk, bike, drive, or being drop off, thus creating a hectic and stressful daily routine. The students are already stressed out enough with academic, parental, and peer pressure. We do not want any more kids going to the train tracks because they cant find a way to get to and from school. Please work with the City of Palo Alto and Gunn PTSA Reps to find better solutions for our kids. There has to be a way...Thank you! Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Having the 88M bus to ride is imperative for me. It lets my mom not have to worry about sending me to school and getting to work on time. I am not that great of a biker and so the bus allows me a stress‐
free way to get to and from school. Even better, I never have to worry about not being able to bring projects and larger items to and from school because I don't have to worry about finding a way to latch them on safely onto a bike. I ride the bus everyday in the morning and afternoon. There are a lot of people who ride the bus as often as I do. And as the weather gets colder and rainier, a lot more people come to seek the comfort of the bus. The bus allows the Gunn High School community a stress‐free way to commute. Taking the bus line away without consulting Gunn PTSA and the City of Palo Alto to find better options will undoubtedly cause a negative impact in my community. Routes: 35 Subject: Preserve Route 35 Please keep the route 35 bus in your schedule. This is the bus that I use to get to work. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Ridership data Will there be any individual ridership data published soon? That would be great to see on this site response: Bryan, The phase one of next Network outreach has wrapped up and we are now turning to research and data development that becomes an informational packet for the VTA Board of Directors. That packet will probably be released in early December and I would anticipate there would be ridership numbers included. If you are just interested in general VTA ridership numbers, the board is regularly provided ridership updates. If that is what you are interested in, please let me know and I?ll track down one of those reports for you. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Do we have a date for direct line Light Rail service from Alum Rock to MTV ? I would like to start using Light rail after that and hence this question ? New Line: Alum Rock to Mountain View. A new direct line will connect Alum Rock to Mountain View. During peak periods, trains will run Express between Old Ironsides and Mountain View. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Our daughter goes to Gunn High School and uses the 88 route on the VTA Network as school is about 4 miles away. She relies on this regular, quick and timely service to get her to and from school. The changes in the proposed next network would give her less time in the morning to prepare to get to school as it takes longer to get to school in the new routes proposed. Please retain this very timely and speedy service and leave it as is as a number of other students in the neighborhood besides my daughter also rely on it. Thanks very much for your consideration Sincerely A Gunn parent that believes in public transportation Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Why get rid of a bus that goes to schools that kids use? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Paratransit impacts My 92 year old mother in law gave up her car and became a loyal VTA rider 20 years ago. In the last few years, her condition has deteriorated and she can no longer ride the bus. Her children give her rides, but sometimes she needs to rely on paratransit for her needs. She lives on Charleston Road in Palo Alto in Stevenson House with 140 other seniors. Depending on which Next Network concept is adopted by VTA, Stevenson House could be left just beyond the 3/4‐mile corridor in which paratransit is required. This would be a hardship for her. I hope that VTA can find away to avoid limiting the lives of these customers whose transportation options are so limited. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Please keep bus line 88 in service. I depend on it to get around town. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I like being able to get home. Please don't eliminate this bus route. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto My family lives in Palo Alto. My daughter rides VTA 88 Bus every week day to and from Gunn high school for the next 4 years.My son is going to ride the bus in 3 years to go to Gunn high school as well. The bus is environmental friendly, less traffic, cost effective and save working parents lots of time to drive the kids to and from school. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail scenario 3 I like scenario 3. Can we improve the speed of light rail? I takes too long, like an hour, from alum rock to mountain view. Should be programmed, not to make the train to stop at red light. Traffic light should be green when train approaches. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I was hoping that the planning staff could possibly consider adding one additional late night train to Winchester, in a way that would connect with one of the last caltrains from SF. Currently, the last All Comments Received on the Draft Plan connection requires us to leave SF at 9:40 in order to catch the last Winchester bound train. This means that when a Giants baseball game ends, it is impossible to use public transit on the return voyage. All I ask is that VTA consider just one additional trip, ideally departing Diridon southbound at 12:20am. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I am writing concerning the proposed changes to the 88 route. My child attends Gunn HS and would be negatively affected if you eliminate this line. She uses it to get home from school on her own. Additionally, the roads to Gunn are already crowded with cars. We don't need more kids driving to school. Please work with the school district and City of Palo Alto to find a solution that won't leave our youth with no safe way to get to and from school. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto I just heard that a potential cut of VTA Route 88 is being considered. I am wondering if this affects 88L also? My son attends Gunn High School and he rides 88L (sometimes 88) everyday to school. It has been a very critical for us as working parents, and also for the students to go back and forth between home and school. He gets on the bus in the morning in the station of Loma Verde and Louis Road. There are typically about 10 students riding from this station along every morning to attend Gunn High School. I am concerned about the impact to the students because this is a very popular route here. I would sincerely hope that VTA can to engage with the City of Palo Alto and Gunn PTSA Reps to identify better local solutions than the current Next Network concepts. If necessary, you can contact me on any details of my request. I really appreciate your consideration. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto PLEASE DO NOT CUT LINE 88 !!! A lot of kids depend on VTA to get them to and from school. My brother is a current rider and I'm an upcoming rider. He rides M‐F and also on weekends. The majority of his friends and classmates are also riders. We dont live within walking or biking distance from Gunn HS.Without the bus, my parents are forced to drop off my brother for we cant afford to get him a car. Please work with the City of Palo Alto and Gunn PTSA Reps to find better solutions for our kids.Thank you! Routes: 35; 88 Subject: 88, 35, paratransit I am unable to attend today's Workshop but I encourage you to save the VTA 35 and 88 Bus and Outreach Paratransit Service for Palo Alto. These are vital services central to our community. Best Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto Please, please keep the 88 route, which serves our community as one of our only local public transportation options, especially for our young, senior, and underserved communities. Our family and many others rely on it for daily critical transportation needs. Jane Dick Palo Alto resident Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 I know lots of seniors in our community who are currently taking the VTA 35 and 88 Bus and Outreach Paratransit Service in Palo Alto. It's part of their daily life. Please keep the service in Palo Alto. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto All Comments Received on the Draft Plan My son uses 88 bus to commute between school and home. There are also caregivers using 88 bus to pick up elementary school kids. Please save the 88 bus for the riders and to avoid further traffic congestion near Gunn High School. Thank you very much! Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 As I did before, I'm witting to you again to understand that our Palo Alto community relies on 35 and 88 buses. For many of us that is the only way to get our kids to and from High School. My kids are telling me that buses are completely full both in the morning and in the afternoon. Please consider other measures to improve your bottom line rather than eliminating these buses that our community needs. Best Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 I just wanted to send an email to request that the Bus 88 route be kept. Many students in this area, including mine, have parents that work full time and live very far from the Gunn area‐‐farther than biking would permit. Busses are often the only means of transportation they have. Therefore, for students' transportation needs and for the retention their ability to get such a great education at Gunn, I hope that you will strongly consider keeping route 88 and 35. That way, students can get the transportation and education they deserve. Routes: 35; 88 Subject: Routes 35 and 88 I am writing to tell you how much it means to me to have the service in Palo Alto of the VTA lines 35 and 88 ‐ and how afraid I am that you are thinking of making some cuts. I am not as knowledgeable about the 35 between San Antonio and Downtown Mountain View. I only use that line on Sundays, to visit my sister. The 35 in Palo Alto and the 88 on its entire route I use frequently. I work at Stanford and do volunteer work on the campus as well. I often take four VTA buses a day, and sometimes as many as six. Mondays I take the 88 from East Meadow to the VA Hospital and the Stanford shuttle from there: I do volunteer work near the hospital that day. On the other days I usually take the 35 from Charleston/Middlefield to Palo Alto Caltrain and then the Marguerite. Sometimes on the way back I will find myself taking the 22 or 522, and I often see fewer people on those buses than on the 35. In addition to using these buses for work I use them for running errands. I use both the 88 and the 35 for shopping at Midtown, getting medications at CVS, and buying things at Safeway and Walgreens. I use the 35 to go frequently for shopping at San Antonio and on Sundays to go to church near the Palo Alto Community Center. Some of my errands are also in downtown Palo Alto, and of course I use the 35 for those. Both the 88 and the 35 are vital for people in Palo Alto. I believe that you have probably had more feedback about the 88 because the parents of school kids using that bus have been writing. I am not sure that you have heard from the riders on the 35. Many of them don't speak English and even though they've been encouraged to contact you using their own languages, I am not sure they have. I am amazed at the variety of people I see on the 35. I used to think that I would just see certain people over and over again, and it is true that I see many of the same people, but I always see new people. There must be hundreds of people using the 35 in Palo Alto. There is a great variety in the ridership of the 35. I might have expected to see mainly seniors and kids, but people of all ages use that bus. Many come with their shopping carts on wheels‐‐it's easy to see how important this service is for them. Many are disabled ‐ and the 35 drivers are able to serve them safely and efficiently. There are many churches along Middlefield serving individuals on low incomes. There are developmentally delayed young people using the 35 to get to locations along Middlefield. These two routes make a great deal of sense for the people of Palo Alto, and in setting them up All Comments Received on the Draft Plan originally, VTA had the right idea. Please help us continue to have this service that we are so very dependent on. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network Fare and Transfer Plans I am glad to see that the Next Network proposal before you is strongly considering changing the fare structure, especially for transfers. The current 100% transfer penalty is indefensible, and unfair, as it only affects bus riders, and not light rail riders. I'm glad that your staff will be considering transfers and discounts for single trip riders with Clipper cards. San Francisco does this, and it works well. I hope they will make sure this will also work for transfers between light rail and buses, so that each can be a seamless extension of the other, and will also consider efficient ways to connect to regional services like Bart and Caltrain. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Next Network Express LR Service Submitted attached letter to board on 11.17.16 Subject: VTA Board Workshop Meeting November 18, Routes: General Project Comment 2016 Item #3.1: Next Network: draft Transit I am very pleased to see the section on Related Efforts. I want staff to integrate these multiple programs in blended discussions with VTA committees, at community forums, and in plans. This allows South County needs to be considered even though we do not meet the primary focus of "Core Area": Cores, Corridors and Station Areas, and areas of sufficient density of jobs, housing and uses to make transit service work. Our best hope is in Core Connectivity. "Another option is for cities [and NGOs] to expand or start operating local shuttles with financial contributions and planning assistance from VTA, potentially as a grant program. The 2016 Measure B contains language permitting such solutions." Missing from the Related Efforts is your new Strategic Plan. I understand that the Strategic Plan is primarily an inward‐focused document. But given the clarity with which Next Network contrasts the conflicting goals of ridership and coverage services, I have to read between the lines to find coveragepurposed services in the Strategic Plan. We are not in the Business Line focused on Fast, Frequent, Reliable Transit. We might find support in the Business Line focused on Delivering Projects and Programs under the Strategic Goal: Provide ‐ Provide a comprehensive line of services, technical support, funding programs, and mobility solutions to the public and Member Agencies. We might find support in the Business Line focused on Transportation System Management under the Strategic Goal: Innovate ‐ Improve and expand mobility options through the "applied innovation" of technology, planning, design, construction, operations, and business techniques. Having just learned that Route 68 is subsidized by a Federal FTA Section 5311 Non‐Urbanized Area Grant, I am reminded that you have State and Federal Partners as well. Some of those Partners are also Parents, telling you what you can and cannot do or must do. A minor complaint: I expected to see a map of the draft 85/15 transit network. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network Feedback Letter submitted on 11/18/16 to VTA Board attached. Routes: 35 Subject: Route 35 in Mountain View I use these busses daily: Mountain View busses 32, 35, 81, as well as the 22 and 522. I use other busses, too and I frequently use the Caltrain. I don't have a car so I am dependent on mass transit. I am afraid that the VTA will cut the bus schedules or cut out these busses entirely when they achieve All Comments Received on the Draft Plan 85%/15% ridership/coverage and will completely ignore Mountain View. As it is, the 35 stops early on the weekends like when I have to get home from downtown Mountain View and the last 81to Moffett Field/ Ames Center stops at El Camino Hospital at 7:12 PM, so I can't take evening classes at the YMCA (which is not a problem if you have a car). The passengers that the VTA is trying to attract are drivers; the VTA wants to provide an alternative for IT professionals to driving on streets full of potholes (potholes was the number 1 topic on the Measure B flyers, posters and people campaigning for Measure B. Oh, right. No more potholes). Seniors, pedestrians and disabled persons was towards the end of the list with a much smaller allocation of funds. I need to be able to get around and I'm not the only one dependent on VTA. So please reconsider the 85%/15% ridership/coverage plan. Please don't let VTA abandon its regular riders. Are these San Jose meetings public? Maybe I can still make it. According to Google Maps, the fastest trip to a 6 PM meeting (I guessed a meeting time) on December 8 will take over an hour with one transfer. Not too bad. Whew! Please don't combine the 32 and the 35. The southbound 35 goes down California St. and the eastbound 32 goes down Middlefield. This makes a HUGE difference to me. I need both. For example, I catch the southbound 35 and the westbound 32 in front of my apartment building on San Antonio Circle. (Mainly seniors and disabled people live here and use the busses.) The 32 westbound schedule is convenient for me because I can get to San Antonio Transit center in time catch the Mountain View Transit Shuttle to the YMCA (the 35 schedule to the Transit Center is too late) and the eastbound 32 goes to my credit union on Middlefield. I often travel to Palo Alto on the 35. Meanwhile, I fly out of the YMCA to catch the last Mountain View Transit Shuttle which leaves El Camino Hospital at 5:29 PM. The 81 makes it easier for me to get home a little later. The eastbound 51 used to arrive 10 minutes after the 35 at Castro and Villa and I could get to the YMCA in time for class faster and more easily. However, I was very glad to see the extended schedule. Thanks for straightening me out on the transit demand. I am definitely in favor of increasing late evening service. I will try to be at the December 8 meeting. Looking forward to a community meeting in Mountain View! Again, thank you for your attention! I really appreciate it. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Network 85/15 Attached please find SPUR's comments on the Next Network. We encourage VTA to move forward with designing a proposal for a transit network with an 85/15 balance between ridership‐ and coverage‐based services. We understand that this will require hard choices about service priorities, but these choices cannot be avoided if we want to grow transit ridership significantly. In our letter, we also make recommendations for the proposed fare study. Disparate and disjoined fares discourage trips that include more than one mode or operator and make navigating the transit system inefficient and cumbersome. This results in fewer trips taken by transit and less trust that transit is a practical option. VTA has an opportunity to be a leader in fare integration and making it easier to use transit. Thank you for your leadership on redesigning the transit network to support higher ridership and greater environmental and fiscal sustainability. Laura Tolkoff SPUR.org Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto See attached letter from PTSA All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto See attached letter. Routes: 88 Subject: Route 88 in Palo Alto See attached Letter Routes: 10 Subject: 10 The president of the Newhall Neighborhood Association called to express concern about, with the elimination of the Route 10, a free connection to transit from the airport, citing the point Clipper cards aren't readily available at the airport. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Caller explained she was upset that line 37 could be eliminated. She rides this line to West Valley College. I informed her that the new plan shows a bus 57 that will serve West Valley College with 15 minute frequency, when currently the 37 runs once every half hour. She also wants more service on weekends, which in general the draft plan provides. She was happy, and interested in attending the public meeting in Campbell on Jan 23. Routes: 45 Subject: Bus 45 The mayor, Sam Lacardo, visited with us at the Veteran's Housing Facility here in Alum Rock. It was nice that he stopped by to say hello and allow us to ask questions. Since I have been a Volunteer/ resident here for 1 1/2 years, It became very apparent that we are lacking or in great need of transportation. We appreciate the Monday thru Friday service 6 to 6, but would love to see this expanded to include weekends and evenings. There are 130 of us here and most of us are over 50 with disabilities of all kinds. The mayor suggested that this would be an excellent time to contact you. We would like you to know we are here and hope that during the rescheduling effort taking place, that you would think of us. Thank you and Merry Christmas. To my shock and dismay, I saw a VTA flyer that says that the 45 is one of the routes that VTA would like to discontinue service. This facility has only been here for 3 years and it took a while to fill 130 beds with veterans, men and women, most of which have disabilities. We now have a consistent waiting list of over 30 veterans. This would be a disaster for us! I talked to Irvine Goodwin, the founder of this great facility and I am at liberty to invite you or your staff, to one of our community meetings every Monday at 5pm. Please let me know if you can do this for us. We would love to meet with you and show you what Irvine has created here, which truly does rescue and give hope to veterans of all services. Thank you. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 [Name redacted] volunteers for the Homeless Shower program on Julian and N. 6th St. If line 65 is eliminated, it will impact the homeless people who go here for a free shower. I sent draft Next Network maps to her house, and to Casa de Clara Catholic worker and the African American Cultural Center who are the organizers of homeless work near Julian and 6th Street. Routes: 120; 140 Subject: 120, 140 Please don't eliminate the 120 or 140, they are vital to getting around in Fremont. People need these buses to get to Lockheed, Mission college and downtown San Jose. I explained to the caller about the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan extension of BART service, and the light rail connections from Milpitas to Mountain View, and Milpitas/Berryessa to downtown. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 I am a Gunn high Mom . My kids totally depend on the VTA for transporting them to school and they use VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Service. We love it as it is. My kids like many others depend on this crucial service in the morning and after School. I do hope there will be no proposed cuts to this service as it will severely impact their school commute. I do hope the change will keep the needs and schedules of Gunn high school in mind. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Please keep Bus 88M for Gunn High School students. Thanks! Routes: 88 Subject: 88 there, I would strongly oppose the idea to remove VTA bus route for 88. This is the only available route for my son to ride to school to JLS and my mom to go to Cubberly community center. If the route is cancelled, it will create a huge inconvenient for the riders. Palo Alto has very limited bus route available; removing this one will make Palo Alto really hard for elderly people to get a round. Please keep the route running. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 PLEASE stop the cut of VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M My boys take the bus to go to Gunn almost every day; please stop the cut. Very concerned parent. Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Routes: 88 Service We really count on the #88 bus to and from Gunn High School in Palo Alto... so expensive to live here and we need your help to "make it". Routes: 88; 89 Subject: 88 These changes would REMOVE public transit access to VA Palo Alto Health Care Services located at 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto. Both U.S. Senators will agree that this is a BAD idea. Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Routes: 88 Service I am concerned that scaling back service on Route 88 will hinder Gunn students from being able to add in their other responsibilities and opportunities. For instance, many have part time jobs, are providing family child care, volunteer work and enrichment opportunities. Please do not decrease their access to public transportation. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 181 Service I am a frequent rider and avid supporter of the VTA 181 Express route. Since discovering this route almost 4 years ago, it has dramatically improved the quality of my life. I am a Fremont resident who works at San Jose State University, which is conveniently situated near all of the VTA downtown lines. As a result of this route, I've saved time, money, and have had a great peace of mind. The 181 route is perfect ‐‐ I don't ride BART at all, but I appreciate the ability to go down south on 880 in the HOV lane All Comments Received on the Draft Plan and arrive blocks away from my work. I don't have to worry about parking on campus or making the horrendous drive on 880 by myself. My commute has been transformed to a relaxing ride, where I can read or nap. The frequency of the route enables me to just go to the bus stop, without great concern about missing a particular bus. Cancelling this route presumes that everyone who rides this bus is also riding BART. Not true. From my experience, there is a great need for this route. Many SJSU students and Santa Clara County workers who reside in Fremont ride this bus. I get on the 181 at the Omar stop, along with many other riders. Many are going to the Santa Clara County administrative buildings on Hedding, while others are going to downtown San Jose (2nd and Santa Clara). I understand that all routes need to be evaluated, given the arrival of new services and stations. Please consider operating this route, at its current frequency, during commute hours only. During non‐commute hours, perhaps service could decrease to every 30‐45 minutes. I'm sure that this would realize some cost savings. If this route is indeed eliminated, I will have to start to drive to work everyday. Taking rail, like ACE or BART, does not make sense given where I'm located in Fremont and the time that transferring would entail. Taking the 181 is an easy decision for me because of its bus stop locations, frequency, and route. I hope that the board will reconsider their proposal regarding the elimination of the 181 route. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am a daily commuter on route 120 express service from Fremont Bart Station to Lockheed Martin Transit Centre, where I work. The express service on route 120 is a lifeline for me. I dread driving my car on the busy 880 ‐237 stretch during rush hours. By taking the bus, not only do I save time and fuel, but also, taking public transport makes me feel good about the positive impact I am making towards the environment. On behalf of many fellow commuters too, who derive immense benefit from this service, I would request you to reconsider the decision to discontinue Route 120 in fall 2017. Thanks. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 As parent of [a Gunn High student who] lives near Oregon and Greer, we appreciate so much of VTA's bus 88 service, we don't have to worry about driving our kids to school except special activities because the trustworthy88 bus service. We also won't be worry of kids' biking safety. If there's cut in the bus service, we would definitely worry about biking safty. It is our strong demand and would like to recommendation to the City of Palo Alto and VTA to maintain the routine and the 88 bus route since there are lots of parent and commuters needs the service, thank you and we sincerely thanks VTA's great support. Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Routes: 88 Service I have a different proposition for you. Take the current 88 route and expand it. From the Middlefield/Colorado stop, have it express to the California Avenue train station, then turn around. The hours should be extended and expanded to run every half hour throughout the day. Think of the benefits: Connection between the VA and California Avenue is retained. The Palo Alto JCC gets regular service. The Moldow retirement community, the JCC and the students at Kehillah, which is a private school, get linked to the train station, as does everyone on the line. The California Avenue area gets connected to the Midtown area and the Charleston shopping plaza. In conclusion: adding a connection to the California Avenue area would revitalize bus service in this area and be of enormous benefit to the community; I hope you will consider it. Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Routes: 88 Service All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am very concerned for the future of Route 88 that provides service to Gunn High School. I have a child who will be attending Gunn starting next year and it is our plan that he will ride the bus to and from school. We live quite a distance from the school and there aren't other transit options that would serve us. Removing this option from Gunn students can only have a negative effect on traffic on the Charleston Corridor, which is already difficult. Providing this route is an important way to preserve safe and environmentally friendly ways for school commutes. Thanks. Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus 88, 88L, 88M Routes: 88 Service The change will make riding the 88 even less possible, and worsen the overall traffic in Palo Alto. Our household has one Gunn High School student and two seniors who are using the 88. The student has after‐school activities at school every day. The 2‐4pm doesn't work for him. The seniors have been relying on the 88 for their shopping, going to doctors and other chores. They would lose their transportation given the plan of very limited hours. We'd like to see VTA to come up with innovative ideas and plan to improve the public transportation system/network, so that ridership and profit can be bolstered. "Cut" won't solve any fundamental problems and won't do any good to the community or help VTA itself in the long run. There are some US cities running successful public transportation that we never rent a car when we travel to those cities. Can VTA implement something similar? Routes: 88 Subject: Don't cancel bus route 88 in Palo Alto Cancelling bus route 88 in Palo Alto Hi there, I would strongly oppose the idea to remove VTA bus route for 88. This is the only available route for my son to ride to school to JLS and my mom to go to Cubberly community center. If the route is cancelled, it will create a huge inconvenient for the riders. Palo Alto has very limited bus route available; removing this one will make Palo Alto really hard for elderly people to get a round. Please keep the route running. Thanks. Routes: 330 Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus rte 330 I have been take the route 330 for many years. It is a good bus and help me to continue to work. Please do not ?discontinue? this bus. Thank you so much! Routes: 328; 330 Subject: email comment regarding VTA Bus rte 330 I rely on bus 328 & 330 to get to/from work in Mountain View. Without these routes, I will not be able to take public transportation to work. There are many other workers at NASA and Juniper that are in the same boat as I am. Driving from San Jose to Sunnyvale/Mountain View will just increase the amount of traffic on the roads. The buses have been a great saver in both time and the amount of carbon footprint we leave. It would be unwise to eliminate these lines completely. thanks. Routes: 180 Subject: 180 Please re‐consider eliminating the Express Bus 180. It currently takes 4 hours in the morning and evening for my commute to San Francisco. It you want the public to leave our cars and take BART from Milpitas, I will most likely choose to drive because of the time it takes to commute. I have knee problems and can't leave my car the BART station. If you cancel the Express Bus 180 it will cause a hardship for me. Routes: 89 Subject: Don't cancel bus route 89 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan As a regular user of the 89 bus I am extremely disappointed to see it may cease to exist with no suggested replacement. The train timing in the morning was perfect and it is usually my only public transit option. Routes: 58 Subject: Line 58 Line 58 stops at the end of my block and then takes me to the front of my employer. Taking the 57 to LR to RO is longer and less convenient. Routes: 58 Subject: Line 58 Please don't discontinue this lien! Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I am a graduate student as SJSU. As a student, I get a free transit pass. Under your new plan I can't use it, currently, I can walk 2 blocks to Camden and catch the 65 to SJSU, but under the new plan, the nearest route to me would be the 61 which doesn't go anywhere near SJSU or have a light rail connection. As near as I can tell I would have to transfer TWICE to get to SJSU making it prohibitively long to get to school. I love taking transit to school although it takes longer than driving it saves me time and money parking and I get my homework done during my commute. I grew up in New York riding transit, when we first moved here we were a one car family and planned to stay that way, VTA announced it was scaling back buses to this area while we were in closing to buy this house. The buses no longer ran late enough for me to get home from classes at SJSU. My mother in law generously gave us her old car. Now once again you are scaling back transit to the Cambrian area. You claim to be focusing on the high ridership lines but how can you maintain ridership on those lines if no one can get to them? Since living here VTA has consistently voted for policies making the last mile problem even worse. I want to be a transit rider, I have a free transit pass, and yet I end up driving because of a lack of service in my area. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Changes to 13, 63, 64 and 65 How does reducing services increase ridership? Where is the logic in this equation? I have been taking 63 for the past 3 decades, since I was a kid, to school and now to work. I live in Almaden Valley but I am not as rich as the councilman. I can't afford Uber everyday and I physically can't drive. I get on 63 from Camden Ave and ride everyday all the way to downtown library to work. At night, I ride it back home all the way to the end. If you change your Southern end to Meridian/Blossom Hill, how, tell me, how do I get from Camden to Meridian to catch 63? This morning, there were 5 of us getting on from Camden; one of us actually walked ONE HOUR already to catch 63. Then there were only 2 people getting on the bus at Meridian/Blossom hill stop. And it's a Saturday, raining hard. On weekdays, there are even more of us. So, how did you decide there were lower ridership to prompt you to cut that point of service? 63 is my life line, my livelihood, my only OPTION to get to work, to the hospital, doctors, to do grocery, to the mall. Now you decide that I don't exist, and have not existed, so my ridership all these decades don't count. You are discriminating us and denying us the take the only transportation we have to make a living around here. How could you do that? Why is the councilman doing this? Please reconsider and not cut any service point on 63. You already deny me the 13 route that will allow me to go to the light rail stations and the mall, and now you are basically tell me to move to MIlpitas, where SO many buses run but where I don't work. Please don't do anything to 63, I am begging you. Why not change it to a smaller bus, a community bus to pick us up. We are paying customers. Our ridership count!!!! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 ‐ DO NOT CANCEL!!! My daughter takes bus 65 to get home from Dartmouth Middle school. We live by Oster Elementary. Middle school is 2.5 miles away from our house. How is she supposed to get home after school if this bus is cancelled? 2.5 miles is too far to walk or bike on major streets, it is not safe. Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 Please do not discontinue this route. I work in downtown San Jose and can walk to and from these stops on this route. Routes: 23 Subject: I board line 23 on Forrest Ave Please don't eliminate line 23. I ride it all the time. It's OK if I have to walk through Valley Fair mall to reach Stevens Creek to take the 23 bus there. If you have more frequent service, that would be great. Routes: 181 Subject: please don't cancel the 181 I've been a 181 passenger for 15 years. I live near Stevenson and 880. I work and go to school at San Jose State. I ride VTA with my student pass. If you cancel the 181 I'll have to drive to Fremont BART, pay to park, and pay to ride BART. I don't think AC Transit will put a bus on Stevenson, and I don't think SJSU will cover BART fares. Please don't cancel this bus! Routes: 63; 65 Subject: line 63 changes and 65 going away I live in South San Jose and rely on the 63 to go to the Almaden Library, and to San Jose State. I understand that VTA can't afford to run buses to far away places with empty buses. Please send me the map showing all the bus route changes. Thank you. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 I ride the light rail from San Jose State to Santa Teresa, then I walk to catch the 42. I saw a sign that says the 42 is going away. I understand you can't run an empty bus this far out. There are not a lot of people here. If I can't take this bus, I will have to walk farther, or move. I can't afford to move within San Jose, so I will probably move out of state where it's cheaper to live. I don't have a car. I go to Carrington College at 5883 rue Ferrari, San Jose. Routes: 61; 62 Subject: Route 61/62 proposed changes R61 currently leaves Good Sam hospistal and heads to Los Gatos Blvd and then Bascom. R62 goes in the opposite direction from Good Sam and then goes on Union to Bascom. You say the 62 will be cancelled and users should take 'new' 61 instead, but I am unclear on its proposed route. The revised map shows 61 on both bascom and union almost as if its doing a loop. Is that correct ? Could you provide more details? Routes: 61; 62 Subject: Proposed Changes to Routes 61 & 62 When will this proposal, if passed, be put into effect? Routes: 61 Subject: 61 I am sad to see the proposed discontinuation of route 62, for nostalgic reasons. My brothers and I all rode the 62 to school, and has been serving the Berryessa area for a long time. I would prefer to see the proposed 61 route renamed 62 for nostalgia's sake. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 We live on Ronie WY in the cambrian park area. Your access time map with the isocrones shows travel times. If we want to go to Fruitdale or Campbell it takes less than 30 minutes currently. Your 'New Network shows that travel to those locations are completely out of the range ...I guess it would be over 1 hr!!! Cambrian Park has essentially been slapped in the face with double to triple the times..how it that efficent and time saving? Do not terminate route 65! It cuts off the access from the park & ride as well as access to Caltrain! Routes: 65 Subject: Bus 65 Please do not cancel Bus 65 service. This proposal will leave absolutely ZERO bus service for our entire Oster neighborhood, with the closest buses running on Union Ave or Meridian Ave. Routes: 65 Subject: Bus 65 Please do not cancel Bus 65, it is a vital means of transport to our Oster Cambrian Park community in San Jose. Routes: 65 Subject: Canceling Bus Route 65 Please don't cancel Bus 65. It is one of the few buses that service Cambrian Park, San Jose State and San Jose City College and our main connection to Dirdion Station and Amtrak and the SAP Center. Use smaller buses if needed to cut costs. Routes: 65 Subject: Number 65 Bus Cancel[ing] #65 will leave absolutely ZERO bus service for entire Oster neighborhood, it has a huge impact for senior people and school kids. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 My disabled son uses route 65 to and from home. It drops him off right around the corner from home. If you cancel this option, he would have to walk more than a mile to catch a bus. Not good for disabled folks!!! Routes: 35; 65 Subject: 65, 37 This dog and pony show has been taken over by incompetent county employees To eliminate entire neighborhoods of bus service to schools is not only shortsighted but stinks of corruption. We pay your salaries and increased our taxes for VTA and this is your plan? Eliminating bus service to entire communities? Just another example of educated idiots. Best keep bus routes 65 and 37 running for our community because San Jose's Vision 2040 will make a mess of our transportation infrastructure with corrupt EIN Reports. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Please do not cancel this bus [#65]. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Please don't cancel Bus 65. We live on Leigh and Camden and it's one of the few public transport options we have. Thanks! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 Discontinuing this route will make travel from Camden to downtown Campbell extremely taxing. Walking to Meridian from my home on Rosswood ‐ almost impossible. This change will most likely force more of us back into our cars. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Please do not remove this route [#65]. we use it for travel to school. Routes: 37; 65; 320; 330 Subject: 65 I am writing to express concerns over the proposed changes in the current bus schedule that serves my area. I am a paraplegic and my only method of transportation is a non‐motorized wheel chair. I do not walk nor do I drive. I rely on bus 37, 65, 320 and 330 to get to SCVMC for medical appointments and to take care of my business and personal needs. I currently use bus 65 which is 1/2 mile from my apartment on Ross Circle. The new proposed route would be 1.7 miles from my apartment. Traveling this distance in a wheel chair is physically exhausting. Traffic, weather conditions or darkness makes it a dangerous commute. I urge you to reconsider making these changes. I will be joining the workforce soon and need your bus service to get to and from work. I have worked as a Laser Technician for the past 13 years and will be working full time. Please keep the current bus schedule so I can stay productive, active and involved in our community. Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 I was just informed that route 65 will no longer be in service. It really upset me because the bus station was really near my home. Being a SJSU student it would be very inconvenient for me to get to school along with many other students. When I would take the bus home I would see many of other community members take the bus as well, therefore, I have no idea why that bus route with no longer be in service. This change will result in further walking distances to alternative routes, increased need for driving, and higher demand for parking at SJSU according to an email sent to me. It would be great if this route would stay in service. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I am contacting you due to recent notification of VTA plans to eliminate Route 65: Kaiser/Blossom Hill. This bus route is the route I have used most frequently in my four years as a student at San Jose State. I used it almost exclusively for a year when I was commuting within San Jose to get to SJSU everyday for school and work, and have continued to use it frequently since I have moved closer to campus downtown and even when I temporarily moved away to commute from Stockton for a semester. The 65 bus route has been and is still absolutely essential to my living in San Jose as a student without a car; and its elimination would make it extremely difficult for me to travel efficiently within the city due to the longer walking periods that would be created with the alternative bus routes proposed as a replacement to the 65 by VTA. I implore you to revisit your plans to eliminate the 65 as it serves me and many other SJSU students well and is essential to our navigation of the city, especially for those who are commuters. Thank you for your time. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I work for San Jose State University at the Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. I ride the 65 bus and it seems to have a high ridership. Today, for example, there was a person in each set of seats. Currently, SJSU is between semesters, but when SJSU is "in‐session," I see a number of students riding as well. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan You say you are trying to serve schools among other community groups. I would hope this includes schools of higher education and not just elementary and high schools. The 65 route serves both SJSU and San Jose City Community College. Although, VTA might not make as much money from SJSU riders, as we use clipper cards, but I believe you should look at numbers of people being served, rather than just a dollar amount of revenue. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I would not like to see route 65 discontinued. I use this route several days a week to get to and from school at San Jose State. I also use this route to get to daytime events in the SAP area and downtown. I would use this route even more but the hours are limited at night. Discontinuing route 65 will make me have to drive downtown or try and find another route to drive to. Currently route 63 does not have any park and ride areas near where catch it. Bascom light rail park and ride is already nearly full many days. Having to drive to catch a different route defeats the purpose of taking public transportation. I can not take 26 to 63 due to the current schedule they miss each other so you have to wait 30 mins for the next one, due to this it is an 1.5 hour on average trip which makes no sense to use the bus. I can currently take the 65 and be at my destination in 45 minutes (assuming the bus is not late). This is longer than the 20 mins it would take me to drive, but saves me time and hassle of parking. If route 65 is discontinued I will no longer use VTA as it would not be worth the hassle of driving to bus stops and route changes to get somewhere I can drive to. Routes: 27; 65 Subject: 65, 27 I am supportive of your plan to take the 65 out of service, so please do this! It is a low ridership and non‐connective line that isn't useful to travelers like myself. Please consider terminating line 27 at Ohlone/Chynoweth for an easy transfer to light rail along 85 where it is just a short walk away from Blossom Hill road. Perhaps the line could go up Almaden Expressway, down Branham and then down Pearl Avenue to serve large shopping centers and apartments. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I don't think that you should discontinue route #65 because then it would be a huge inconvenience and disrupt how San Jose city college students would get home especially on severe rain days. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I take bus number 65 from 13th and Taylor to the Caltrain station. I'm worried that if it gets canceled my commute time would be significantly increased. What are my options here? Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I strongly object to the proposal to cut route 65. This is the only route that connects my area of Cambrian Park with downtown, and Diridon station in particular. The suggestion that we can use other routes like 61 and 63 is nonsense ‐ bus routes are all different for a reason ‐ they go to different places. This bus route is already compromised by a limited service and the last bus is much too early, but removing it altogether is unacceptable. When I ride it, it is often close to full. Last time I used it there was standing room only ‐ a group of hearing‐impaired students were using it for a field trip. I see students using it to get to college. It's a lifeline for anyone with a wheelchair wanting to maintain their independence. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please don't cancel bus route 65!!!!!! It is the only route that services our area from Kooser/Blossom Hill through the Cambrian Park area. You took away Route 27 years ago, so most of us rely on Route 65. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Do not cancel this route. Poor people who can't afford cars or can't drive, like students and the elderly, rely on this bus route to get to school, jobs, and the markets downtown. Routes: 64; 65 Subject: 65 I am writing to voice my opposition to VTA's plan to discontinue route 65. I rely on this bus route to get to and from SJSU every day as a student. Route 65 allows me to reach downtown quickly and comfortably despite a disability that prevents me from driving and walking long distances. Should route 65 be discontinued, I would have to walk many blocks more every day to SJSU, or face riding route 64 which is always crowded, unreliable, and far away from my. This would add undue stress as a result of my disability. In addition, many senior citizens and disabled riders count on route 65 for transportation every day. The downtown area this route serves is populated by lower senior and disabled residents who absolutely depend on this service to haul groceries back home, or to access crucial services such as healthcare. I ask you to reconsider the discontinuation of route 65, and to think about the number of disabled people, students, and senior citizens who rely on this service every day and would be severely affected by its elimination. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I am a current student at SJSU and regularly takes Route 65 to commute to the campus. It takes me directly to our engineering building on 7th and San Fernando St. in less than 10 minutes, which is so much more convenient than Route 66 which requires 20‐25 minutes ride and 10‐15 minutes walk in total. It especially saves my life during the winter since I don't need to walk a lot on a cold and windy day. I know a lot of students that I regularly meet on the bus which are regular riders too. It would be a really bad news for us if Route 65 is cancelled. Please give a second consideration about this decision for those who take advantages on this route. We would really appreciate it! Routes: 55 Subject: 55 I am a 59 year old disabled person who uses this route and would find it very Hard to shop for groceries at Food Max,my mobility is limited.I live one complex from leigh ave and stokes.I use this route four to five times weekly because I can only carry a limited amount at a time.Otherwise i would have to walk to light rail at southwest expressway then about three hundred yards. #65 then walk two hundred more down parkmoore,then back on the same route. PLEASE Don`t discontinue this route.IT would be a hardship !!!. Longtime rider [Name redacted]. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 We live in almaden valley. #13 is the only way for us to get out to library and community center. We are seniors and cannot drive any more. This will lock most of us at home!!! Please don't discontinue it. Even 2 buses per day is better than nothing. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 You are discontinuing 13? So how are we going to get to the mall? What did you use to decide it's low on riders? Did you even ask the drivers? And what makes you think it's a good idea to cut the service All Comments Received on the Draft Plan from Camden Ave to Meridian/Blossom Hill for 63? There was no one riding? How about the people in the morning taking it at 7:to get to work? Are you making us walk to Blossom Hill so it would look like there s A LOT of passengers getting on the bus at that stop? This is your strategy to increase ridership? You are taking away, denying, discriminating people who have no other options to get to work and back home, to the doctors....etc. over this short mile. How would you feel if this is affecting one of your family members? How would you feel one day if you have to take buses and VTA decides to cut the route to make more money? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 You are taking away my lifeline and you don't even realize it. Please don't touch 13 and 63. I really need those two lines run so I can get to work, back to home, get to the doctors, and grocery stores. See I don't even list going to the malls because I have no access on weekends to go to the malls. At least provide a community bus for the distance you are going to cut; I will pay extra if I have to, but just don't tell us that we can simply just walk an hour to catch 63; that is just wrong. I have been crying and losing sleep over this ever since I read what you are going to do. And I know you don't really care about me and my ordeal no matter how desperate I plead my case. Cutting that short 10 minute drive from the route is not going to save you any money or time or improve congestion. You are just sending more people, me excluding, to cars and tie up all the traffic. I have no other options but taking buses to work, and you are taking that away from me. I wonder if any of your family is being affected by this as well, and how you can look them in the eyees and say everything you do is justified. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 how about expanding 13 to cover the route from Camden to meridian? You can't just tell people that you need to do something differently without providing alternative. that is wrong and inconsiderate and contradict to what you are trying to achieve. buses are lifelines to certain people. if we can afford to drive, own a car, we are happy to help congest the traffic. think about what you are doing. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 so, how do I get to the mall? hoe do I get to light rail? I don't have anyone else to rely upon. how am I supposed to go to work and come back home? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 It is a very bad change for the seniors in the area who can't drive in the Almaden area. They depend on 13 and 63 to get around and to be active and stay healthy. Objections to any proposed changes. The present service is already very minimum. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 I am getting involved by voicing my frustration over your changes. But would you listen though? Would you think about our ordeals and have compassion? Please do not discontinue 13 and make any changes to 63. How do I get to 64 if you discontinue 13? How do I get to Meridian/Blossom Hill if you don't cover Camden Ave? That route is not exactly a five‐minute walk, you know? So we get off on Meridian/Blossom Hill, then what? You leave us stranded at night and start walking home? For how long? I have been riding 63 for more than 10 years, so where did you get the idea that we don't need coverage from Camden Ave all the way to Meridian? Is this really the solution to your transit ordeal? By leaving us behind? How about trying a community bus first before you decide we don't matter? A community bus full of people will sure look like ridership is up, right? That's what you are aiming for, All Comments Received on the Draft Plan isn't it? To look like there's a lot of people riding 63. You have no idea what you are doing to me who have no other options or means to get to work, doctors, pharmacy or stores. I am getting old too, sure I can try to walk hours to fit your needs, but what do I do when I lose my mobility too? Please think what you are doing to us less fortunate people. Routes: 16; 216 Subject: 16, 216 How will the changes to route 16 in Morgan Hill affect the ability of paratransit users to get to the De Paul Health Center in Morgan Hill? Will paratransit users be limited to certain hours to match the hours of operation of the new Route 216? Couldn't comment through YouTube. The webinar sounded pretty good. I like the changes. I would have liked more details to changes to Route 16 in Morgan Hill. I'm concerned about the decrease in service hours. Routes: 16; 216; 68 Subject: 16, 216, 68 VTA is selling parking lot (aka Transit Center) at Main and Hale in Morgan Hill. You should remove the TC from the route maps for Routes 16/216 and 68. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Many many, very many bus riders will be greatful if you were to continue services for this line after bart opens. Many many students and other commuters use this line to get to downtown sj. Bart is not as convenient nor is it timely since ppl still need to take a connecting bus to downtown from berryessa, which adds another 30 to 40 minutes in commute time. Terminating line 181 is a major disservice to very very many |oyal riders who have been using it for decades even. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please keep continued service of VTA 181. One main reason is that: Bart won't be finished, and then the commuters would no longer be able to rely on public transportation. As someone who commutes via express route 181 four to five days a week every semester from Fremont to San Jose State University, I can say that 181 has been very helpful. I hope that my feedback can provide some influence. Routes: 34 Subject: 34 Don't eliminate this bus. Seniors need it. We can't drive. If you can't afford to run it all day long, at least keep the 10am, 11am, and 2pm so we can go shopping and come back. I can't walk very far to catch a different bus. People in my housing area are 80 and 90 years old. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 You can cancel the 181 when the BART extension opens. I'll be fine. I'll take BART and my commute will be shorter. Thank you. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I'm a resident in the Almaden Valley, San Jose. I'm very shocked by the new that the route #13 community bus may be cancelled in the near future. My family and many people in the community need this bus. Many high school students, including my son, are taking this bus home after school. And elderlies in the community rely on this bus to connect to the other public transportations for their trips to hospitals and senior centers. So we urge to reconsider discontinuing the route #13 bus. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 13 Subject: 13 How is that this bus is going to be discontinued a lot of old people and kids that go to Bret hard and Leland high school take this bus. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 While many in the Almaden community drive the elderly and the young especially often do not have that option. Leaving a large population without any public transportation is cruel. Especially as the population is aging this seems short sited. Cabs and Uber‐type options are very expensive and not an alternative for many. Understanding that finances are important, perhaps an even smaller van‐type vehicle would suffice for the area and keep the cost down somewhat. Almaden already has no public transportation on weekends, to take away the very limited service during the week seems too harsh a response for those who need and use some option for such critical needs such as schooling, doctor appointment, etc. It may be a relatively small group of people affected, relative to the overall population, but the effect is extreme. Providing services for the aging population is supposedly one of San Jose's goals and this is a dagger in the heart of that goal as well as a limitation on the educational options of some youth in the community, Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 it's so disappointed to hear that route 13 will be discontinued and route 63 will not come to Almaden. We have so many elders who leaves in downtown San Jose area and route 63 is their only transportation come to Almaden to visit their family on a daily basis. There is no way they can walk from Blossom Hill to Almaden. This change will impact their life tremendously. There are also so many Leland and Bret Harte students taking route 13 in and out of Almaden. The change will hugely impact many families of Leland and Bret Harte students' families. Please consider to keep route 63 and 13 unchanged as this would a very negative life change for many elders and students. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 My aunt‐in‐law takes the VTA Bus route 13 starting near the intersection of Almaden Expw. and Almaden Rd. in Almaden Valley. Please be sure to keep this route because otherwise my aunt will lose the independence and freedom that she needs. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 not everyone lives in Milpitas, and not everyone lives in Berryessa. I take buses more than I will ever use BART. A lot of people just want accessible buses to get around, and you can't even understand that. I live in area where you are going to discontinue 13, 65, change 63 and 64. Well, have you ever thought that how we are going to GET TO BART, when you discontinue 13? You are just eager to pool all those money you will save by cutting services, you don't even realize the lack of common sense you are presenting in this matter. I don't even know how I would get to work and go home now. Not everyone drives, mind you. You will get old one day when you can no longer drive either due to bad eye sights, physical or mental disability or all kinds of health reasons. How would you feel if you have no buses to take you around? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 I am a resident at Almaden valley of San Jose, and would like to express my serious concerns of the proposed changes regarding to route 13 and route 63. Route 13 may not have much ridership during the day time, yet is essential for local students of Graystone elementary, Bret Harte Middle, and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Leland High school, to get back home. My son rides route 13 every day, and he counted at least 20 students between Bret Harte and Leland regularly riding with him. In fact, I believe VTA is fully aware of the situation as a larger bus is usually sent during the school dismissal time. Discontinuing route 13 will take away to only viable transportation these students have. In addition, route 13 and route 63 provides seniors in Almaden valley transportation to other places. The proposed changes will make it impossible for the seniors who do not drive to get out of the valley by themselves. I understand that these services may not be very cost effective, yet they fulfill the basic transportation needs to the locals who do not drive. Shifting the budget more towards ridership will provide more convenience to those ride frequently, but completely take away the options from those really in need. Right now, both fraternities have the transportation, after the change, only one group has the access to the public service (and with more convenience), and the other group is totally abandoned. I don't believe this observes the value of our community and country. Please take this into consideration!! Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 I heard that these two routes may be cancelled for the Almaden area. I just want to voice my objection. I have been living in the Almaden area since 1979. These bus routes are the only public transportation in the Almaden area. A lot of seniors living in this area depends on them to get to the train station, shopping and going to the community center. Students also depend on them to go to school. We paid our share of taxes from our area and we supported the recent sales tax hike to get more money into mass transportation. Please reconsider your plan. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Bus 13 should NOT be cancelled. IT SHOULD BE A VAN WITH SEATING FOR 8, NOT A BIG BUS Cancelling the only public transportation in the entire Almaden Valley area is WRONG AND STUPID!!!! Routes: 13 Subject: 13 This bus route has a 20 mile loop (10 miles South / North return trip ) The discontinuation is over 8 miles away from the most needed area ( Leland High school ‐ there is no school tripper replacing it ) Elderly and Youth take this bus to connect to the Light Rail ( there is no plan to extend the lightrail down Almaden Expressway ) There is an average of 10 to 15 ppl whom ride the bus during the commute hours ( 6‐9am and 3‐7pm ). The most vulnerable and the professional commuter utilize this bus line discontinuing it would be determental to any future Tax measures and may invoke a repeal (lawsuit / voter measure ) of the Measure B Funds due to misuse by VTA Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I am writing this email to express my deep concern about plan to eliminating route 13. 1. Route 13 is used heavily by school kids during school start and end. A lot of kids depends on this bus to go home. 2. A lot of senior citizens and people don't drive depend on route 13 to connect to light rail and other bus route. 3. Almaden resident pay the most property tax in San Jose, we deserve to have some VTA service for our area. Especially the newly passed Measure for funding VTA, we almaden resident will still pay the most for this. I strongly request a reconsideration of the VTA new route plan and keep the bus route 13. If due to low ridership then please consider only operate at peak period to make sure kids can go home and other citizen has a time of window to get to and back from light rail. Thanks for your consideration. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Discontinuing 13 is just sending more people to cars. Then you will do even more severe cuts and raise fares to make up for the loss. It's a spiral downward. You need to find out why people would prefer driving to public transit instead of trying to force transit upon people who don't need it and take it away from people who do need them. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I have no 13 to take to get to the stores and transfer to light rails I have no 63 to take to get to stores and transfer to other buses. Thank you for cutting the services more and more. I think you are trying to make us healthy by making us walk miles to get to the next bus stops. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 Almaden Valley still needs bus service! Students, disabled, elderly, domestic workers depend on it. Don't cut out 35,000 people who pay a lot of taxes!! Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I want to express my opposition to your plan to eliminate all public transportation in Almaden. Voters approved Santa Clara County Measure B which promised that things would improve. VTA now has the mandate and the means to improve this situation. We now expect that VTA will work to improve public transportation, also in Almaden. As an example why I'm personally not taking public transportation to work, although there's a light rail stop close to my office in N San Jose: It takes over 2 hours to get from my home to work. It's 20 miles. Average speed is 10mph. While I by no means claim to know all the answers, I do believe VTA can do better. However, eliminating public transportation from Almaden altogether is not better. In closing, VTA needs to fix the problems, using the new funds. If VTA believe that, contrary to the Measure B promises, there's no solution, the funds must be returned. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 My family uses the bus routes regularly. Please keep bus routes Bus 13 and 63 running and increase frequency/coverage Routes: 13; 65 Subject: bus 13, 63, 65 combo I have been transit dependent all my life. I can't and I don't drive because of vision issue. Line 63 and 13 have been my lifeline to get to school, stores, work, doctors, dentist, optometrist, retinal specialist...you name it. All I have had to do is walk a few minutes to the bus stop. For years, I have had to put up with your service cut on those lines and make adjustments while traffic congestion worsens. Now with proposal to discontinue these lines, you are basically sending a transit‐dependent who has no viable option to walk along the danger of streets for hours to get to the next available stop. Is this your smart answer, as a government agency, to relieve traffic congestion and increase ridership? Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 Please do not discontinue buses 13 and 63. A lot of us who don't drive use these buses to get to school, work, and to get to other places. Routes: 13; 63; 64; 65; 328; 330 Subject: 13, 63, 65 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan There are currently 4 bus routes that serve the Almaden Valley area south of Coleman Rd: 13, 63, 328 & 330. Not only does this proposal eliminate 3 of these routes entirely, but the 63 route is being shortened so that it terminates at Blossom Hill & Meridian ‐ instead of continuing down 2.5 additional miles to Almaden Expy & Camden like it currently does. These changes will leave the Almaden Valley south of Coleman Rd without ANY transit service. That is a horribly drastic change, and one that really needs to be reconsidered. At the very least, the 63 route should be kept intact so that SOME form of public transportation extends to this area. Also, have you'll considered extending the southern‐end of the #64 route so that it terminates at Almaden Expy & Camden (instead of at the Almaden LR station) ? It is almost always empty when it reaches (and leaves from) Almaden LR station, so one option might be to skip the Almaden LR station stop and go straight down Almaden Expy to Almaden & Camden. The extended route might take the same amount of time (if the Almaden LR station is skipped), and help counter the elimination of the #13 route. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 If I understand the proposed changes correctly, there will be NO VTA service along Camden Avenue south of Hillsdale Avenue. I believe that eliminating that source of transportation will be a very significant disruption to our community. I also wonder just what use the Park‐n‐Ride lot at Hwy 85 and Camden Avenue will have. I assume that you won't tear it out, so will tax payers, in essence, have built the lot for the sole use of Google, Facebook etc. bus users? Who else would park there when there isn't a bus line that goes by? Access to Almaden Valley seems like it will be tremendously impacted. Please keep the 65 route in place. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 You have no idea what your proposals are doing to the people like me who are depending on buses all day, every day, every week, every year, to get to work, back home, to doctors, to grocery stores, to get errands done. I don't even dream of going to the malls anymore because you already discontinue services on weekends. How much is enough? You keep cutting services and therefore people keep driving. That s the equation you will never get. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I see that Route 10 will be combined with the current Route 60 to create a new Route 60. I am accustomed to Route 10 being one that is a free shuttle that takes passengers from the San Jose Airport to the Metro/Airport light rail station. From the map, I cannot tell if the new Route 60 will be going to the Metro/Airport light rail station, or not. First of all, will the new Route 60 go to the Metro/Airport light rail station? Secondly, if it continues, will the trip to the Metro/Airport light rail station continue to be free of charge? Routes: 19 Subject: 19 There are still no routes close to north Gilroy near Christopher High School (cross street Santa Teresa & Day Road).. The nearest bus was route 19 to get to Gilroy Transfer Station into San Jose. Our high school students have to walk to Monterey Road. Access to Monterey Road is not easily walkable. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a Santa Clara County employee and my employer pays for my VTA pass. I live in Newwark and drive to Stevenson to take the 181 to downtown San Jose. If you cancel this bus, I would be severely impacted. My commute would be longer, and more expensive. The county does not pay for us to ride BART. I would probably drive and park my car downtown if you cancel the 181. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 328 Subject: 328 I've been a dedicated 328 rider every day for the past 14 years, and my fellow 328 riders and I would be devastated to have to face a twice daily Silicon Valley commute without public transportation. Most of us commute all the way to Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, where the 328 terminates. I ride 14 miles each way on the 328, and many of my colleagues ride much further than that. That's a lot of car miles that aren't being driven because of the 328. I can think of several reasons to keep route 328: 1. It?s the only VTA service than runs along Lawrence Expressway, and major Santa Clara county thoroughfare. 2. Every day there?s a group of contract engineers (mostly from India) that gets on near Arques Ave. They work at the tech companies along Lawrence and none of them owns a car, so without the 328 they have no way to get work. 3. Most days the bus is full, and sometimes it's standing room only. 4. The VTA just recently added a second 328 run (both morning and afternoon). Why eliminate a route you?ve just recently expanded? 5. The long route of the 328 means a lot of car miles not being used. 6. There is no public transportation alternative to the 328! A combination of light rail and route 330 would suffice, but VTA is proposing to discontinue route 330 as well. Please keep the 328, even if you have to reduce it from two runs to one. Thank you. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 I currently take route 323 frequently. While it's supposed to arrive every 15 minutes, it often doesn't even during the day (I waited at Stevens Creek and San Tomas for 30 minutes, two non‐express 23 busses had arrived with no 323 in sight). I never know when the next bus will arrive to plan my trip. Some sort of live‐tracking ability with each bus (or just the rapids, if they're mostly used for commuting) would be awesome. That way I know when to head out to the bus stop and/or to just take a slower bus if the next rapid bus isn't coming. Routes: 13; 63; 328 Subject: 328 We live in Almaden Valley. We use #63, #13 and #328 everyday to work, library, and mall. Without public transportation, we will be unable to go anywhere. We kindly ask VTA to re‐consider the plan. Not enough riders information is not accurate. The buses are full for 10 AM, 12AM, 2PM and 5PM schedules. Please do not discontinue #13, #63, and #328. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 I work in Juniper and ride vta 328 the 4:50pm bus almost everyday. I don't have any alternative if this bus is canceled. Please at least keep the one running. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 I ride the 328 almost every work day and will be impacted by its elimination. The new route 56 appears to be following roads with more signals and not a Limited route so it will be far slower for me to reach Sunnyvale (Java Dr). Did the bus 328 low usage cancellation consider the many large new offices that are nearing completion in north Sunnyvale which I suppose would increase demand for a limited bus route 328 in the coming months? Routes: 328 Subject: 328 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I disagree with the decision to remove the 330. The 330 is one of the best ways for people to get to work. My mother rides that bus everyday. Additionally, some high school students use that line to get to Boyton High School. I think that it is not a good idea to remove the 328 or 330 without coming up with a reasonable alternative. If the 330 is suffering from low ridership, you should reach out to the companies who currently subscribe to your vta passes to see if their employees are aware there's a bus route. Otherwise, Cisco and other businesses in Milpitas might cancel their subscriptions. I would also heavily recommend VTA to talk to a representative from West Valley College about providing student bus passes (it has never been passed before because the voting system in WVC is terrible so no one knows when or how to vote but there is a great interest in having one). West Valley and San Jose City college both have problems with running out of parking. It would be a good opportunity for VTA and a great service to the community. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 There are several riders from Lockheed Martin, Yahoo and Juniper that regularly take the Route 328 bus. Please do not discontinue Route 328 Routes: 13; 328; 330 Subject: 328 I relocated from Los Angeles in 1997, and reside in South San Jose, Almaden Valley since 1997. I commute work by VTA bus for almost 20 years. I was shock when VTA propose to discontinue all VTA bus serving in Almaden Valley community. I take bus 328 to work since 2004, I take bus 328 almost every work days except holidays or vacations. If bus 328, 330, 13 are all discontinued, the local traffic will be horrible, because lot of parents will drop off their kids at Bret Harte and Leland high school. if VTA discontinues 328/330/13, what is the options that VTA provide to ALmaden Valley community? Routes: 328 Subject: 328 Please don't discontinue route 328 with the VTA Next plan. I use the 328 bus to get to work every day from Almaden to Sunnyvale and back home in the evening. Route 328 has only two trips during morning / evening service. I see a lot more riders on the bus in the evening commute compared to the morning ‐ perhaps the AM bus time is too early and could be moved out to cater to more people. Instead of 6AM and 7:20AM, perhaps do 7AM and 8AM bus service or reduce to a single service, but maintain the route. Thanks! Routes: 54 Subject: 54 How are students who live near Hollenback Ave and Danforth Dr supposed to get to and from Homestead High School? It seems like all stops will be too far to walk to. They'll also have to cross unsafe roads like Matilda Ave. Routes: 54 Subject: 54 We are the residents living along Hollenbeck Avenue. Route 54 provides great services to us for a long time and it is convenient for people reading De Anza College, Sunnyvale City Hall and Library. We strongly oppose the idea of discontinuing this route. Please consider retain this route. Thank you. Routes: 54 Subject: 54 The current 54 bus route stops right in front of the Sunnyvale Library and City Hall. Please ensure that any route replacing the 54 would serve the library without imposing undue hardship on its patrons, including elderly and disabled people. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 54; 523 Subject: 54 I am concerned the 54 bus route is being discontinued and replaced with a route that does not stop at the Sunnyvale Library on Olive Avenue. The closest stop for the new Rapid 523 service might be at Mathilda and Olive ‐‐ which is a quarter‐mile away from the library, and requires you to cross a very busy street (Mathilda). Can't the Rapid 523 circle past the library? Or, can't the 55 bus be re‐routed to stop in front of the library? Routes: 54 Subject: 54 Can you pleaseee continue route 54 'cause its convenient for me plus there's alot of people riding it also. Routes: 54 Subject: 54 PLEASE do not discontinue Route 54 because many local students use this bus route to commute to high school (Homestead High School) and De Anza College, as well as to Community Center and Senior Center in Cupertino (Stelling & Stevens Creek), from Sunnyvale where it is far from Mathilda. Thank you! Routes: 53; 54; 523 Subject: 54 Please continue line 54 It is important for students living near Sunnyvale City Hall and Library to Homestead High School. Line 523 and 55 overlap a lot. Why not let 523 runs on Mathilda instead of Sunnuvale Ave? Routes: 54; 55 Subject: bus 54 As I understand it, you are eliminating the 54 and rerouteing the 55 so that nothing goes near the Sunnyvale Library or Civic Center. How can you leave these facilities so unserved? Routes: 54 Subject: 54 I live near Hollenbeck and Sunnyvale Saratoga Ave. and have a daughter going to Homestead High school next year. I am wondering if she will be able to take route 523 to Homestead HS if route 54 is eliminated? What other options does she have? Thank you. Routes: 54 Subject: 54 I am concerned about discontinuing Route 54 from Hollenbeck to Sunnyvale/ Saratoga (Homestead). My son is going to Homestead High school in 2017 and this would be his transport route. I know few parents who count on this bus 54 from Hollenbeck and Freemont area. Please don't cancel it. Routes: 54 Subject: 54 I do not have a car and do not expect to have one in the future. I live about 5 blocks. ( a little over ¼ mile) from the 54 bus stop at Ross and Mathilda. I take the 54 bus every twice a day, every day, to El Camino and Hollenbeck, Sunnyvale, CA or the Library, Sunnyvale, CA. I carry a heavy gym bag and often have groceries on my way home. On a typical day, I carry from 10‐30lbs. I was very upset and disconcerted to hear the 54 route will be changing. I would like to understand where the new proposed stops will be (sooner rather than later). Changing the bus route will be real hardship for me, as I already walk 5‐10 miles a day without the bus. There are many apartment buildings (including my All Comments Received on the Draft Plan own) down Weddell and many of us depend on the 54 to get us to El Camino Real. I would appreciate both a call back and a detailed email as soon as possible to discuss this issue. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a currently a junior of SJSU. I currently live in Fremont and need the bus 181 to get to downtown San Jose using a clipper card. Will the changes affect travel from Fremont. Do I have to pay money for BART or use my SJSU clipper card? Would you please somehow make sure that passengers from Fremont can travel to downtown San Jose and that to using the same clipper cards we have, if possible? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I overheard the other day that VTA Route 181 might be discontinued in the future when the Bart Berryessa Station is put in place. I don?t think that?s a good idea because I work and go to school in Downtown San Jose and I live in Fremont. For those who are commuting by Bart to go to downtown San Jose will also choose VTA 181 (Getting off at Fremont) because of the time and ease and cost. Please don?t cancel this route, it?s very busy and thus crucial to the commuters of students and workers in San Jose. Routes: 45 Subject: Bus Route 45 [Respondent] rides Bus Route 45 frequently and doesn't want it to be cancelled. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I'm currently a student at SJSU. I commute to school through bus 181 that goes from Stevenson and farwell to 2nd and Santa clara. I have heard that VTA is planning on abolishing that line and I would just like to let you guys know that by taking that bus route out, a lot of commuting students are going to be impacted by it. And not just students are going to be impacted; a lot of working class adults also will be affected if they commute that way. I just want to share my concerns because SJSU subsidizes our VTA fare, but not BART, so if we were to switch to BART for our daily commute, it would be a significant impact on our daily expenses. So I would urge VTA to try to keep the route as much as possible. Thank you for listening and I hope this has influenced VTA's decision a little bit. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a San Jose State student writing to you in regards to the new changes in the bus routes specifically in the Fremont area. Your website has listed that VTA 181 will be discontinued in Fall 2017, which is the primary mode of transportation for Fremont commuters. These individuals compose a big percentage of San Jose State's commuter population. The brand new BART station is intended to replace this bus route that will travel from the Fremont station to Milpitas/Berryessa. Without the 181 bus, there is no alternative for transportation for majority of these students. My question is, if a student possesses their clipper card, would this BART route be made free and available to them? On another note, congratulations on your advancements in the transportation system and good luck on your future plans. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Looking at this new plan, I feel that the discontinuation of this route (181) is an extremely terrible decision. I have been going to San Jose State for 3 years and counting, and this bus route provides effective transportation between Fremont and San Jose. Given the increasing amount of traffic in the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan past 5 years, it is next to impossible to reasonably make it to work/school in San Jose on time. This plan claims that the reason for discontinuing route 181 is the extension of BART to Santa Clara/San Jose. However, this is a ridiculous statement since BART does not/will not extend to San Jose in the time frame in which this VTA plan will be implemented. Additionally, the Warm Springs BART Station was supposed to be finished and running in 2016, but it was delayed/pushed back to 2017. Even then, there is no guaranteed date when it will be finished. So how long are we supposed to wait until BART reaches that far? Many San Jose State students, including myself, who live in Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, or even San Ramon, use this bus route to get to San Jose with ease. It is difficult enough to pay tuition for college, and if this route is discontinued, the only viable bus route to San Jose would involve AC Transit 217. The problem with this though is it involves an additional fee of $2.10 AND it only stops in Milpitas, so an additional transfer would be required. Thankfully, route 181 is covered under SJSU's Eco Pass program, and it provides direct transportation to San Jose with no fee, transfer, or other hassle required. Thousands of people use this bus during heavy traffic hours to get to San Jose efficiently and on time every single day. VTA 181 has always been frequent, reliable, and relaxing so I kindly implore you to retain this bus route for future years. If you fail to do so, many people will be significantly furious and have to resort to other tedious transportation options. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 i was wondering what the substitution for VTA 181 would be? I travel from SJSU to Fremont BART approximately every day. Routes: 140; 180; 181 Subject: 140, 180, 181 Hi , I am regular commuter on routes 140, 180 and 181 from last 1 year And it was very much helping me I dont use BART and if you discontinue these routes , i will be inconvenience to my daily commute Please consider this requet, continue the service 140, 180 and 181. Thanks. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am regularly commuting from Fremont with to and flow with 180 and 181 , Pls. do not discontinue service. Its very useful for weekdays and weekends to commute for office and with Family to Santa Clara, Great Mall / Milpitas. Routes: 120; 140; 180; 181 Subject: 181 The bus 120, 140, 180, and 181 helped many people who live in Fremont to commute to Santa Clara county tremendously. It allows us to walk to the nearby bus station, take one bus without transfer, then walk to work place. Without these buses, I would not be taking the public transportation to work at all. Without the bus, even with the extension of BART, people commute between Fremont and Santa Clara county needs to transfer between BART and light rail ( or buses) at Great Mall. There are two problems for this: 1. People need to drive to/from places near BART station (BART station are far less frequent than bus stations). It is also hard to find parking near BART station. This will definitely make it much harder for people to use. 2. People need to wait for transfer in between BART and lightrail/bus. This will increase the commute time, and will make the commute option less attractive. To facilitate people's commute and save the environment , it's better to keep the express line 120, 140, 180 and 181 even after the BART extension. Thanks. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 What is the alternative for Express 181? This bus dropped me next to the SJSU. Will there another express bus? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 89 Subject: 89 They are expressing concern with the discontinuance of Line 89 Routes: 26; 37; 181 Subject: 181 The 26 should be replaced with the 37. There are students who rely on the 37 to get to school and the 26 is not optimal in anyway. In fact, if you wanted to get from the Camden shopping center, to WVC, there is no way you could do that in less than maybe an hour and a half (which is ridiculous given the distance). This is terrible because it only hurts the disadvantaged students who don't have cars in the first place. In fact, the whole Cambrian/Leigh area is horribly underserved without alternatives. Please do not do this. Also, please don't get rid of the 181 because then there's no way to get to the BART from San Jose. Unless the BART extends to San Jose, which isn't happening soon. VTA is going to do the community a lot of harm if there is no replacements or alternatives for lines that are being discontinued. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I live in Fremont and have been taking the 181 since 2013. This route is convenient and saves commuting costs and time since I live and work close to the bus stops. My employer reimburses me for the costs up to $125 per month, which does not include parking fees. I have encouraged several of my coworkers of these benefits and a couple of them take the 181. I am disappointed that you will be discontinuing this bus line. If I continue taking public transportation, I will need to account for additional out of pocket costs and increase my commute time because of parking at the BART station, BART parking and fares, and possibly bus fares. I encourage you to reconsider your intention to discontinue the 181 bus line. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I always take 181 from San Jose, CA to Stevenson Blvd to get to work for the past 6 years. If 181 is discontinued then I will pay a lot more to get on the BART from Santa Clara, CA to get off in Fremont and then take 212 Ac tranist to my work. I might lose my job cause the BART and extra train will make my commute much longer in travel time. Please let me know that 181 won't be discontinued. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 We recently heard about discontinue plan for Fremont Bus route : 140, 180,120 & 181. We are working for Cisco and regularly using these routes . Requesting you to please continue the service . Thanks. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I live close to highway 880 on Stevenson Blvd and have been taking VTA 181 from Stevenson (and Blacow) to Bart station and vise versa. If VTA 181 gets discontinued, the only bus I can take is AC 216, which is currently scheduled for every one hour. The last AC 216 from Monday thru Friday is 7:33pm from Fremont Bart Station. Please advise how we can get better service from you. Routes: 62 Subject: 62 I still need to get from 1st St to the San Jose Flea Market. Please send me more information about changes to line 62. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please do not discontinue route 181. There are very many riders (commuters and sjsu students) that take this route to get to downtown sj and north 1st street during the week. Many riders get on the bus on Stevenson Blvd, not Fremont BART. At present, the Berryessa station as a last stop leaves us riders with unknown connections to get to downtown. There is also the fare and time consideration ‐ at present, 181 drops us off at downtown in approx. 35 minutes in the mornings. In the evenings, it takes anywhere from 65 ‐ 75 minutes due to traffic. This is still a most best viable commute option. If VTA's purpose for these changes is truly to offer better service, then this planned discontinuation would actually amount to a very major disservice to loyal riders that have been using this service for very many many years! Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 It will take him 2.5 hours to walk to new stop he will have to use and he knows at least 14 disabled people who use that line Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I take the 181 Express from Fremont every weekday morning to work. I work for the City of San Jose and the 181 Express is the fastest and easiest way for me to get to work. It makes my commute so much easier. If this express line were to end it would very difficult and costly for me to continue to commute into work. I would have to resort to driving, which would not be a good thing. Discontinuing the express would put many people back on the road and/or increase the commute cost for them. We would have to pay for BART and then pay to continue onto a regular city bus or the light rail which would also increase my time significantly. Please reconsider this, it is necessary for transportation for work and school/college. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 When will 181 discontinue transportation ? Will Bart to 181 be free ? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am daily commuter from fremont to san jose state university. There is a big group of students and professionals who use VTA 181 express. It is fast and good. Please do not remove this route and this bus. We appreciate your effort for making transport better but VTA 181 is necessity for large group of commuters. Please consider our request and add this route and this express bus into your 2017 draft. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 As a college student who avidly uses VTA bus, I respectfully express my dissatisfaction with your decision to discontinue the Express 181 bus. I am currently a full time student at San Jose State University (SJSU) who utilizes the Express 181 bus at the Stevenson and Farwell stop in Fremont. The stop is most convenient considering my location and financial situation. In addition, I receive a VTA bus Clipper Card through my tuition that fully covers my transportation (VTA bus) expenses. With the new bart route that also stops directly in downtown San Jose, I understand your decision to discontinue Express 181. However, many, like myself, do not have easy access to the Bart station. Furthermore, many from low‐income families, like myself, do not have the luxury of spending money on Bart back and forth everyday for school, considering our cost of tuition, textbooks, food, rent, and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan other necessities. I sincerely hope that you will continue VTA Express 181 route for the sake of many students who utilize its amazing service. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a student at San Jose State University. I live in Fremont and take the 181 bus route as my commute every school day. I heard VTA 181 is going to be discontinued. Will you have a replacement route from Fremont to San Jose State next year? Routes: 55 Subject: 55 I don't want the bus to discontinue. I need the 55 bus so please. Only 1 bus stop no 2 bus stop please Routes: 55 Subject: 55 The new route is now too far from many apts, housing along Fair Oaks. This is unfair to those of us who have located along the 55 route. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 please don't cancel I just want to know if there will be any change for vta 181 bus route. I take that bus to commute from Fremont to San Jose. Please let me know. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to you as a concerned citizen affected by the discontinuation of the VTA express route 181, which I take to commute from my home in Fremont to San Jose State University. If this change takes place, I and many other members of my community will only have the BART as our alternative option, and that commute, taking into consideration how often we will be going to and from campus, will quickly rack up in cost making it actually not an affordable option at all. I plead that the VTA route remain in service as, taking into consideration the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other general school supplies I simply have no room to add another cost to my list. Thank you for listening. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I'm a currently enrolled San Jose State University student who rides the VTA Bus system every day from home to school. I'm very concerned after looking over the new VTA draft plan as the popular bus line I ride on, 181, appears to be left out of the plan. I do not believe it is righteous or fair to bus riders to discontinue such a major bus line because it would greatly burden and complicate the commute to work/school for the many others who rely on this freeway‐to‐downtown line just like myself. Without the 181, I cannot find another practical and cheap way to use VTA and other public transportation to make it to school and I'm sure others like myself will struggle with this problem as well. I understand with the expansion of BART that bus travel through freeway to South Bay is slower and not as up to date, but I believe it is critical for the sake of my commute and the commute of others like myself that the practical 181 line is maintained. Please consider my plea to preserve the 181 line because this issue is very critical to the outlook of public transportation for a large population of people. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Hi VTA Team, I am regular commuter to VTA FREMONT Bus : 140, 180,120 & 181 I heard you are planning to discontinue the routes 140, 180,120 & 181 this will bring lot of inconvenience to us , please revoke this Decision. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I had just went over the proposed plans to discontinue the express bus routes, which include bus 181 and 180. I would like to voice my opposition these proposed plans because it will set thousands of students, including myself, as well as many people that work in downtown San Jose that take these buses. I have been able to take these buses for over four years when I was going to school in Cupertino and now in San Jose. I had saved a lot of money that could of went towards gas and parking permits because I was able to use Bus 181 with my Eco Pass Clipper Card. Stopping the bus routes for bus 180 and bus 181 will set people back and have to spend more money elsewhere instead being able to ride these buses. I hope that you understand why many people need these buses to get to school and work in the mornings and afternoons and by taking them away you make it more difficult for people. Thank you for your time! Routes: 21 Subject: 22 I am disappointed in the lack of VTA service to Stanford, particularly on weekends, when Marguerite all but suspends operations. I often see tourists and visitors making the ~1 mile walk from Palo Alto to the Oval at Stanford's Main Quad. I think it would be a good idea to provide some VTA bus service between Palo Alto and Stanford main campus, especially on weekends. Perhaps the proposed Route 21 could be extended from Stanford Shopping Center to the Stanford Oval. Routes: 81 Subject: 22 I have never understood why VTA has never had a route from Santa Clara University along Homestead Road and Foothill Expressway to Stanford University. A lot of traffic flows along this corridor. For a full year in the 1970's I hitchhiked between Wright Avenue at Homestead Road and Stanford University and back again as my means of commuting to work at Stanford. Routes: 27 Subject: 27 Thank you for expanding the times for route 27 on all days! I can make use of this on weekdays (shopping) and weekends (scheduled church activities). Saves me from walking everywhere. Look forward to the change! Routes: 22 Subject: 22 I often wait for a 22 bus at the corner of El Camino and Page Mill for 25‐30 minutes so if those are supposed to come every 12‐minutes does that mean that with the new 15‐minute interval I will have to wait longer?? Routes: 22 Subject: 22 Please keep weekday frequency 12 minutes for route 22. More people take 22 compare to 522. Thank you. ‐SJSU Student Routes: 22 Subject: 22 Consider splitting the line at diridon or near San Jose State to preserve frequency and timeliness. Routes: 27; Light Rail Subject: 27, light rail Can you not cut some many bus can you increase service on 27 on Sunday and Saturday and Increase the light rail times. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 22 Subject: 22 Consider cutting this from the plan, people would only have to walk 20 minutes at most to get to another line in the areas where coverage would dissapear. Riders would then take the 22 or 522 to the 57 which is more frequent and convenient for their trip. Routes: 22 Subject: 22 You want to save money offset cost? How about discontinue 22? Why are you running a bus all night for homeless people? So you are cutting services for us who need the buses to go to school, doctors, work, and stores, but you are willing to run a bus all night all the way for homeless people? Where is the logic in this? Routes: 22 Subject: 22 Please consider splitting line 22 at downtown mountain view, and have both ends go down Castro Street to the Caltrain station. Sunnyvale has a good connecting point at Sunnyvale avenue, but Mountain View doesn't. Also, the ridership on the El Camino Corridor drops off after downtown Mountain View and continues to be low through Palo Alto. Through riders could take the 522. Routes: 22 Subject: 22 My son cannot drive and uses VTA services every day to get from his studio apartment to his shopping, classes, volunteer work, doctor appointments, and recreation opportunities. He uses the 22, the 522, the 35, and the 40 most frequently. The 85/15 plan seemed a good fit for Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos (to Foothill). Though my son uses the 22 more than the 522, the reversal in frequency makes sense for better service for commuters and people who go farther. I hope that the re‐numbered 35 will use the Middlefield section of Palo Alto as it currently does to serve Abilities United, the Charleston Shopping Center, Mitchell Park and Community Center, and the medical offices on the Middlefield side of downtown Palo Alto. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I have heard that there is a proposal to shorten the route of the #63 bus and remove the route section between Almaden Valley ( Almaden & Camden ) and Blossom Hill Road. Since I live in Almaden Valley and frequently use this route all the way to that end of the line, removing that section from the route effectively makes VTA useless to me and would force me to have to use a car to get anywhere. This would seem to be in stark contrast to VTA's Transit Ridership Improvement Program. Having to drive to downtown will also mean that I will be less likely to stay and patronize the local bars and restaurants, since I wouldn't have a way to get home after having consumed alcohol. To me the bus is a convenience that I would miss and without this route section I would likely terminate my monthly pass subscription. Routes: 21; 32; 40 Subject: 40, 21, 32 This route change cuts off a chunk of riders on the stretch of Middlefield Rd between Moffett Blvd and San Antonio Rd. All that's left for access to El Camino is the 40 or 21, BUT people in that area will have to walk a lot farther to get a one of these buses, and it will be more complicated to get to light rail and Caltrain. The current 32 route has a big ridership and it has grown since the hours were expanded on weekdays. Many people on this route are disabled and/or elderly. They need buses that get close to where they live. VTA isn't about SERVICE any more. It's all about money and image. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't cut the southern end. That's where I live and where I get on the bus. I am not rich like khamis, and I can't drive. If you change the starting point, how do I get to work? Tell me, provide me with a solution before you make your decision that destroys people's lives. how much can you save for this ten‐minute‐ride? How long will it take me to walk from Camden to Meridian to catch 63? There are people getting on from Camden, a lot. I, for one, have been riding 63 for three decades. Do I not count? Do I not deserve some sympathy? You want to raise ridership by making it available, increasing services, not cutting it, Khamis is rich and he doesn't take bus. He has no idea how other people live. Please, please, please, don't do this to my life line, You can use a community bus, or something to pick us up, but you can't cut the line. Please. It doesn't make any sense at all , not at all. You are basically saying we don't need services, only people who live by blossom hill do. Routes: 523 Subject: 523 Consider expanding late night trips on the 523 to match the last BART train arrivals (usually around midnight). Would really help with late night trips beyond downtown SJ Routes: 63 Subject: 63 63. Increase ridership? Frequencies? Routes: 523 Subject: 523 When would route 323 be upgraded to the 523? THANK YOU FOR INCREASING FREQUENCY ON THE WEEKENDS. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Am I being punished because I can't drive? I have been riding 63 for decades, and every year you would make changes to make my life difficult. Does my ridership not count? Are you punishing me because I don't go to the meetings to voice my concern, that I don't matter? How is this change to 63 going to benefit us? Who is it benefiting? By pushing us out of your network, do you think congestion would be easier? How do you expect us, disabled, young, seniors, with no other means of transportation to get around? Routes: 27; 63 Subject: 63 I live on Camden ave and I get on 63 from that stop all the way to Walgreen, to transfer to 27 to Good Samaritan, all the way to downtown to work, and also transfer to 64 to medical center. I live alone, and thanks to 63, at least I can stil do all of the above indepentantly. Now thank you for deciding that we who live here don't need coverage at all, that we can just walk two hours to blossom hill from now on if I want to do all of the above. It will make me healthier, I guess, walking two hours to and back, carrying grocery, in the storm as well since VTA feels I am no body to deserve a bus to take me home. I don't know what to do now. You decide not to run any bus after blossom hill, which means I have to walk home in the dark, where I might get mugged, raped or killed. Thank you for thinking that everyone gets off at blossom hill and so you don't need to cover that line anymore. Is councilman offering to give us a ride since he was the one who decided this? As a long time passenger, I find your decision disappointing, cruel and discriminating. Imagine I have to walk hours everyday in the storm to catch 63...... Wow, you must have no family riding the buses, that is why you have no consideration for us less privileged. But who cares, right? As long as you save money, you don't care how this All Comments Received on the Draft Plan change is impacting us. You wan to do things differently, and so we don't matter. Thank you. I will just move at a whim every time there is no bus running in my area. Routes: 23; 523 Subject: 23, 325, 523 I strongly oppose the proposed changes to the routes 23, 323, and the 523. This would impact my schedule as well as other commuter's schedule in that people need a more frequent (the 12 minutes) during the weekdays and weekends during hours of commute (7am to 7pm) as most people on this line to go work or San Jose City college/San Jose State. As for the 323 to the new line, 523, I feel like the old 55 route would be fine with the same old frequency since most people on the 55 line go to DeAnza College, there would be no need for having a 523 and 55 going nearly the same route. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 please don't touch 63. you don't think anyone is waiting for the bus at southern end? you don't think this change will affect a lot of people, people you didn't count? what are we gonna do to get to meridian then? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Due to medical conditions I can't drive. I currently live near the camden and meridian 63 stop. With your proposed changes I won't have access anymore. I need access for things such as going to the hospital. Can you please not implement the plan to cut off access to 63 from my stop? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 How do you make the draft plan better? Well, stop taking away the routes upon which people are relying to get to work, home, grocery stores, doctors and other places. We are being green by taking transits, and yet you are punishing us by eliminating those routes. You only care about people living around where Bart runs, while sending the rest of us to walk or resort to other means. How is this helping to improve the traffic situation? You keep cutting services and frequency, you end up sending people to drive, and then you see a decrease on ridership then you cut even more. You punish the people who are actually still riding the buses. 63 is the ONLY route that runs all the way to Camden. You didn't provide any other buses to that area, so people start driving. Now you are taking that area away too. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I have been losing sleep over this draft plan. You have proposed to discontinue 13 and change route 63 just like that without even offering an alternative, a breathing room for riders to ponder upon. No, you just took it away. It's been storming all week and I look at the weather and think, I will have to walk an hour or more in this weather to catch a bus in the future.... There are people taking those two routes, I for one. They take them to get to work. They take them to transfer to light rails, to other routes to get things done, to get medicines, to GET HOME. You want to put money where more riders are so you deny the rest of us the only option to get around. What were you thinking? I don't know. You obviously don't ride buses, and you don't really care about traffic congestion. Routes: 23; 523 Subject: 23, 523 I live in West San Jose and am concerned about some of the proposed changes to the current 23 and 323 routes along the Stevens Creek corridor. I am a regular Fast Pass user via its SJSU AS contract, and hope that this program will continue to be supported and strengthened. My main concern is that the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan area between the current 323 stops between Kiely and Lawrence is extremely long. Since I and hundreds of other VTA users live several blocks to the south from the current route and in between these current 323 stops (including the large Capistrano complex and the many apartments along Albany Drive) the new 523 route should definitely add a stop midway between these two existing stops at the busy intersection of Stevens Creek and Albany/Cronin Drives. I already have to walk about .6 of a mile to get to the current 323 stop at Albany and Stevens Creek and well over a mile to get to the nearest 323 stop at Lawrence and Stevens Creek. With the 23 proposed to lose 25% of its current schedule and for the 323/523 route to gain 25% the need to add the 323/523 stop at Stevens Creek and Albany is all the more important. Many people, including myself, in this area have disabilities that make walking the long distance, plus having to cross the large numbers of busy streets, a challenge. Looking at the proposed map VTA is providing for the 23, and 323/523 routes, it also seems to suggest that the 23 route will no longer be routed down Winchester and over to the Forest/O'Connor Hospital areas before returning to West San Carlos. If this happens, the major VTA transit hub at the rear of Valley Fair Mall and directly past O'Connor Hospital will be very difficult to access. Ir will be great to have the new 523 route offer opportunities to also get to Sunnyvale and to the new BART station when and if it ever opens. It would make even more sense to add more direct connections for this area to the Santa Clara CalTrain station (which also would enable easy access to San Jose Airport), but the extended 523 route through Sunnyvale hopefully will include a stop at a CalTrain hub. CalTrain leaves everyone at such an inopportune spot in San Francisco, however, makes it much less desirable than a BART connection. BART should have always had a full circuit around the Bay, with stops in all three major airports and cities. The hundreds of thousands of residents who live along the important Stevens Creek corridor have unfortunately been left out of almost all major VTA, Light Rail, and BART improvements over the years. We still will have no easy access to light rail, BART, or CalTrain unless we take hours to transfer between multiple busses through very convoluted routing. With the new Apple headquarters soon to open, another 19,000 daily commuting employees will be added to the mix. There should definitely be some type of direct connection added between the 23/523 routes and the new transportation system to be in place at this new huge complex. Thank you for your consideration of these concerns and suggestions. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Changing southern end of 63 from Camden Ave/Almaden EXPY to Meridian/Blossom Hill just doesn't make any logical sense to me. When did you decide that there wasn't anyone getting on the bus from Camden? All day? Not one person? Well, what am I? I have been getting on 63 from Camden from 6‐
7am, ride all the way to downtown and ride all the way back home with 5:46pm bus EVERYDAY for the past decade. If you stop at Meridan/Blossom Hill, how do I get home? Walk, you said? well, would you like to walk an hour or more home? In this weather or all kinds of weather? Uber, you said? Well, would you like to pay 10 dollars each way for a 10 minute bus ride? When you proposed this cut, did you ever put yourselves in our shoes? I should be grateful that you are not discontinue 63 all together right? Am I being greedy for wanting that 10 minute ride on the bus instead of walking hours to get home? So you want to save money by having us spend our money. Thanks. Thank you for having no compassion at all on this draft plan. Routes: 13; 63; 64 Subject: 63 Please don't change southern end from Camden Ave/Almaden Expy to Meridian/Blossom Hill. This is a serious proposal that will have great impact on us who live around the area you are not going to cover. Please reconsider. I get on the bus EVERY DAY, every week in the morning from Camden Ave, riding all the way to work in downtown. Then I get on from Santa Clara at 6pm and ride all the way All Comments Received on the Draft Plan back to Camden Ave to get home. My eye issue stops me from driving, but I also feel I am being green by using transit. Should I not get rewarded for good behavior? There is a lot of us getting on from the beginning of the line, so I don't understand why you feel it is wasting money running an empty bus. How long would it take me to walk from Camden to Blossom Hill? Please don't do anything to 63, I beg you. I have to take my mom to the doctors, too, and we rely on 63 to transfer to 64. I can walk an hour, but can you ask an 80‐year‐old lady with bad knees to walk more than an hour just to catch a bus? In a stormy weather? Can you picture your own parents doing this? Please, this area is automobile‐oriented, but not everyone drives. If you had made the buses more convenient and get to the destination faster, maybe more people will get out of their cars and take transits. But a 15‐minute car ride takes 45 minutes by a bus. And not to mention the waiting time. I have no other OPTION but to take bus. So please don't punish me by taking away my only options to support myself. If you discontinue 13, how do I get to 64 and light rails? Please, please, please. You want us to get involved, you want our feedback, and I am giving you my feedback. I need this line, and I can't afford uber. Please have compassion. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't touch 63. I am stunned by your proposal and am just lost. How do I get to Blossom Hill? I get on the bus from Camden Ave. I am sad everyday because I can't imagine what everyday will be like for me now once you implement your proposal. I have been getting on the same stop for more than a decade, how come no one from VTA ever come ask me on the bus if this line should be cut? There 's a lot of us, including seniors and students getting on from Camden as well. Please don't do this to us. PLEASE!!! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 On 7:39 am bus for route 63 this morning, there were six of us on the bus, getting on from the stops between Camden Ave and Blossom Hill stops. There was only one person got on from Blossom Hill stop. It is very regular that there is always quite a few people getting on the bus from Camden Ave stops. So I don't understand why you have proposed to discontinue the services on those stops, especially that early in the morning when I am taking it to work. I for one have been riding that bus 63 every morning, including Saturdays to get to work in downtown for more than 10 years. I hardly see anyone get on from Blossom Hill. On what did you base your proposal? Could you please not make any changes ? I still need to work for the next 20 years, which means I still need to take 63 for the next 20 years. Even if I stay at home, I still need 63 to get to the doctors, to do grocery. This route is very important to me: it's my life line. Your proposal is going to impact my commute greatly. I really don't understand where this proposal is coming from. How do I get home at night if I get off at Blossom Hill? Are you expecting seniors to walk at night as well? I don't drive, and my mom doesn't drive. I need to take her to the doctors too. Don't you want people to get out of the cars and use buses? So I really don't understand why you are making it difficult for us who are actually riding the buses and can't rely on driving. Why? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I do not care about how much you spend on logos, I just need you to not discontinue my bus, 63. Please don't discontinue the services on those bus stops from Camden Ave/Alamden Expy. I get on from that bus stops to work and I get off at that bus stops to go home at night. From Camden to Blossom Hill, it is not exactly a 15 minute walk as you said for people like me who you have concluded is in an area with low ridership, and therefore, do not deserve coverage. Aside from me, there are people getting on from different bus stops. Please please please have mercy and not implement this All Comments Received on the Draft Plan proposal to 63. I don't drive, and I can't afford Uber every day. This proposal is going to impact my commute and my life drastically and you have no idea. PLEASE!!! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I am stressing out over your proposal for route 63. I have been asking, pleading, begging to not really discontinue the services on bus stops on Camden Ave from which I get on the bus. I don't know what else I can say except I will have to walk hours to get to Blossom Hill if you do discontinue the services. I have been riding the same bus to work and back home for more than 10 years and all of a sudden you decide there is no need for coverage toward that area. I just don't understand it. I can't even get to light rails now if you discontinue 13 as well. How can you do this to someone who is relying on your services solely? I can never drive. I don't feel safe using Uber and it's too expensive using it every day. Every day there are regular number of people using 63 from Southern End, so I really don't understand how this change happens. Please don't discontinue the services from Camden. I CAN'T GET TO WORK AND COME BACK HOME WITHOUT BEING SAFELY ON THE BUS!!! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I am working at the Lucky's Supermarket near Meridian and Redmond Ave. I read the notice you may be discontinuing the route. I'm concerned as i don't drive and the area you are suggesting the bus will stop is far from where i am working. I ride this bus to work everyday. So please make a solution for people who don't drive like me and other people who take this bus up to camden. As long there is a bus that comes to the area even if it is certain times of the day. I'm sad this is happening. What is your suggestion? Please respond. Thank you. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 The proposed end stop for the line #63 is 3.3 miles NORTH of the current stop that is 3x more than the 1/2 mile proposed or promoted stop discontinuation. That is too far for the elderly, children to walk and costs $25 via taxi and $20 via Uber to travel. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't listen to board of directors who don't take buses and don't understand our hardships when we don't have buses to ride. What is‐coverage to you is our life line. My getting to work depends on this ten‐minute‐ride; my getting home at night depends on this life line, This ten minute ride you are cutting is going to cause me more than two hours every day walking just to get to the next available bus stop. How much can you save from cutting this line? I pay for my rides. You have no right to make us suffer because you can't find other ways to make money. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 63? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 63 How do we get up to the Camden Almaden Expressway area when Route 13 and 63 are discontinued to this point? Will there be another bus we can use? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 There were 4 people on route 63 this morning on the 7:39 am bus between Camden Ave and Reymond Ave stops. How many got on Blossom Hill stop? Zero. A big fat 0 person waited by the stop. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan 4 people probably are still considered a waste of money to you, but my point is to show you there are always people getting on the bus from Camden Ave/Almaden Expy stops and along the Camden Ave stops. For this whole week, there were average total more than 20 different people using 63 early in the morning. If you slash the services, you will be sending these 20 people, me included to the street, walking for more than an hour to get to Blossom Hill, and walking more than an hour back to Camden at night to get home. You want statistics? These are the real statistics. You want feedback? These are the real feedbacks from your real riders who are needing this route to run undisrupted to get to work and back home. You should try to retain your loyal riders and not dream about attracting ''POTENTIAL'' riders who told you what they want out of you but don't necessarily want to ride the buses. Your potential riders will eventually drive when they are not please with you. This line is really necessary, important to me. You have no idea what you are doing to me right now. Again, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE GETTING ON THE BUS FROM CAMDEN AVE STOPS THAN FROM BLOSSOM HILL STOPS. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I just heard this lady on the bus 63 telling us this route will stop/start at Blossom Hill instead of running all the way toward Almaden EXpy. Why? This is really a shocking news to me. I have been riding 63 from the Safeway stop al the way to SJSU for school and now for work. I not only use 63 for work but use it to transfer to 27 to Good Samaritan, to 64 to Medical center, to 23 to O'Connor, and get off at Blossom Hill to my eye doctors at different time of day and week. If you discontinue running along those stops, what am I going to do? There are other riders needing this bus to run from Camden too. Can you stop and rethink how strange this proposal is? Do you have any hard evidence to support this proposal? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 You know, all these years of me taking 63, I have seen you cutting services, frequencies to 63 without me having any say in it at all. As long as it still runs and take me from home to work and back, I should be content. I obligingly and patiently wait for an hour on weekends tor 63 to get home. It's a long wait but at least I don't have to walk, rain or shine, miles to get home. If you change your southern end from Camden to Blossom Hill, I will have to walk all the way there to catch 63, and get off at Blossom Hill to walk miles and hours all the way home, at night, rain or shine, to see doctors, to carry grocery home.... I should be happy that that is all the miles you are going to cut, right? So What should someone like me do? And you are discontinuing 13? Damn, how do I get to light rails? why are you doing this to your regular riders? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Nobody ever got on 63 during the summer to ask for my feedbacks or concern. You proposed to slash southern end services based on what, I don't know. I have been riding 63 more than 10 years every day, every weekend, and no body ever asked if 63 was wasting money. You want to save money? How about stop paying so much money to your employees? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't eliminate Line 63 bus service south of Blossom Hill! I have been riding this bus from my home in Almaden Meadows to my job downtown for 9 years. I rely on Line 63 in order to avoid using my car. This proposed change will take me out of a bus and put me into my car to get downtown on a daily basis. Is this really want you want? I am OK with raising fares and reducing frequency of service on Line 63 and other peripheral lines, but by eliminating Line 63 and Line 13 entirely, you cut us loose All Comments Received on the Draft Plan without mass transit alternatives down in the Almaden Valley. Please don't do it. Keep Line 63 running south down Meridian, at least to Redmond Ave., or Camden Ave. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't change the southern end from Camden Ave to Blossom Hill. I get on the bus from Camden Ave stops at 7‐8am and get off to go home around 6:40pm. I am not the only needing this line to not get disrupted. You are cutting 13 as well, so why not actually extend 63 to cover 13 route so we still have buses to get to work and home? I can't adjust my work time but I will try to go see doctors and do my grocery during your peak service hours. Please~~~. I need this line to run from Camden to Blossom Hill. How do I get to Blossom Hill if you end that part of area? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 You propose to change southern end from Camden Ave to Blossom Hill Why? On what study did you base this result? It's not as if this is a duplicated route that you feel it's a waste of time and money to have 2 lines running the same route. It may be coverage issue to you, but it's the ONLY service that runs toward Almaden Valley. How do you expect people to get to Blossom Hill to catch 63 from now on? Walk for miles? In the morning, trying to catch bus to get to work? At night walking in the dark, dodging traffic to get home? Would you want to do that every day? Would you like to see any of your family members to do that? Have some logical sense and compassion please. I for one have been taking 63 all my life because I wasn't born with perfect vision to drive. I rely on 63 to take me to school, I rely on 63 to work and home; I rely on 63 to transfer, and I rely on 63 to be independent. What may be coverage to you is my life line. Please, I am begging you. If you make it even more inconvenient, you are only turning away more people to cars. How is this going to help relieve traffic congestion? I for one will have to walk because I can never drive. I am asking you to reconsider. Please!!!! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Did you ever come to Almaden Valley community center to talk about your draft plan? Please don't say you did, please that would be a lie. And by looking at the locations at which you would go to hold meetings, you obviously don't think riders in Almaden Valley is important. You said so yourself that you are a government service agency, and you don't discriminate. But you ARE DISCRIMINATING. As a government agency, you are not serving everyone. You only want to serve the area where you would get your money worth. We are all paying taxes, and we are all paying for our rides, and yet we will be left out of this network simply because you don't think it's worth it. If this is not discrimination, I don't know what defines it. Right now, SJSU is out of session, so you don't see many students on the bus. In a couple of more weeks, it will be a full bus with tons of people you will be left stranded if you end the route at Blossom Hill. I for one will be left walking an hour plus in the morning, another hour at night to get home, plus 2 more hours on the bus to get to work and back. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 As of 8am this morning, Saturday, 1/14 on northbound, 63, there were 4 riders already on the bus at Camden Ave/Almaden Expy. Then I got on, and 5 more got on from the stops before Reymond. And how many got on the bus at Blossom Hill stop? ONE. So the 10 riders plus the 20 plus I have counted this week total, it's 30 plus riders you will be losing and sending to the streets, stranded, without services to get to work and home. You are discriminating and you don't even know it. I along with others are regular riders; some of them have good visions, but they choose to rider the buses to be green or for any personal reason even though we are in this so‐called ''affluent,'' automobile‐oriented All Comments Received on the Draft Plan area. I for now have not good visions and I have no other options to take me to work. I have no one to give me a ride; I can't afford Uber everyday (I have calculated, 30000 dollars a year if I use Uber every day) Bus 63 has been my riding life line all for 20 years. And it seems a lot of people are not aware that you are going to disrupt the services along Camden, and Meridian. Whom exactly did you talk to to want to end the services? Ending the service at Blossom Hill IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!! Is leaving us stranded, without a bus to get home at night, a right thing to do? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 your proposal to change southern end from Camden ave to Blossom Hill is going to leave us seniors stranded. There were five passengers still on the bus going beyond Blossom Hill and all the way back to Almaden valley on s Saturday night. Are you trying to force me to walk everday from Camden to Blossom Hill just to catch 63 and get off at Blossom Hill and walk all the way home? That is really cold, inconsiderate, stupid and senseless. Please reconsider and put yourself in my shoes if you have to walk everyday just to get to a bus stop. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Don't change southern end of 63! I can't walk everyday and every night, for hours each way just to get to a bus stop and get home. Your proposal is absolutely ridiculous and insensitive and inconsiderate! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 We voted for the tax to support VTA, and then we learn Bus 63 servicing Almaden to downtown San Jose will be eliminated. For seniors, this is unacceptable. We help ease traffic congestion when attending SAP Ctr. events, including Sharks games, and have been encouraging other seniors to do the same. Please reconsider this cut and provide Almaden service during the logical commute hours. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't eliminate Line 63 bus service south of Blossom Hill Rd. as currently proposed. I have been riding this bus from my home in Almaden Meadows to my job in downtown San Jose for 9 years. This change will force me out of the bus and into my car to get downtown ‐‐ is that what VTA really wants? Go ahead and raise fares and reduce frequency for peripheral lines such as Line 63 and Line 13, 64, and 65 as well. But don't eliminate bus service into the Almaden Valley where lots of downtown workers reside and also lots of senior citizens who rely on the bus to get around. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 As per your proposed changes for FALL 2017 I would like request to reconsider proposed discontinuation of Bus 13! If it can be reduced to rush hour and limit the frequency that would benefit for Almaden Valley School children! We do not have efficient school buses in the area! Lot of Leland high school children commute by VTA 13 bus! My children are able to complete high school due to number 13 bus frequency during after school hours! Please consider having the bus between 6‐9 AM and afternoon 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM ‐ many of Leland school children depend on the bus! I am very thankful for 13 bus as my kids were able come home since middle school because of VTA bus 13!! If run efficiently morning congestion by the Almaden schools can be reduced if the bus route is changed to connect the Almaden schools! Without school buses and now without VTA it is very hard for our kids to go to school! Please let me know if you need the number of kids who ride VTA bus!! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Just as long as you have express routes available to the closest/fastest BART. If you discontinue VTA‐
120 then please ensure there are express ones to BART. Otherwise youll create such a hassle for so many in the First Ave/Mathilda area. No transfer is so important because of unforseen traffic conditions all the time. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 My son, who is special needs, takes bus 13 to connect with Almaden station to pick up bus 64 to Willow Glen and or to connect with the light rail station at Ohlone Chynoweth to get to his job or group, depending on which day they meet. You already took away bus 13 for Saturday and Sunday and now you are discontinuing all it together. Plus students that attend Leland High School count on bus 13 to get them to school and return home because some cannot take the school bus. By discontinuing Bus 13's route will create a hardship for my son. How do you expect him to get to work? This seems to be a discrimination for the South Almaden area. There must be another way to keep bus 13's route intact. Will the city pay for my sons ride to get to the Almaden station? He already pays $275/year for his disabled VTA pass. He is limited on his income so having to pay more would be a hardship for him. I would like to hear back on what your suggestions are to overturn this decision. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I am one of the riders who uses bus 63 to get to SJSU. I take the bus from the 3rd stop near camden and Trinidad (the little falls stop) and will no longer be able to take bus 63 with these changes. Routes: 185 Subject: 185 I am working at and would like to suggest vta185 add another stop next to 85 around cambrian park for commuters to google. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 I see notices that route 82 is targeted for discontinuation with the new proposed plan. This route serves a number of daily commuters as well as elderly folks. I see a quite a bit of students going to SanJose state university. Route 82 provides a very valuable service. Please don't discontinue it. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Please restore line 37 (Even if it means hourly headways). Also, this could be done without affecting the entire budget by not splitting up line 26 and using the resources from the duplicable and lower ridership segment on Campbell Avenue (Hamilton Avenue has higher ridership and it is better to pick a single corridor). Line 37 should continue as it does today from west valley college until camden and hillsdale, where it should turn down camden avenue and continue into the almaden valley, substituting service on lines 63 and 13. Today I was at the outreach community meeting in Campbell, and no one expressed personal concerns about lines 65 or 37 in the segments that would be cut from service under my ideal proposal. There were vague notions that line 65 to San Jose City College and line 37 to Capitol Avenue light rail station were useful, but I didn't hear a single person say they had ridden on those segments or found them useful. Getting to those places should be fairly easy anyways, the capitol station is right along the frequent light rail corridor on 87, San Jose City College is right along the frequent 61 route (from which walking to leigh would only be 10 minutes), and downtown san jose would be just a 10 or 15 minute ride on the light rail from winchester transit All Comments Received on the Draft Plan center. I heard the many concerns of residents near camden and hillsdale, and burrows and hacienda, and west valley college students, and an employee of target at camden and hillsdale, and even a woman who sends her kids down the 65 to dartmouth middle school, all of which are along the segment I am describing. While my idea certainly isn't perfect, I believe it combines the best used segments of each line and would prove to be a high productivity hourly route, comparable to today's 53 or 46. As I understand it, Camden avenue already shows higher boardings than other segments of lines 65 or 37, and for good reason. I believe there is enough demand to justify a new route 37 being kept. On top of that, each end of the 37 would be strictly for coverage purposes, one end to the almaden valley replacing lines 63 and 13, which was another topic of concern at the meeting, and one end to downtown saratoga which would be a fair walk from west valley college, hence the 37 terminating there (especially due to the fact it is a dense walkable area with many things to see and do, not to mention the fact that saratoga high is right near there, so perhaps the line 37 terminating on saratoga avenue, saratoga sunnyvale, and herriman avenue in a loop would make sense and serve even more riders. On top of all that, nobody really expressed sympathy for increased connectivity by the splitting of line 26 and a line directly to the light rail, because line 26 on hamilton avenue would not be a long walk away. Line 26 should be exactly like in network 90, primarily operating on hamilton avenue with a short deviation to downtown campbell and the pruneyard, while serving dense apartments on hamilton both to the east and west. (This was yet another concern being voiced by residents of campbell). Line 26 should undoubtedly serve De Anza Boulevard rather than Miller Avenue, which is just so confusing why the vta has decided to keep the low ridership segment on miller, because de anza boulevard has way higher potential for productive service (miller is a residential street, while de anza is a full fledged boulevard, just like the highly used part of camden avenue with many shops and residents and schools and employment centers). Additionally, line 55 should be cut entirely from the new plan, perhaps keeping a new line 255 along the current route of the 55X (Fremont high ‐ Lakewood village). These resources should be used to create 15 minute service on wolfe and fair oaks, preferably in two lines like network 90, further increasing mobility in the region. Also, perhaps lines 27 and 60 should terminate at campbell and bascom, to pass through downtown campbell and serve the pruneyard. the line 37 might be isolated from the rest, but its worth looking at to gain riders. The line 27 on the other end should terminate at the light rail in Almaden due to certain low ridership along blossom hill when the line is close to 85, as it is highly duplicative of the 15 minute light rail service and as a result carries a very low number of riders. I am really trying to think about what makes logical sense, would not significantly increase operating costs of the draft plan, what appears to meet the needs of my fellow residents of santa clara county, and also what would increase mobility in the region as a whole. (Please) My ideas should be looked at very seriously, I believe a close inspection of the west valley could yield untapped transit markets and benefit everyone, including residents, riders, and the vta. Routes: 42; 66; 72; 76 Subject: 66, 72, 73, 42 Line 66 should only operate from downtown northward, and line 68 should be from downtown san jose southward, with line 72 terminating at snell and line 73 terminating at capitol light rail station. Another rapid line, line 568 should operated down monterey from downtown to santa teresa, as was proposed a few years ago. A school tripper or hourly route could follow the southern part of the current line 42, continue onto blossom hill to go past oak grove high and then turn down on snell to get to santa teresa high, either terminating here or continuing to the almaden light rail station along santa teresa boulevard to continue serving riders that would be lost along the frequently used portions of lines 27 and the 66 part along snell and santa teresa. This would make up for the service lost, and be cheaper and allow vta to focus on improving service along monterey without fretting about other lines in this part of the service area. Also, if it saves enough money to stop the 27 at All Comments Received on the Draft Plan almaden and the 72 at snell, with a cheap route inbetween (riders would most likely take the light rail anyways, so maybe 27 should terminate at ohlone chynoweth and instead of almaden station ohlone chynoweth is the one that makes sense for fewer transfers, but anyways, if this saves enough money, maybe the vta would 1 get more riders from a new rapid service and 2 increase frequency on the segment of line 68 that goes to Gilroy and south county. Routes: 55 Subject: 55 Discontinue line 55, replace northern segment with school tripper 255 along route of current 55X. This is really where ridership comes from on northern segment of 55, and focusing resources into a school tripper would be cost effective. Line 55's mainline resources could be reinvested into wolfe and fair oaks to provide a better frequent grid. The reason 55 would no longer make a lot of sense is that sunnyvale‐saratoga south of el camino organizes itself into a very few amount of cross streets with a lot of ridership potential (AKA rapid stops with natural rapid stop spacing). The buses are always on time, so traffic is all right and no one would ride the 55 because they could walk maybe 5 or 10 minutes more and make it to a 523 rapid bus that comes every 12 minutes that they could take way across the county at high speeds. In the northern segment, many rides come from school trips from lakewood to Fremont high, and other trips could be done with a good 15 minute line on fair oaks. (Ideally the 26 would continue up de anza boulevard rather than miller and terminate at de anza college with half hour frequencies on this segment, the part from vallco northward could be split into two line, each every 15 minutes, one north from vallco to sunnyvale caltrain, and one from fair oaks light rail to sunnyvale caltrain like network 90. This could be really good for a comprehensive frequent grid. Line 53 as planned above in the draft plan is perfect and genius! Do not change it! Consider streamlining all lines in downtown santa clara, however, into the corridors which reduce travel times the most because walking isn't a huge deal in downtown, which is dense and walkable. This includes lines like the new 21, line 60, and line 59 of the draft plan. The 53 is a very productive hourly route currently, so making half hour service along the route is great! please follow through with the discontinuation of line 55 to provide quality service on fair oaks, wolfe, and de anza boulevard though. I am pretty sure people would like better bus service! The 53 cannot be better though, and ridership on the now 81 would be boosted by having the terminus be santa clara caltrain, and spare the squiggly nightmare of a route map that operates currently. So the 51 is alright too. The 53 would also have higher ridership due to no wierd diversion onto benton, serving more people with a grid of routes, and serving apple spaceship, and serving homestead high students with quality service. Please please please keep it as planned, and also it is imperative to have a grid of frequent route more so than half‐hourly duplicative local service on sunnyvale saratoga, so take that into consideration when designing the next network. Just understand that the things I have pointed out seem like such obvious improvements for not much effort, I would be confused to seem them ignored without an explanation (local 55 service is not an explanation, no one would ride the thing). Thanks so so so so so much for allowing me to give my feedback! Routes: 97 Subject: 97 All of the lines in Gilroy are great! Just consider extending line 97 along first street, which is well suited for transit, and this would complement the service on loop line 96. Additionally, consider a school tripper between Christopher High and Gilroy high, perhaps ending at the gilroy transit center. Routes: 60 Subject: 60 Line 60 is just so amazing. Please keep it as is. Just consider terminating it at the pruneyard. I fully support splitting line 59 off of line 60 and having a comprehensive bart to sjc to santa clara to valley All Comments Received on the Draft Plan fair/santana row to campbell (and perhaps the pruneyard) connector. I wonder why we didn't have this earlier! Great line, please make it final! I would ride it all the time to get to the airport and bart! Routes: 120; 140; 180; 181 Subject: 120, 140, 180, 181 Limited bus lines are practically express buses. In the 80's and early 90's, the vta (then SCCTA) used to operate three kinds of routes that are like express routes. These were Limiteds, expresses, and super expresses. The vta stopped making the differentiation between express bus lines and super express bus lines (which used to use 500's series of numbering before rapid bus lines aka the 522 existed). Now that the vta is shuttering the limiteds, will these classes of buses also no longer exist? Will infrequent bus routes on expressways be express bus routes? what happened to the old super express bus line differentiation and will that be brought back? Is the same thing that's happening to community routes and normal bus routes happening to express bus lines due to their being differentiated by frequency? Could you please clear all of this naming by bus type or service type ending on a blog post or something to clear everything up, and perhaps bring in some history with the super express bus lines conversation? Routes: 63 Subject: Bus Route 63 Concerned about route bus route 63 because students, especially inner‐city ones, can't go to the County parks by bus. Cutting off seniors too. Down McKean Road in Almaden Valley. Requested a map of VTA's current service area via mail. She called back and spoke to E. Winston and suggested weekly bus service to County parks for young people. Routes: 27 Subject: 27 I am speaking for the many many high schoolers that use 48/49 to get to and from school and the library during the week and the weekends. PLEASE TAKE THE NEW ROUTE 27 DOWN MAIN, not Highway 9. There will be a lot of inconvenience and a reduced ridership with this new change as it will not serve the high school and library... and downtown. Please know that I am speaking for many who are concerned. I will work on getting kids and families to post concerns as well. Thank you. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I attended the Campbell meeting yesterday and learned that bus 65 will cut off because of low ridership. Several people in the room got very emotional as riding bus 65 is their only option to travel. I don't know the actual number of ridership, but let say 100 people riding bus 65 is considered low ridership, but those 100 people actually need it. So, using number of ridership to assess bus service is not a good metric. Please reconsider this route. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 This morning for the 7:39am bus going north bound on route 63, there were 7 riders already on the bus before we even got to Redmond. There were only 2 people waiting by Blossom Hill stop. There are consistent numbers of riders every day along this 2 plus miles you are going to discontinue. Please reconsider. That's a lot of people you will lose. Do you only care about gaining ridership in Milpitas and not Almaden Valley? PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THE SOUTHERN END TO BLOSSOMHILL. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc I left my phone number and no one has called me. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Do those comments count if we can't make the meetings? If we drive and make We have been pleading and begging, please please don't change 63. It's the only line that goes to Almaden valley. You are completely cutting us off from having any options to travel around. How is this the right thing to do? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 63 & 13 How can discontinuing these routes be a way to increase ridership? My daughter uses #13 to get home from school everyday and frequently that bus is standing room only. As for myself, the 63 route from where I board in the morning and alight in the evening, at Almaden and Camden, always has riders at those times of day. There will be no way to get from the Almaden Valley to downtown without having access to a vehicle. This means that VTA will be pretty useless for me. I see no reason to continue my monthly pass if this proposal moves ahead. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Please don't cancel bus #65. It is an essential route for som of us going to and from work. Routes: 63; 65 Subject: 63, 65 As a 20‐year resident of Almaden, I'm deeply concerned that the proposed VTA plans completely cut off my neighborhoods. I ride the bus, light rail, and Caltrain. Many of our Leland high school students ride the 13 bus, which is planned to be cut entirely. Many Castillero middle school students ride the 63, if only for a few blocks. But now the plans are to truncate the 63 line. I strongly urge you to make sure our neighborhood is connected to the public transit system. With commutes nearing grid lock, we need a public transit infrastructure that works. Often times, I cannot get parking at the Ohlone lightrail station because of the Google and Genetech buses. I do hope those companies are paying fees to use the lots. If not, I strongly recommend they pay into the system and help fund a multi‐
storied parking structure. I also can no longer find parking at the Tamien Caltrain station. It's extremely frustrating to be a user of public transit but be hindered at every turn. We recently sold an older vehicle because we could ride the 63 bus to work. If you cut the 13 line and truncate the 63 line, we will be forced to buy another vehicle. (We have 3 cars for 5 drivers.) Thank you. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I am writing the email to vote for continuing bus route 13 through Almaden area. My elderly parents depend on this bus route for commutation. Thank you for your kindly consideration. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I use bus #65 so I would really urge to keep it! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 RIDING 63 HAS BEEN MY LIFELINE ALL MY LIFE SINCE I WAS A KID TO GO TO SCHOOL, NOW TO GO TO WORK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL IT'S OK TO DISRUPT SERVICES FROM CAMDEN TO BLOSSOM HILL. YOU ARE ONLY PUSHING MORE PEOPLE TO DRIVE INSTEAD OF USING PUBLIC TRANSITS. I, ON THE OTHER HAND, DON'T DRIVE BECAUSE OF VISION ISSUES AND CAN'T WALK FAR, ARE BEING FORCED TO WALK ALL THE WAY FROM CAMDEN TO BLOSSOM HILLS. YOU SHOULD HAVE TRIED USING A SMALLER BUS FIRST BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING SUCH DRASTIC CHANGE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IF YOU DO STOP RUNNING BUS AFTER BLOSSOM HILL? DO YOU KNOW HOW All Comments Received on the Draft Plan DANGEROUS TO WALK AT NIGHT? ARE YOU REALLY SERIOUSLY ASKING PEOPLE TO BIKE WITH GROCERY AND BAGS ON THEM, AT NIGHT? Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I take 63 from Camden Ave stops all the way to SJSU and come back home at night during your so‐
called ''peak hours.'' This is the only route I take to take me to work, home, grocery stores, malls, dentists, doctors...etc, because there's no other routes out of Almaden Valley. It's really unreasonable to tell people to walk or bike so you could save that distance for other services. Are you saying people should bike in the stormy weather too? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 PLEASE WALK 3 MILES IN MY SHOES LITERALLY EVERY DAY AND NIGHT FOR A MONTH JUST TO CATCH 63 AND TELL ME THAT YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE SOUTHERN END OF 63 FROM CAMDEN AVE TO BLOSSOM HILL/MERIDIAN. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 Discontinuing route 13 and relocating route 63 will leave no buses for the entire Almaden area. Many seniors living in Almaden area solely rely on public transportation on daily bases. We would like to suggest to extend route 64 to Almaden Expressway and Via Valiente. Thanks for your consideration. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 YOU ARE MAKING IT CONVENIENT AND EASY FOR OTHER RIDERS BY CUTTING MY BUS SERVICE THAT i DESPERATELY AM REPLYING ON EVERY DAY TO GET TO WORK AND EVERY NIGHT TO COME BACK HOME. HOW IS THIS THE RIGHT THING TO DO? THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE PEOPLE WAITING BY CAMDEN AVE/ALMADEN EXPY STOPS FOR 63 THAN BLOSSOM HILL. DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS GOING TO IMPROVE SERVICES? COULD YOU PLEASE RECONSIDER AND NOT MAKE ME WALK MILES EVERY DAY AND NIGHT IN ALL WEATHERS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE MILPITAS HAPPY? Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 Please DON'T end service on VTA Bus Route 63 south of Blossom Hill Road! I use this route daily to commute from my home in Almaden Valley to my job at San Jose State, and many of my fellow Almaden Valley residents rely on this line. Please don't cut off Almaden Valley from VTA bus service. Please don't create a mass transit desert on the south side of San Jose as proposed. This is very ill‐
advised and customer‐unfriendly. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I am a citizen of San Jose in Almaden Valley. My kids use the route 13 bus every day to come home from school. Stopping this route will cause a lot of hardship to my kids, my family and my elderly parents ‐ all of whom use this bus. I urge you to not stop the route 13 ‐ at least morning and after noon school time routes. I hope you will hear our request, Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I am [Name redacted], living in Almaden Valley. Since my retirement I have relied on public transportation (Bus #13, 63, 64) to go about San Jose, especially to the main library downtown. The main reason is that my eyesight is not fit for driving. The proposal to discontinue those routes will All Comments Received on the Draft Plan leave people like me stranded. Tell us how can we get to Blossom Hill or the Almaden LR Station to take a bus ? Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I live in Almaden, and I (teacher in Cupertino) along with several intrepid Lockheed employees take the early 328 from Almaden every day. Rather than cutting us off entirely (no 328, no 330), I ask that you at least retain some commuter service from Almaden. If you cut back the service, it may consolidate the current ridership and make it more cost effective to run the routes. If that isn't possible, then I hope you can add an earlier Almaden Light Rail departure so I can make it to downtown and then transfer onto 523 to Cupertino in time for work. The earliest current listed departure from Almaden is 10 minutes too late to catch my connection at Ohlone Chynoweth. (Or perhaps the listed schedule has a typo ‐ I show a southbound to Almaden with no pickup, then another southbound with a northbound pickup, which makes no sense..?) You may also consider adding bike lockers to Almaden/OC Light Rail connections proactively, rather than as a reaction to demand, as most of us will no longer be able to walk to transit. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 Please don't change southern end to Blossom Hill. It's not exactly a 5‐minute walk from Camden Ave to Blossom Hill. I have been riding this route every day for more than 2 decades. I have no other option. Telling me to walk or bike to the bus stop is not efficient and inconsiderate. How do you bike in the rain? How do you afford Uber every day and every night? I am begging you to reconsider. The consequence of this action will greatly impact a lot of riders. There's no other bus that goes to Camden and Almaden Valley, so why are you cutting it completely? This proposal is too extreme and too drastic. You are not giving me any other alternatives to get to Blossom Hill so I can take 63 to work in downtown, to the doctors. How do you expect me to get to light rails, or MIlpitas when you cut off the existing route? Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Please do not stop the bus on route 13. My kids and family members use the bus for school and medical appointments. Closing these will cause hardship to my family. I understand that you may need to reduce frequency but please keep morning and afternoon routes especially near the Leland School times. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I WANT TO LET U KNOW THAT DON;T CANCEL 181 BECAUSE MY KIDS TAKE THAT FROM STEVENSON AND STRAIGHT SHOT TO SAN JOSE, NOW THEY WILL HAVE TO GO TO BART THEN EITHER GET OFF AT GREAT MALL OR BERRYESSA BART THEN IF THEY END UP TAKING LIGHT RAIL THAT;S ANOTHER 40 MINS. THAT'S 2 CONNECTIONS AND LONG TIME SO I URGE U TO NOT TO CANCEL THE SERVICE BECAUSE ALOT OF PEOPLE DO TAKE IT FROM STEVENSON BLVD. U CAN CANCEL THE WEEKEND SERVICE BUT PLZ. CONTINUE WEEKDAY SERVICE AGAIN PLZ. DON'T CANCEL THE SERVICE THANKS. IT'S GOING TO BE HORRIBLE WE GOING TO END UP NOT TAKING THE TRANSIT IM GONNA HAVE TO EITHER BUY THEM A CAR OR DROP THEM OFF EVERYDAY. PLZ KEEP THIS SERVICE Routes: 65 Subject: misc I write to you all to consider my recommendations for VTA?s Transit Service Redesign Draft Plan. As the Board votes on new changes to the VTA bus route system, I urge you all not to make any modifications to route 65 and the DASH shuttle. As a long time rider of bus route 65, I believe this bus All Comments Received on the Draft Plan has provided an invaluable service to the residents of downtown San Jose. Many seniors like myself have relied significantly on this bus route to carry out our daily survival needs, including attending our Senior Nutrition Program at Northside Community and Senior Center. The 65 bus route is the only bus that stops at this community center. Without this route, there is no combination of the proposed routes that will take seniors to the Northside Community and Senior Center. By eliminating bus 65 route it becomes impossible to get around as we will be forced to walk certain areas not covered by bus routes 61, 63, or 66, as well as spend more money for connecting routes. Consequently, many of the seniors who live in the senior apartment connected to the Northside Community and senior Center would be trapped at home unable to use transit to carry out their groceries, medical appointments, and other needs. Due to my health needs I will be signing up for exercise classes at San Jose City College. However, the change in bus routes would make it impossible for me to attend these classes. Furthermore, I would like to urge the Board to vote against the proposed changes to the DASH shuttle. Residents of San Jose, like myself, as well as commuters from neighboring cities have greatly benefited from this free service. By changing the DASH shuttle to bus route 500, certain key downtown blocks will be eliminated from the original route, thus forcing riders to walk uncovered blocks or pay for connecting bus routes. Moreover, bus route 500 will place a financial burden on riders as it will not be a free service like the DASH shuttle. As you move forward with these proposed changes, I ask you to please consider these recommendations. I thank you all for your consideration. Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 My SJSU student commutes to SJSU avoiding cost of gas, parking, avoiding traffic and potential accidents. This route is invaluable to him and other Almaden Valley residents who commute to school or work. Rather than eliminating the route going further south to Almaden/Camden Avenue, reduce weekend routes. It is important to enable commuters to go northbound and southbound at least 2‐
3x/day, Monday‐Friday. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 I have lived in Almaden Valley for some 30 years, all the while gladly paying taxes to support the VTA offerings that I use. For over two decades, I commuted daily on the bus and thus have first‐hand experience with the ins and outs of depending on transit. Even working two times a week now, I maintain the same routine. Living just north of Harry RD, I have watched VTA service decline over the years. I used to enjoy jaunts on the 64 when it extended to the end of Almaden Valley. After it was replaced by the 13, especially after it was converted to a one‐way loop near my house, everything took longer with uncoordinated transfers. Years of cutbacks, all justified in the name of ?efficiency,? drove away many riders by making the bus so inconvenient. It is as if VTA is setting up the 13 to eventually ?fail? by squeezing out potential riders by any means possible. But even in its much‐
diminished state, the 13 is essential to many. With each passing year, the 13 has become more essential as I age in place, along with many of my neighbors. Now I hear that VTA is considering doing away with the 13 altogether. Already, there is no 13 on weekends. Thankfully, I still dare venture out in the comparatively sparse roads. But with its complete elimination, I could endanger both myself and the commuters if I need to go somewhere at the wrong time. My driving reflexes have been continuously eroding. And looking at my fellow 13 riders, nobody would want many of them driving either, even if they had a set of wheels. Is the VTA really seriously thinking about imprisoning all these transit users, all for the sake of reallocating literally one bus, a miniscule 0.25% of its entire system? How is putting that one extra bus on Santa Clara Street in Downtown San Jose to lower the wait time by a fraction of a minute going to add ridership or increase ?efficiency?? When buses are already going by every 4 minutes, no one would even notice. That is absolutely illogical. But people like me All Comments Received on the Draft Plan who will be stranded with no buses at all will definitely suffer immensely. To make matters worse, I heard VTA ads on KCBS recently suggesting that listeners consider using their services and asking them to check vta.org/seniors. Well, there sits a new blog entry stating that ?VTA is a Great Choice for Seniors?. ?VTA keeps you mobile ? increases your sense of community ? enhances your independence.? What kind of sadistic joke is this? For so long, the big knock on public transit has been the ?last mile? problem. With the loss of the 13, my ?last mile problem? immediately escalates to a ?6‐mile problem.? How many other current users would suffer similar fates should VTA go through with its master plan to eliminate routes that are ?undersubscribed?? Even a one‐mile problem is a major hurdle on foot. A bike? For us older folks, a spill can lead to broken bones or worse. And the skill to ride one is not universal. How about getting pancaked by a car due to the cutbacks in transit service? Would VTA own up to its role in increased injuries and fatalities due to its misguided vision? Of course, VTA claims that there are contingencies in place to ameliorate any issue that crops up by using paratransit and ride‐sharing services. Well, most transit riders I see don?t have any noticeable disabilities. So, paratransit is a non‐starter. Furthermore, getting someone to pick up a rider will cost a lot more money, either for user or VTA, compared to running the single bus assigned to the 13. It also increases the traffic that has clogged the roads throughout the region. There is simply no sound financial argument to eliminate the 13. I am especially disappointed with the VTA board. I supported Measure B, fully expecting that something would be done to ease the congestion that so many people have to endure. At the very least I didn?t expect to be harmed. Rather than helping the situation, VTA has intentionally targeted a certain segment of the population for serious disruption in their lives under the guise of increased efficiency. With such a diverse population, even in Almaden Valley, it is perhaps easy to foist a flawed transit plan on the public that does not have the facility of language or know the transit jargon to provide a cogent argument as to why VTA should not go in that direction. But suffer they will if it proceeds. VTA did not even bother to schedule a public hearing in Almaden Valley ? a part of the county that will lose all bus service if this ?Next Network? plan goes through. Why not? I challenge each VTA member, especially my own council representative who apparently thinks everyone here is well off and should drive, to use the present VTA service to go to work and go about life?s activities every day for a month. Yes, every one of you. See how that works out. And think about what happens if your neighborhood bus line is eliminated. Perhaps then those in a privileged position to be an elected official and board member can experience how those who depend on transit will suffer. Just remember that Almaden Valley is a very diverse community with many who did not grow up in America and cannot get accustomed to sliding into the driver?s seat. As for me, I am fortunate not to be absolutely dependent on VTA, at least for now. But I choose to use it for the overall good of the community, for the environment and to dampen the effects of climate change. I hope VTA will still be here at the end of this year with the 13 in place. For the sake of all those so dependent on its continued presence, I implore you to keep the 13. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 A card given to 120 riders today (1/9/17) says that because of the extension of BART into SC County in Fall 2017 that the 120 will be discontinued. I assume, because there was no other information provided, that VTA expects riders to take light rail to Montegue station to connect to BART instead of Express Bus to Fremont or Warm Springs? My comment: light rail is too slow! It takes as long (sometimes longer because of switching trains at Tasman) to go from Lockheed Martin to the Great Mall via light rail as it does to go from LM to Fremont Bart via Express Bus! If you discontinue 120 you will be increasing my commute time and complexity each way rather than making it shorter and easier! [Name redacted] All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 120 Subject: 120 [I am] working in Mountain View and living in Fremont. I was saddened to learn that VTA plans to discontinue the service this fall. The problem is since the express is directly from Sunnyvale to Fremont, the extended BART to Santa Clara County is not an alternative since it will much longer time, that is the main reason I and other bus riders taking Bus 120. The route has benefits for the broader community as well. It reduces traffic on 237 which is like a parking lot everyday, reduces the chances accidents, reduces pollution. Please keep route 120 running. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 In the past two year, I have been taking VTA express bus line 120, very often I could see bus was full and many riders have to stand as all seats were taken. When I heard that VTA is planing to stop express bus 120/140/180/181, I felt so disappointed. It will make a huge impact to all of us. Please do not cancel the express bus line, it will force us drive on the road again. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc Please consider making the bicycle rack hooks wider to fit large tire bicycles. The area between the rack and seating is not wide enough for passengers to get by each other. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Not sure this is the right forum, but I received notice that 120 will be discontinued with the opening of new BART stations. To me, this doesn't make sense. I don't see any way in which the new BART station has any bearing on people trying to get from Fremont/Mission to Sunnyvale/Lockheed. (Unless there's a new BART Mission San Jose and Sunnyvale stations that I haven't heard about.) If 120 is cancelled, the replacement will be some longer, more expensive commute that certainly won't involve BART. There may be some logic to having 120 start at the new BART station, though it would still be inconvenient. Cancelling it when the new BART station serves neither the origin or destination of the bus route doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I work at Juniper Networks in Mathilda Street and I have been enjoying my commute with VTA Route 120 for the last 10 years every day. The bus is always 80% in capacity. It is a direct route to where I work, no transfer is needed. The commute is very pleasant, enjoyable and reasonably fast. If it is discontinued, instead of transferring from a BART station, driving to work from Fremont is more convenient for me. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Hi Just want to check if express 120 discontinue or change route? I got conflicting info here: Line 120 (Fremont BART ? Lockheed Martin) This line would continue to start at Fremont BART, but it would be rerouted to serve the Warm Springs BART Station instead of stopping at Mission Blvd. & Paseo Padre. The route would access the Warm Springs BART from Mission Blvd. via Durham Rd., Paseo Padre and Grimmer Blvd. with a stop at Paseo Padre & Grimmer Blvd. A new southbound a.m. trip would be added between the first two trips, and an extra northbound p.m. trip would be added (Trip times to be determined). Current service to the Shoreline area in Mountain View would be discontinued. These changes are proposed in conjunction with the BART extension to Warm Springs. Additional changes will be proposed as BART extends further south. (Jan. 2016) All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I would like to understand why 120 is being discontinued? It is always full of passengers and any extensions of BART is not going to have any affect on these commuters since the 120 has stops close to their company. Route 120 is solving the very important last mile problem that any extensions of BART is not addressing. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 We, the riders are organizing... see http://vta120riders.blogspot.com. But I need advice from you on the b ast way to gather and present the needs of VTA120 riders such that VTA will listen and strngly consider service for the many VTA120 riders, also by transportation coordinators from Juniper Networks, Lockheed Martin, Yahoo and Net App. All these companies have numerous employees who use VTA120. PLEASE ADVISE ON THE BEST WAY TO COORDINATE PRESENTATION OF VTA120 RIDERS PERSPECTIVES. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I have been commuting from Fremont (Mission/680 intersection) to Yahoo, Sunnyvale and back using 120 during past 2 years. It's great service as I can work in the bus and also get some walk. This also make the earth bit more green as I dont need to drive another vehicle. Please retain the 120 service. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 As a Fremont Resident. I walk to bus stop and take express 120 bus to work everyday. When the express bus 120 cancel, i will need to make at least 2 transfer(Bus,BART then Light Rail) and double the transit time to work. Please reconsider for the Fremont resident who work in Sunnyvale. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Hi VTA team, I have been frequent rider on VTA Express line 120 on daily basis. The VTA plan to stop express bus 120, will make a huge impact to My commute plan, which make me no any other choices other than Start drive on the busy 237 high way. PLEASE PLEASE listen our voice, DONT STOP LINE 120. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 The proposed discontinuation of route 120 will have a significant impact on many including myself who are resident of City of Fremont. I think the assumption made that most riders are BART users who disembarked at Fremont BART and use route 120 may not be accurate. There is no reasonable (in terms of money + time) public transportation available for commuters for navigating between Fremont and Mountain View with stops as covered by Route 120. Instead of completely discontinuing Route 120, a reduced frequency maybe considered, if the business dynamics are not favorable. This decision of discontinuing Route 120 will certainly remove me from using public transportation. I hope this decision is revoked and service continues. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 As frequent vta rider from Fremont to Sunnyvale, I urge you please keep these express bus line alive. It is very critical for us as we heavily depend on the express bus lines. Thanks for your attention. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I ride 120 from fremont to Middlefield, and in evenings take train to lockeed martin transit center to take 120 express back home. I heard that due to Bart extension, this route may be discountinyef. But having Bart does not help, as we have to spend 15 min in traffic to drive from Mission to Warm springs Bart, pay for parking, take Bart to Great Mall, wait for connection to first VTA train to Tasman, wait for connection again to take next train to Middlefield. This will make it impossibke to rake public transport, we will end up driving in traffic. I kundly request to keep this valuable service. This is a great service VTA provides and over the years we have encouraged many of our colleages to ride VTA. We work fir Symantec and have about 10 of us riding VTA. Routes: 42; 76 Subject: 76, 42 I have an important inquiry regarding the new proposed route 76. From what I'm understanding, you are planning to combine two routes into 1. My question is, will the new route 76 go into Branham lane as route 42 usually did? I am asking this because it is the closest bus next to my house and I do tend to rely on it frequently when I'm on my way to various places. If it only stops on Branham lane and Monterey Rd, then I am reaching out to you to continue with the new route but allow it to come into Branham lane. Otherwise, these new changes will simply not work for my everyday commute. Please get back to me when you can. Your response is greatly appreciated. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Please do not discontinue this route. This is the only route in the area that services the California Ave station. Also it supports the workers at VMware, HP and Stanford. The Research shuttle that Stanford offers does not provide service from the California Ave station. Please reconsider discontinuing this route. Thank you [Name redacted] Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I am concerned about the proposal to eliminate Route 89 with no replacement to connect the Calif Av Caltrain to the Palo Alto VA. This route is heavily used during commute times and the hourly off‐hour routes are needed so commuters can be confident of a way to get home in response to unplanned events. Veterans also depend on the 89 bus to get them to the VA throughout the day. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Please reconsider plans to terminate Route 89. Route 89 is a critical part of the daily commute for many CalTrain passengers, whether as VA patients or commuting employees. It helps make mass transit viable and practical on a daily basis. While there may be alternatives for connecting rail travel with the VA hospital or major employers, they involve more distance, expense, or inconvenience. It seems to me, and to many of my fellow passengers, that discontinuing Route 89 is a violation of both VTA's charter and slogan. Keep them from becoming hollow, keep Route 89 intact. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Route 89 is actively used every day during the morning and evening commute times. I have not been on a bus in the last 6 months that has had less than 25‐30 people on board. This route is critical to my rail commute from Morgan Hill to the Palo Alto Business Park at Hillview/Hanover/Porter Drive. I routinely take the 7:40AM bus from California Avenue Caltrain. I don't think that this route should be eliminated. I see many people on this bus going to the VA that have no other alternative. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan The VTA Bus #89 route is very important to me and fellow co‐workers who leverage this bus as a connection from Caltrain to the companies in the area. We have already lost our company paid shuttles and a temporary Marguerite shuttle that Stanford had funded for a while from the California Avenue train station. Removal of this bus route would be the last train / bus connection available at the California Avenue station and it would increment our commutes by 15 ‐ 20 minutes (one‐way) which is significant considering that most of commute from as far south as Gilroy / San Martin / Morgan Hill via Caltrain. Losing this bus route will make many of reconsider taking Caltrain as well as we may just choose to drive in earlier vs extending commutes via public transit. I would urge you to consider, instead, reducing the number of runs this bus line has and limiting them to commute peak hours (morning and evening) only. I can tell you (and I'm sure your can see from the bus card readers as well) that the first two morning runs from the California Avenue train station and the 3:39pm run to California Avenue are always full. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Please keep VTA Bush #89. I take this business all the time to commute to work. I commute from Gilroy by caltrain & this business to get to work. Stanford doesn't provide one from caltrain. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 The 89 bus is very important and I use that to travel to my work everyday. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I find vta route 89 helpful to me in my work Greatly recommend to continue Routes: 89 Subject: 89 This is a disaster for all commuters. When Caltrain riders are forced back into their cars, because of the elimination of the only remaining link during the daytime from the remote areas that VTA 89 services, there will be a lot more traffic, and it won't be carpool traffic. Worse, the retired and in many cases crippled vets going to the VTA in their wheelchairs will be denied access to health care. I can imagine the kind of people making this decision: officials receiving kickbacks from transportation‐
privatizing outfits like Uber, Lyft and the various fully automated car and taxi service interests, red‐
state Republicans with an ideological agenda, etc. They should all be immediately investigated for bribery and fired. Leave VTA 89 alone. If a bus is only carrying a single rider in a wheelchair in the middle of the day to his VA appointment, or taking a Caltrain riding Research Park employee to his dentist's appointment, it is in the interest of all commuters in the bay area. VTA should stop being penny‐wise and pound‐foolish! [Name redacted] Routes: 89 Subject: 89 The proposal to eliminate route 89 would negatively impact riders who take the route to and from Caltrain in the morning and afternoon for work as well as veterans who depend upon this transportation route for their medical appointments at varied times during the day. If VTA wants to increase ridership, it would help if riders felt their patronage was welcomed. This morning for example, the Caltrain was running late and dropped off riders 9 minutes off schedule. As the riders ascended the stairs towards the bus stop and the train was departing the station, the bus pulled off before any of the riders (many of whom the driver had to see) could make it the bus stop. I understand that the bus has a schedule which is separate from Caltrain, but it is frustrating for All Comments Received on the Draft Plan potential riders to try and rush to the bus only for it to take off when they were visibly a few feet away. Some of the angered passengers walked up to El Camino to ride the Stanford shuttle instead. Routes: 42; 76 Subject: 76, 42 The new route 76 doesn't appear to reach kaiser as the old 42 did. Is there any plan for such service? Routes: 21; 37 Subject: 37, 21 Plan says Line 37 WVC to Capital will be eliminated and replaced by line 21. However, line 21 doesn't go anywhere near this area! Please check your routing!! Routes: Almaden Valley Subject: misc Thank you for hosting the South San Jose webinar a few minutes ago. Although I didn't comment, it's reassuring to hear that you are taking comments and suggestions seriously. Concerning Almaden, please keep some sort of public transport available to residents. My parents will be moving to San Jose soon and both have deteriorating eyesight so will probably not be able to obtain a CA driver's license (nor should they). Having transport into, out of, and within Almaden will allow them to maintain their independence. We often have family visiting from other countries and they would love to use public transportation more if it was more convenient; especially going to San Francisco and the airports. Routes: 21; 37 Subject: 37, 21 How can line 37 be replaced by the new line 21? They don't go to the same places! Routes: 37 Subject: 37 This is a connection route for my son to travel to Silicon Valley Career Technical Education. Stops right in front of his school. If eliminated...don't know what we will do. I was looking at proposed changes and these will impact the Cambrian Park neighborhood greatly. I am currently resenting Bart and will probably never use it. I will likely have to transport my son and not use public transit at all. I have never been a great fan but will likely avoid public trans whenever possible. Routes: 81 Subject: 81 I am a transportation planner so have been geeking out about this draft plan for a while. I fully support and understand why you are switching the service to an 85/15 ratio. I think it will ultimately benefit the county population and VTA overall. That being said, I live along the line 81 route and take that bus at least 4 times per week. Especially with Measure B funds coming online soon, I hope you will consider making the 81 a limited line with service during commute hours. While mid‐day service may be low, I know many people rely on the 81 to get to and from work and school (there are a few schools along the route and I can see several teachers/staff and students who rely on the 81 for travel). In Santa Clara and San Jose, much of the 81 runs down roadways with bike lanes such as Monroe Street and Park Avenue. VTA should continue to adhere to the California Complete Streets Policy (AB 1358) by accommodating for multiple travel modes along these roadways. Thank you for your hard work on this plan and I appreciate your time considering my suggestion! Routes: 181 Subject: BART Please provide the proposed route from Fremont BART to Diridon station. Currently we are using vta 181 which has a very good frequency. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 42; Light Rail Subject: 42 Caller wants the Line 42 to not be discontinued. She is disabled and it would be too far to another line. She uses the 42 to go to light rail. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 Please send me more information about line 42 going away. I use this bus to get to work. Routes: 25 Subject: 25 Please have line 25 serve Valley Fair to close one of many gaps in the frequent network. Routes: 25; 26; 51; 52; 55 Subject: 25, 26, 55 Line 26 should absolutely travel up De Anza Boulevard rather than Miller Avenue. De Anza Boulevard has many more businesses and residents than Miller Avenue, which is essentially a residential street. Also, please split the 26 at Vallco instead of in Campbell and have it routed primarily along Hamilton (exactly like in network 90) because this has a very high potential for high ridership. Also, consider terminating all of line 55, have the 26 terminate at De Anza College, and replace the northern part of line 55 with a school tripper from Fremont High School to Lakewood Village. At De Anza College, having a single place for all the bus lines to end (except the 523) would be good, preferably the platform where the 23 currently terminates. Eliminating line 54 is smart, and having a school tripper serve Mountain View High School while terminating all of line 51 would be even better. NASA could still be served by line 52. Routes: 21; 32 Subject: 21 I take the 32 from Evelyn/Wolfe and get off at Middlefield/Whisman to go to work everyday. Will I still be able to do the same with the proposed new route 21? Also, the bus a lot of times does not come because it is broken, will that change? Can we have a way to track the bus so I know if I missed the bus because it left early or if it just did not show. Routes: 34 Subject: 34 I live at Redwood Villa, an independent senior apartment at 1984 Montevista in Mountain View, and I do not have a car. I feel very fortunate to have such good bus service nearby. I use the VTA in going to shop, to doctor appointments, to the gym, to volunteer projects and to visit. I request that you keep bus 34, as it is the most convenient to where I live. I am only 78 years old, but many people where I live are older and use walkers. Routes: 58 Subject: 58 When you last "improved" the routes you severely decreased frequency and removed 59 from my neighborhood. I live on Leith Ave in Santa Clara. Now you're taking away everything and I will now get to walk ~ 2 miles partially along Montague Expressway with no sidewalks. Is your goal to get no one to take public transportation? Routes: 37; 70 Subject: 70 I was very frustrated and saddened to hear about the many changes being made to the current vta routes, the 70 and 37 in particular. I live near Capitol Expressway and Silver Creek road and rely on the 70 to get to work every day as I do not drive. I take the 70 westbound to the end of the line at the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Capitol Light Rail station. From there I walk to work near Foxworthy and Almaden expressway. Some days I have to rely on the 37 from the light rail station to almaden on days the 70 runs late, when walking from the light rail would cause me to be late to work. In the fall, I am planning on going back to school to finish my teaching degree at West Valley College. I am only 2 classes away from graduation and those two classes are only offered at West Valley. If the 37 is discontinued I would not only be unable to make it to work on time but unable to get to school to finish my degree. I do not want to have to quit my job at Foxworthy Kindercare but am worried that I would have to if I am unable to take the bus to work every day. Routes: 73 Subject: 73 Will Route 73 still stop at Capitol and Snell? How long will the ride be to SJSU? The proposed change isn't very clear. Routes: 168 Subject: 168 I used to take the 168 daily because I could catch it at 6:00 am. Well, now my start time is 6:00 am. Do you plan on any earlier departures so I could arrive in San Jose by 5:30am from San Martin in South County? It would be nice to have more regular Express buses between Gilroy, San Martin, and Morgan Hill as the 101 both North and South bound commute has become very crowded no matter what time of day or night it is. We need more options down in South County. Feel like the step‐child! PS: A lot of us live down here and work at the government center‐DA's Office, Courthouses, Jails, Sheriff's Office. Would like to utilize the ECO PASS. Routes: 53; 58; 82 Subject: 53, 58, 82 Hi there! I recently found out that the 3 bus routes: 82,58, and 53 are all changing or being discontinued! This makes me very upset that VTA is removing my only way of transportation to work. I am a crossing guard in Saratoga and I rely on the 82 to get me from Hamilton & Phoenix to Westgate Mall. I then have to transfer to the 58 to West Valley College to catch the 53 to head towards Saratoga Village. If you discontinue those bus routes I might lose my job! This cannot happen! I have been an avid bus rider and supporter for many years. I do not have a car or a drivers license. Please reconsider taking away these very important bus routes that we rely on. Thank you! [Name redacted] Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 Good morning, I am writing to ask VTA to please reconsider keeping bus route 181 slated for fall of 2017. I have been riding this bus every day for the past several years. The elimination of this bus route would create hardship for me to get to work since I don?t have a car. Additionally, eliminating the route would put so many people of the road and have an adverse effect to the commute and the environment. Perhaps VTA would consider reducing the number of bus from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes during commute hours and every hour during non‐commute hours and weekend to save cost. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback. Routes: 27; 48 Subject: 27, 48 I recently picked up the Proposed Service Changes Fall 2017 brochure. If a bus driver hadn't informed me of the proposed changes, I would never have known about them. I ride the #27 bus to light rail, catch the Winchester train to Winchester where I catch bus #48. Bus #48 drops me off near Los Gatos Hospital at Knowles & Dardanelli. This stop is very important to me as my doctor's office and laboratory office are located on Dardanelli. If you eliminate bus #48, how am I going to get to Knowles & Dardanelli? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I am writing in hopes that getting rid of route 65 will change. I use this route to get to school. With out this route I will have to drive as there are no close routes to my house. None of the proposed changes make any routes closer to my home. It is not worth my time to drive to another route to then go to school. I also use 65 to go to the SAP center with my kids. Again with out this route we will have to drive. As there are no routes close to where we are. Routes: 102 Subject: 102 need additional buses from 3:45‐ 5pm. current buses are at 100% capacity. Routes: General Project Question Subject: misc Will a new stop still be planned for behind the Monte Vista complex at Sunol and Auzerais? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a student at San Jose State University. I have reviewed the plan completely, and I would like to voice my concerns regarding this change. As a resident of Fremont, I commute to SJSU 5 days a week. I park my car near the Stevenson stop and take the VTA 181 to Downtown San Jose. Personally, the plan to discontinue Route 181 will adversely affect me. Firstly, I will have to pay for the BART ticket on a daily basis, and this is a big change for many students as VTA services are included in our fees. In order to commute to SJSU, students use the VTA mainly because it's free. Because of discontinuing VTA 181, many students will have to bear extra costs for transportation. Secondly, parking at the BART is a bigger problem. Finding a parking space and paying for the parking is not an easy thing as several students will be driving to BART. Many students and employees who regularly take the VTA 181 from Civic Center or Stevenson Blvd. will now be driving to a nearby BART. This will create parking problems and because people from different places park at the BART, and it will only aggravate the current parking problems at the BART station. And lastly, when students realize that they will be paying for parking, BART ticket, and spending time trying to find parking, they will be forced to drive to SJSU. This will be a loss for the BART and for SJSU. BART will be losing commuters, and SJSU will experience an increased demand for parking. I urge you to keep the 181 route from Fremont to SJSU. Thank you very much for your time! Routes: 61 Subject: 61 I just saw a post on NextDoor about upcoming changes to VTA to correspond with the new BART extension, and I'm looking for some more specific clarification. My husband and I live at 712 Asbury St right by the corner of Stockton Ave. When looking at the attached maps, it looks as though the red line 61 route for VTA is planning on going right past our house (or in the case of BART, perhaps underneath our house in a tunnel). Can you explain and elaborate on exactly what that portion of the route will look like? We're concerned about both increased noise and traffic. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc PLEASE CALL ME FOR MY EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc The next network email does not work in order to send comments All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc Also, community members are asking if the January 18 VTA outreach meeting at Quinlan Center will be recorded for live stream viewing and later viewing(?). Thank you for a favor of reply prior to the start of the January 18 meeting. Liana Crabtree Cupertino Resident Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc I can't make the hearings but I feel moving from 70/30 to 85/15 is critical. VTA has been unable to increase ridership over 15 years, and has an incredibly low box Fare recovery. Making a change that finally helps the VTA serve more people will be well received. I am 100 Percent supportive! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc You spent a lot of my tax and fare money on your rebrand, which rolled out two weeks after you left a whole half platform of riders standing at Tasman for a Santa Teresa train that never came. Just now you finally got a car to pick up a carload at the Convention Center nearly 10 minutes late. After we pointed out that our train never came. Before you waste even more resources on your big plans, try pleasing the riders you have ‐ some of us ride you by choice. Not all your riders are homeless or economically disadvantaged. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc Solutions that move you. Sounds like a moving company. Not good. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Hi VTA My mom takes #65 3 days a week to transfer caltrain or #26. Please help to keep #65 Routes: 328 Subject: 328 please donot dis continue route 328. we daily commute in this to/from office Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I take the VTA330 from Campbell (Hamilton/San Thomas) to Milpitas (Alder/Tasman) every work day. The discontinue of this route will make me have no option for the commute. If there is possibility to use the shutter decrease other than bus stop decrease as the cost saving, e.g. from 4 rounds/day to 2 or 1 rounds per day. Most of the commuter on this bus work on north bound with flexible working time, eligible to time shift. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't change the southern end of 63. I take this route every day to work and every night to come home to Almaden Valley. There is a lot of people getting on the bus from Camden Ave as well. We will be left stranded. What am I going to do at night? Uber and carpool are not cheap options either. Please keep 63 running from Camden Ave/Almaden Expy, please. You can't possibly expect people to walk or bike in raining weather, too? And if you only extend the service during the bell times, and what about me? I don't count? I don't matter? I have no other options so I take buses. I am sorry I don't drive, but this change is going to impact my commute too much. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Im disappointed that there are plans to kill the 53 on De Anza south of McClellan/Bollinger. This seems like a main corridor with lots of businesses, would be nice to route a bus line up and down De Anza / Sunnyvale/Saratoga / Mathilda straight to Lockheed. There seems to be no bus service to Saratoga or points on De Anza south of 85. I go carless and use the bus to commute on rainy or cold days, otherwise I bike, but VTA is an important transportation tool for me and I currently have a pass. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc The busses should run 24 hours. We are a big enough area with a large enough population that the busses will be used if they are available at least once an hour over a 24 hour period. Cabs and ride share services, like Lyft and Uber, are significantly more expensive than public transit. It would be nice to be able to catch a bus at 2am. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc Please add route from West Valley College down Saratoga Ave Highway 9 Downtown Los Gatos ending at Winchester Light rail operating 7 days a week with late evening and 20 min headways daily. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 Please don't get rid of route 330. There is no other way to get to Sunnyvale in a reasonable amount of time. Traffic on San Tomas is crazy. The bus is the best way there. You always look at things from Downtown San Jose. Sunnyvale and Mnt View is where everyone works and is where the worst traffic problems exist. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am working at Microsoft at mountain view and live close to mission blvd. 120 really help me on commute. Termination of this route will a major hit to my commute plan. I might have to drive to work without 120 Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Good morning ‐ My concern on weekdays ‐ I rely on getting the bus on the corner of Lick and Alma Ave for work. Will that stop be discontinued or will you be eradicating the entire 82 Bus route. Thank You. Warm Routes: 328 Subject: 328 Please do not discontinue VTA route #328 which I take every morning to work from Camden x Blossom Hill to Lockheed Martine Transit. I need to be at work before 7:15 AM and do not have alternative transportation. There are several other co‐workers who also take the same bus with me. Often time, we noticed the ECO pass scanner does not work on the afternoon trip. I wonder how that affects the survey that leads up to the recommendation. I hope VTA would reconsider discontinue VTA route #328. Thanks. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please don't touch 63. I can't walk 3 miles every morning in all weathers just to get to Blossom Hill stop to catch a bus to work and every night 3 miles again to walk back home. This proposal is very inconsiderate. I am begging you to not do this. I am not a casual rider. I am a regular rider who rely on 63 all the time. Please don't touch 63, don't cut services, just don't change the southern end. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 23 Subject: 23 I agree with the decision to eliminate the time‐consuming detour of Route 23 around the back end of Valley fair. It will be a more appealing service if it goes straight down Stevens Creek. Personally, I'd like to see it re‐extended to Foothill College, Los Altos and Mountain View. Routes: 23 Subject: 23 Line 23 could be split in or near downtown San Jose to have the buses go on time. Please remove the Valley Fair diversions on all lines. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I don't understand why you want our names and email. I don't care if I am the only one writing this, but I am asking you to not discontinue services from Camden Ave to Blossom Hills. I have been taking 63 forever. I can never drive; I can't afford Uber every day, and carpool is not cheap either. Walking and biking in raining weather? Really? I carry a lot of stuff with me too. How do I bike with grocery with me? You are going to leave me stranded at night by the road side, walking for hours just to get home. Why are you doing this? You have made transit a very unsafe choice for me. You should come up with a better design instead of asking how we can make it better. Well, to make it better, you actually should extend 63 and run it every 15 minutes. Would you do it though? I am not asking much, but to ask you not to cut the services from Camden to Blossom Hill, please. Routes: 23 Subject: 23 If you reroute line 23 onto Stevens Creek, line 60 will be the only bus serving the valley fair transit center. Why not keep line 60 on Winchester and save time and avoid the time‐consuming detour into the transit center. You can sell it back to valley fair. Routes: 21 Subject: 21 According to the schedule at vta.org, the last two weekday Downtown Mountain VIew 35 busses from Palo Alto Transit Center (which will be closed until 1/26/2017) are at 8:08 PM and finally at 9:18 PM. Not exactly convenient. Your plans make me want to buy a car. In fact, I will need one with the new 21 route. About the subject of this message: I am disabled and live at 210 San Antonio Circle. This is federally subsidized housing for seniors and the disabled. There is a Southbound 35 stop right across the street. I ride the bus just about every day. My neighbors ride the bus, too. Quite a few of of them have walkers. Ask the operators. Our building has 85 parking spaces for 120 apartments, so most of the tenants ride the bus. I understand that this stop will be eliminated. I have been talking to my neighbors and they are very upset. One of the features of measure B was to help seniors and the disabled. If you can walk, then you can get to the exisiting stop on California St. in 10 minutes. We can't walk that far. Help us by keeping this stop. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail Looking to connect with VTA LightRail at the Mt. View Transit Center, also with Line 81 to Kaiser. Now can use Line 35 from residential Palo Alto. The future looks bleak to effectively use public transportation. Routes: 37 Subject: 35 Timing wrote prior VTA route "35" going shopping center Nov 30 2016 time 6.20 Mitifield and Oregon expressway. Driver road by same driver had rund middle block attitude some drivers unprofessional. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Asian mid 40's wearing glasses didn't care about passengers! VTA you need correct misconduct many of drivers cause me to be late for work! Route 4302 number of bus driver Black with beard heavy set drove by me and eldery passenger Remington street Sunnyvale Dec 2 time 12.10 rude 2016 help the riders not irate them! Routes: 89 Subject: 89 This bus is critical to take workers from the Cal Ave CalTrain station to the Stanford Business Park. Eliminating this bus is a disservice to commuters and also exacerbates the "last mile" problem where citizens opt not to take transit because there is no connection to where they need to go. This is not an obscure route. It is connecting a major transit hub to a major campus of employment. Eliminating this route will make traffic worse and commuting worse for everyone. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 If you are going to discontinue 13, shouldn't you keep 63 running and actually extend 63 to cover part of 13's route so you do part of your services instead of leaving riders with no bus in that area at all? And why are you asking us how to make the network better? We have asked you to do this and that, but you never listened. You are going to discontinue 13 and you are going to end the bus at blossom Hill, so for me who live on Camden Ave, how do I get to Blossom Hill? You are trying to impress people with your Bart extension by deserting us who have no other options but the bus. So how do I get to light rail to catch Bart? How do I get to 27, 23, and 64? Your proposals are leaving a lot of riders angry, are you aware of it? Or you are just going to say, oh, this is the right thing to do? Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I am very dependent on this bus route to provide daily transportation to/from work. If the route is discontinued, there is no other public transportation from the California Avenue Caltrain station to my work site. I will need to continue on the train to the next stop, University Ave, to take the Palo Alto Margarite Shuttle, which adds an additional 30 min to my 1.5 hr train ride. Additionally, I will no longer need to use VTA's services. Routes: 32; 34; 35 Subject: 32, 34, 35 Cancelling these routes is a very bad idea. Seniors in Mountain View and people employed in Middlefiled corridor depend on these lines esp along the Middlefield Rd route. Now, the Middlefield corridor is severely underserved with these proposed changes. Routes: 21 Subject: 21 When may we see the proposed new route 21 that picks up in downtown Palo Alto? What is there now does not go downtown. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 My father [Name redacted] wants to express his opinion of keeping the bus line 37. The reason is that he is over 70 years old. He does not drive and he solely rely on bus line 37 to go see doctor and grocery stores. So, he would hope to keep the bus line 37. Please considering not canceling this bus. Thank you very much. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan It'll be an extreme inconvenience. There's people who take it from capitol all the way to WVC. You guys want to help the community, but you're doing something worse. The 37 is very full during the spring and fall semester. PLEASE DO NO CUT THE 37 Routes: 23; 37; 48; 57 Subject: 37, 48 I write to request that VTA not eliminate the Bus 37 route nor change the Bus 48 route. I currently take both/either bus line from the Burroughs/Hacienda stop to and from light rail (Winchester Station) for my commute to work at San Jose State University. I live on Gwen Drive (Campbell), and I walk to the bus stop (just short of a mile away). My residential area is already under served by VTA ? the Existing Network map clearly shows the void. The proposed Bus 37/48 changes will move VTA transit beyond my walking range, as Winchester Blvd is just too far away. In the other direction, the Bus 57/23 combination is not a good solution as the overall transit time takes too long. I have tried it and it is not a viable alternative for my commute. In order to get to the Winchester light rail station after the proposed changes, I would need to drive, which by itself largely defeats using public transit. Also, as the parking lot at Winchester is woefully small for the end of the line location, it is virtually impossible to find a parking space anytime after 8am. In short, the proposed route changes in my area will force me to drive to work, adding one more car to our already congested highways. I strongly request that at least one bus line still run from Burroughs and Hacienda to the Winchester light rail station. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc After implementation, which routes will run on, or cross, Santa Teresa Blvd.? Routes: 328 Subject: 328 Since route #328 will be discontinue per the new proposed service change, could you please advise what will be my alternative routes from Camden x Blossom Hill Rd. in San Jose to Lockheed Martin Transit in Sunnyvale arriving before 7:15 AM. Thank you. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Sent message to VTA on 1/12/17: "Please do not discontinue the 37. Many students rely on that bus to get to the West Valley College. In the new plan, there is no direct bus to WVC from South San Jose to West Valley. It's expensive enough to go to college as it is, and discontinuing the line, which has high ridership by the way, would be denying community members from the right to higher education. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: 37, 48 Sent us message on 1/12/17: ": I just want to know who I am going to get around without bus service, I'm 71, disabled and I don't drive." Routes: 37; 48 Subject: 37, 48 Sent us message on 1/12/17: "VTA has failed the communities it serves by ending bus service in Campbell, Los Gatos and Saratoga. It has failed the senior citizens who have no other option to see the doctor, go shopping or to the hospital. It has failed the children who will have no safe and reliable transportation to the schools on this route it has failed to provide safe transportation at night or in rainy weather. but more seriously it has failed the taxpayers who support VTA and it's projects by asking them to pay for something that will no longer be provided, eliminating 40 community buses!" All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 82 Subject: Bus Route 82 wants Route 82 to not be diminished to school trips. She takes it between 9:30 and 11 am in the morning, not during school hours. She is legally blind. Routes: 522 Subject: 522 Based on the "explore your network" tool, it appears that existing 522 stops are going to be eliminated, and it is not clear that the advertised 12 minute frequency will be maintained all the way to Palo Alto. I find that the distance I can cover with the new network is always reduced, even where I think the new network should be higher frequency, and allow larger travel distances. What are the plans for 522 bus stops from Palo Alto to Lawrence in Santa Clara? Routes: 37; 49 Subject: Bus Route 37 and 49 Messaged VTA on 1/12/17: "Thank you for taking the time to read this message. Overall, I am very happy with the draft plan but I noticed that routes 37 and 49 are being discontinued. I live in Cambrian Park (near Good Sam) and take the 37 or 49 to Winchester station so that I can get to SJSU every morning. I was wondering if you could possibly consider keeping either the 37 or 49 so that people who live near Good Sam can get to Winchester. " Routes: 523 Subject: 523 I live in Cupertino and was unable to attend the meeting at the Quinlan Center last Wednesday due to weather challenges. I watched the Youtube recording just now which was helpful but had 3 questions (listed below). I live behind Memorial Park on Ann Arbor Avenue (near Lauretta/Ann Arbor Court/Ann Arbor Ave intersection) and walk 10 min from home to take the 55 weekdays at 5:36 am (1st stop on the route at Stevens Creek/Stelling) to get to Sunnyvale Caltrain by 6 am for the 6:16 am bullet that takes me to my job at Stanford via the Marguerite shuttle. In the afternoon, I reverse my commute and take the 54 home from Sunnyvale Caltrain, getting off at Stelling/Hazelbrook and walking 5 min home. Door‐to‐door, it takes me about 1 hr 15 min one way. Qu 1) What stops do you anticipate having for the new 523 route at/near DeAnza College that will be most convenient for me? Qu 2) Do you anticipate my commute time shrinking and by how much? Qu 3) One of the speakers mentioned a feature on the new draft plan website where I can drop pins and calculate travel times with the proposed routes ‐ I couldn't find it, please advise. Thanks! Routes: 522 Subject: 522 My previous alarm and questions about changes to the 522 stops in Palo Alto were due to a bug/incompleteness in the interactive map. It looks like computations using the current network knows about different route speeds at different times of day, while the next network computations have more limited information, probably assuming the same schedule and speeds all day. As a result, if I enter 8:00 am on a weekend or weekday (particularly on a weekend) as the time to take a trip, the current network goes much further, even using the same routes. If I use 11:00, then a comparison where the routes are similar gives a similar result. You may want to fix the time of day for this tool, or figure out a way to correct for expected speeds with the next network data. I bet the tool shows better results from anywhere in the county with the current network at 8:00 am on a weekend. So I am still interested in knowing what stops are planned for the 522 route, but now I am less worried about my current stop disappearing. Routes: 22; 522 Subject: 22, 522 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please have at least the 522 stop outside of the Santa Clara Transit Center. This is two left turns and wastes a lot of time. Routes: 328; 330 Subject: 330, 328 I was really checked when I heard that the special routes 330 and 328 will be discontinued. These were the only access for a big residential area that goes from Blossom‐Hill/Camden up to Coleman Ave. Few years back, VTA re‐routed bus 65 that use to reach Coleman, and now you are going to discontinue the rest. Are we part of VTA coverage? You can not just cut a whole area out of the network. Should we have another transportation agency working that can keep us connected to the rest of the city. Routes: 328; 330; 37 Subject: 328, 330, 37 I have been a regular on the 328/ 330 for about 6 years. When either of those busses fails me I connect from the 37 to the Light Rail station for the commute which almost doubles my normal commute time. (Back in the day, I had spent about 7 years riding the 127/128 busses to Lockheed so I have used the transit system fairly regularly for years!) Discontinuing these routes will increase car traffic due to a lack of alternative transit options. The desire to increase ridership and serving the BART extension is noble but leaving the Almaden Valley with extremely limited transit options doesn't seem proper either. If the system was not subsidized (ie Private and was operating on a for profit basis, the plan as it is would make sense. However, the funding is not limited to collection of fares. Over the years I have found that the biggest incentive to increase ridership is $4/ gal gasoline prices. Traffic congestion unfortunately doesn't seem to have an affect on those who drive as they seem to prefer to sit in their cars interminable grid‐lock. The 328 is also the only current bus line available that runs the better part of Lawrence Expressway. Several riders who board and depart along that corridor will be left to find alternate means to their work sites which will only add more cars to that already impacted corridor. I would hope that the VTA re‐evaluate their proposal and continue at least some limited service in these areas for no busses will ensure no ridership. I do have to add that having wifi available on most of the busses and on light‐rail has helped ease the commute considerably and shows that the VTA is catching up with the technology that defines Silicon Valley. Routes: 304 Subject: 304 I was sad in Jan of 2017 when I realized Bus 304 was reduced it doesn't come every 45 min anymore . My Idea is to have Charging stations for phones or Light rail on the Buses and the Light rails Routes: 304 Subject: 304 Hi I take the 304 during the week from downtown to skyway and silverberry because it's a lot quieter and quicker than using the 66. The 66 bus has been a constant sore spot for me because it's slow, it's consistently overcrowded, and I've been harassed multiple times while on the bus. Not to mention the fact that transient individuals tend to panhandle on that bus line and no one seems to stop them. It tends to quiet down by the time I get to my stop but it takes so long to get there because they literally stop at every stop and it makes my commute twice as long. Furthermore, I carry a heavy backpack and lunch bag and the crowding makes for an uncomfortable and long commute because I'm crowded so much and have to stand. I know there is a lot of encouragement from vta to use public transit but I'll likely cut down my usage if it means I have to use the 66. Please consider not discontinuing the 304 bus. Thanks. Routes: 60 Subject: 60 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan The frequency improvements and new "rapid" lines are a great improvement, as is combining the airport shuttle (former route 10) into a revised, frequent route 60. I support putting more resources towards a frequent network that will support faster, more useful travel for more people. Routes: 304 Subject: 304 Please don;t close Route 304, It is an important route for my daily commute Routes: 304 Subject: 304 I'm on the lite rail as I write this. I ask you to reconsider terminating the 304 line from south SJ to Sunnyvale. It's one of the few options we have here in the Blossom Hill area. Alternative transit to the Lawrence/Scott Blvd is nearly an hour longer. Is discouraging ridership bewteen these two areas part of the overall plan? Routes: 304 Subject: 304 replace it with a rapid line. like rapid 568 from gilroy to diridon/DTSJ, then continue to berryessa BART via santa clara and king streets. of all corridors, monterey should get a rapid line. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I am emailing you my concerns about planning to discontinue route 37. I know many people who benefit from this route very much in order to commute all the way to Saratoga to attend one of the few great community colleges in the area, West Valley. I commuted everyday during the weekday from South San Jose to Saratoga which would take almost an hour and a half. If you discontinue this route, it will severely impact the commute of many friends I've encountered during my time being there. I no longer attend West Valley as a regular student there as I have transferred to a state school this fall, however, I am planning to take a class at West Valley College this summer and discontinuing this route will definitely affect my commute. It will make things even more difficult as I do not own a car. I rely on public transportation for everything I need to do, whether it's to the bank, school, work, medical appointments and even groceries. I ask you to reconsider this change and do not proceed with it. I appreciate your understanding. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 We understand your efforts in optimizing the available commute options with the introduction of BART, but BART won?t be able to replace 140 routes and assigned stops. There are huge set of Cisco Employees that use this 140 service on a regular basis ( I being one of them) does suits the needs and purpose. Discontinuing that would be a great hassle for all of us. Please consider. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 Hi VTA Management , I am staying in Warm Springs. I always take the bus 140 & use my VTA pass to go to my office in San Jose . Your proposed plan to stop the service in fall 2017 will adversely impact my schedule & make my travel to office longer. Many of my colleagues who is staying in Fremont & Warm Springs area are going to be impacted by this . So request your attention to retain these VTA bus services as is . Routes: 321 Subject: 321 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan It seems bus 321 will be discontinued the fall of 2017. Will there be a replacement bus or route? There are many of us who takes this bus daily. It cuts down our commute to Milpitas by an hour and a half. Thank you so much, any information would be great. Routes: 46 Subject: 46 I am someone who relies on the bus to get around, and service on the 46 line has been continually cut over the years. It makes it very difficult to get anywhere from the east side of Milpitas. For me, this would increase my walking distance to the nearest bus by twenty minutes. These cuts are a feedback loop that continously discourage use of certain lines, as people can no long rely on them to get home from work. Please consider keeping hourly service for the 46. I suspect that when BART is completed, you will see an increase in usage of this route. Thank you. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 So sad there's talks of discontinuing the 37. Not only is that how I get to work when the 70 is running late getting to the light rail in the morning( at least once a week) when I don't have time to make a mile and a half walk to work once I get off the 70 but it will make it impossible to get to west valley for the fall semester to finish my degree. I have just 2 classes left Routes: 37; 48; 49 Subject: 37, 48, 49 Los Gatos and Saratoga . 1. students depend on the 37 to get to school. among the schools on this line are Capri Elementary, Rolling Hills Middle School, Marshall Lane and West Valley College. This line is always crowded during the Spring and Fall semesters. 2 Workers need to get to their jobs on the community bus. 3. Senior citizens depend on the community bus. 4. Disabled students and their caregivers and social workers use the 37, 48 and 49 everyday. 5 It would be dangerous to walk to the next VTA light rail stop on Winchester at night or during a rainstorm like the ones we had this week especially for children and senior citizens. SAVE OUR COMMUNITY BUS IN CAMPBELL, SARATOGA AND LOS GATOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Routes: 31; 39 Subject: 31, 39 Please RETAIN their current numberings Routes: 181 Subject: 181 If alternative routes can be posted or announced for all discontinued or altered bus routes, that would be very helpful. A lot of students rely on the Fremont BART to 181 bus transfer so it would be ideal of new routes were provided for each discontinued line. Routes: 39 Subject: 39 Buses on route 39 run empty most of the time. Please eliminate this route in order to save taxpayer money. Thanks. Routes: General Project Question Subject: misc Would it be possible to add another webinar during the lunch hour for area employees who are unable to attend evening meetings or daytime meetings other than during their lunch hour? Routes: 42 Subject: 42 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan The changes to route 42 are preposterous. A majority of the people who use the stop right outside of our mobile home Park on Monterey (just past bernal) are disabled people who literally NEED that bus route! Not to mention the college students who take that bus to evergreen. I guess I'll have to drop out of my classes, since I'm disabled and can't drive. It really seems like no one has thought any of this through, based on the other complaints I've read. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 Caller states she wants to speak to someone regarding the bus line 42 and is aware that it will be discontinued in the fall. She states she wants to get more information on this because she needs this bus route. Threes a lot of college students and the only way into Evergreen College is the 42 from South San Jose. Shes actually coming from Gilroy so it will more be difficult for her to get to Evergreen College. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 Caller is very unhappy with the prospect of us discontinuing the 42 route in this area. Caller is disabled and it is too far for her to get to the 68 route. The caller has VTA ACCESS but cannot afford to use it everyday. Routes: 47 Subject: 47 What about having the 47 Line serve Ranch 99 Market on barber then right on Alder then right on Tasman Routes: 47 Subject: 47 Please consider having line 47 go further down Mccarthy to Montague expressway to avoid duplicating light rail service, have a westward connection with line 20, and better serve the industrial area south of Tasman. Routes: 12; 62; 65 Subject: 12, 62, 65 I have to use a mobility scooter and must use line 62 at 17th and Hedding going east. I also use the 65 to get to the university. On the weekend I use the 12 to get to Eastridge again I must use the bus stops on Hedding to get anywhere because of my disability. If the above lines are eliminated how will catch the bus? Routes: 46; 47 Subject: 46, 47 In the Next Network plan, there is only a single bus, 47 which connects the Milpitas ‐ South East (East of 680, between Calveras and Park Victoria) to the upcoming Bart Station & Great Mall. Both are expected to grow as heavy commuter routes. Also in the new plan, bus route number 46 is taken away. I propose the frequency of Bus Route Number 47, should be increased from Every 30 mintues to Every 15 minutes, which will make easier for people to match with BART Train Timings, and reduce the expected Parking Issues at the Bart Station as well as in Great Mall. Also it should ease the already worsing traffic at Landess Ave. Also, Taking out Route Number 46 sounds a bad idea, as its already a every 60 minutes routes, and connect largely unconnected areas to the BART. I would have expected the Bus Frequency to go up near the BART stations encourage people around the bart stations to take public transport and not the other way round. Routes: 40 Subject: 40 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I feel that the new route 40 should continue on to El Camino after stopping at the Mountain View Caltrain station. This will increase its usefulness because people coming from the east along El Camino will be able to transfer to it to go north instead of having to waste time going all the way down to San Antonio. I understand that the area is a little weird with the main downtown station being so close to El Camino, yet so far, and with the city officials messing around with the traffic flow, and the whole point of the effort is to reduce duplicate bus service, but I think the extra transfer possibilities are worth it. Routes: 52 Subject: 52 There appears to be an error on the map where route 52 was not renumbered to route 41. Why renumber anyway? Routes: 52 Subject: 52 Consider replacing line 51 north of downtown mountain view with 52 line to NASA. Also consider rerouting the line onto Cuesta and Miramonte. And consider a new school tripper from downtown mountain view to mountain view high school while at the same time discontinuing line 51 entirely. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I have been riding VTA 120 to work (Lockheed Martin) for over ten years, from Fremont to Sunnyvale. It is, truthfully, an enjoyable ride compared to other alternatives. It has been very reliable and comfortable. The parking and pickup are very convenient and easy. It reduces the daily stress tremendously. It also reduces traffic on CA 237 and the carbon footprint. My company promotes public transit and generously provides the VTA ECO pass which is a cost saving to us. I have nothing but praise for VTA 120 and have been an active advocate of public transportation, VTA and 120. Other than Lockheed Martin, VTA 120 also serves many other companies in the region, e.g., Network Appliance, Yahoo, Juniper, Nuance, etc. The notice on discontinuation of VTA 120 upon Bart extension this fall into Santa Clara is quite unsettling to many of the VTA 120 riders. Realistically, for South Fremont riders, the drive to Milpitas Bart, parking, riding Light Rail, and then the company Shuttle will be too time consuming, even on a good traffic day, and it probably take around two hours each trip. As a matter of practicality, most riders will be in a situation considering driving as the only alternative, from Fremont to Sunnyvale. I am writing this letter to request VTA to reconsider the discontinuation of VTA 120. This is a very successful route that benefits many riders, companies, traffic conditions and environment. It is a model for public transportation. It will be extremely sad if this has to be discontinued. Please give it another serious consideration. Thank you. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am living at Mission San Jose in Fremont and am taking VTA 120 everyday for commute. However, this discountinuity affects my commute and so far I have not find an alternative to solve this. I really would like to share this bad feeling with the planner, since it will force me to drive to work. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 If route 120 was discontinued, it will take people about 2X time to Sunnyvale. The cost will be increased as we need to take Bart and light rail. I think it may be reasonable to discontinue route from Fremont to Santa Clara, but probably not to Sunnyvale. BTW. Company may not pay for Bart+light rail fee for the commuters, so many of us may choose to drive and VTA will lose many customers. [Name redacted] All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 103 Subject: misc I'm an user of 103 bus and the new buses (blue) the Wi‐Fi internet system is not working and i need to log in for my job mostly all the time. any help is very appreciated. [Name redacted] Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am using VTA to commute to my office, Juniper Networks. I am currently using mission & Mohave stops (id #65558 and #65559). Please don?t changes/cancel these stops as it is very close to my house. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I live in Mission area in fremont, CA. From where the old and new BART stations are almost 5 mi distance which is very inconvenient to catch a train in the morning where school dropoffs are involved. Bus #120 route from Mission (680 & mission blvd) is a great help to travel all the way to my work location in Mountain View. The commute from Mission Fremont to mountainview will be on 237 a much crowded route in bayarea. There are several people traveling by taking #120 , I saw most of the seats are full. I saw 2 other persons willing to come on Bus #120. Please do not remove this bus as BART will not come to all the corners in fremont. Bus #120 will be very help ful for the people like me. Thanks for your understanding in advance for not removing this bus or changing the route. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 I ride the 82 from West Gate to the Tamien Station/Alma area. If you eliminate bus route 82, I'll have to take a longer trip on a different bus, and transfer to another line to get where I need to go. Routes: 12; 62; 65 Subject: 12, 65, 62 I am in a mobility scooter, and I live at N. 17th and Hedding. If you cut the bus routes 12, 65, and 62, it will be harder for me to get around. Taylor St is several blocks away, and there will be fewer bus routes to choose from. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am now on vta120 to commute to google. It will be very inconvenient without 120 and my commute time will be 2hours each way. There are many people on the bus. Please reconsider the cancellation. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 By discontinuing the 42 you are cutting off my access to evergreen valley college from the south San Jose area, where I live. I have used the public transit system to get around, San Jose, to school, work, etc... for most of my life. This new change will majorly unconvince my commute. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 There is no oveelay with route 120 and bart extention. With thee new proposal. It would take 90 to 100 minutes includes transfer. Which now tale 45 to 55minutes to sunnyvale by riding 120. Which force myself to drive again on aueful 880 and 237 . Please keep vta 120. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I ride this route twice a day from the 85/Camden park&ride to the end at Alder in Milpitas and back home, 5 days a week, For the last 5 years. I received the notice this morning that this route was going All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to be cancelled. I would like my voted count that this route should not be cancelled. What would you be replacing it with? This route takes me a little over an hour to get to work at Abbott Medical Optics. Using an existing alternate route would take over 2 hours and 15 minutes to go the same distance. That's a deal breaker! I would have to drive my car. I like VTA and I'm all for getting people out of their cars but this change would have the opposite effect. Routes: 522 Subject: misc Caller wanted to advise that he was viewing the : http://www.vta.org/News‐and‐Media/Connect‐
with‐VTA/What‐to‐expect‐with‐the‐Draft‐Next‐Network‐Plan#.WEiLYNIrKUk "What to Expect with the Draft Next Network Plan" and sees a picture of the 522 that says rapid on the headsign. Caller wants to mention that this might be an old picture because of the buses now either say 522 Palo Alto or 522 Eastridge. Caller wants to request the headsign to go back to the old way of flashing rapid in between destinations as it is more prominent and you do not get it confused with the bus line 22. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Once upon a time, line 53 served Bubb Road and Monta Vista High School (Up until 2008). Could you please consider a school tripper up Bubb and Rainbow, traffic is really bad. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Hamilton Service to ebay. Are that few people in Willow Glen taking the 82 to work at eBay? There's no easy way for me to do it if you remove the 82. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Why must route 53 make a dog‐leg off Homestead to Stevens Creek and back? why not just run the 53 straight on Homestead from Mary Ave to Santa Clara? Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Please don't get rid of 82. It's the only way for people/students in campbell/saratoga to get to downtown/sjsu Routes: 57 Subject: 57 I like the increased frequency. It's nice how it's more frequent on weekdays as well as Saturday and Sunday. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 I was afraid that this route would be eliminated. Right now I use it to get to the Tamien light rail station. The stop is within 50 yards of my house. Instead I will have to walk 15 minutes to bus number 26 or 18 minutes to bus number 25.I then use the light rail to go south toward Santa Teresa. Is there any way this route can still exist, perhaps on an hourly schedule, or is there no real hope. Thank you for reading this comment. [Name redacted] Routes: 48; 57 Subject: 57, 48 I would like to propose a New Route to connect lines Rt 57 & Rt 48 or Rt 37 Please Put a Line and bus bench pick‐ups along Westmont Avenue‐ place in front of Westmont the high school‐ even if the bench would be at the tennis courts last pick up entrance?. This would help students and staff to All Comments Received on the Draft Plan connect to Rt 57 at Quito & Westmont Also, if you could please extend the 902 Light Rail line from San Jose Campbell‐ into Los Gatos. Thank you. Routes: 57 Subject: 57 I'd like to propose a new line, say from Westgate Mall (Campbell/Saratoga) to Old Ironside Light Rail Station, stopping only at major intersections, and skipping Mission College. For Southbound, take Old Ironside Drive, instead of Tasman Drive, towards Patrick Henry Dr, then turn right on Great America Parkway (like line 330). That way you avoid the traffic on Tasman Drive on event/game days. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 If the route 13 bus is cancelled there will be no public transit option for the whole neighborhood. This would be a huge problem for the people who don't own vehicle or can't drive, such as school children, elderly or disabled. For them, access to public transportation is a necessity, not a choice. Cancelling this public service to the whole neighbor is absolutely unacceptable. The given reason for discontinue the service is low ridership. however, the reason for the lower ridership is due to very infrequent service which make it almost impossible to ride the bus unless one absolutely have to. For example, I ride bus to work every day(route 102), however, I have to drive to light rail station instead of taking 13 cause if I also take 13, my journey time would probably more than doubled. If there are more frequent services and better connection time, people like me would be more than willing to completely leave our car at home and ridership would increase. The data is certainly tell you there is a problem with route 13. But people needs to look further to find the root cause. It's not there are not enough people who would use route 13 service, it's the service frequency is so low that only people who has no other options would use the service. The solution is not cut this necessary service out, it's finding better way to address the low ridership, such as matching the time with express bus/ other connection bus service time, increase the frequencies during peak time etc. Best Routes: 57 Subject: 57 I really like this new proposal. Thanks for the update. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a sophomore college student from San Jose State University. I hear that VTA will discontinue the Express Bus 181 route due to the Bart extension. I worry about it too much. I live in Fremont. Therefore, I have to take Express Bus 181 to commute to school every day. Bus 181 really helps me a lot. Without 181, I don't know what I can do to deal with the traffic. My life would be changed a lot. So please keep the Express Bus 181 route and don't discontinue it. I will really appreciate that. Routes: 60 Subject: 60 The airplanes arriving San Jose International Airport sometimes are delayed. With passengers picking up the luggage would be after 11pm. Thus please consider extend the hours for the new Route 60 to a later time. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 To the leader of this new Fall 2017 project, Please keep vta bus 181 from Fremont to San Jose. My family doesn't have money for bart. Besides since I don't drive, the 181 bus is the only way I can get to my campus every day. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 64 Subject: 64 Please close the gap in the frequent network at the end of the line and consider closing similar gaps on lines 25 and 60. Routes: 60 Subject: 60 I think line 60 is an ingenious and well‐planned line for the future, but please have it terminate at the pruneyard like in network 90 and try to find a quick route through downtown Santa Clara. Routes: 35 Subject: 35 I take the 35 Northbound every weekday at 7:50 a.m. at Mddlefield & Charleston, transfer to the Stanford Palm Drive busatt he Palo Alto Transit Cetnter,P, and return in the evening frat 5:24 or 5:57. There are always riders but since they are not numerous you may want to use smaller, more economical buses for this route. Please do not reduce or modify greatly the hours of service. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 10; 59; 60 Subject: 10, 59, 60 Hi there, I would like to ask if you would consider expanding the new 10/60 line to run past midnight as there happens to be a few flights that come in near midnight and a few passengers might not have the time to get their bags and go to the bus only to find out it's not running. Thanks. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I found out recently of plans to discontinue express bus 181. This is very unfortunate as me and many friends of mine use this bus daily to commute to SJSU. This is the most convenient and reliable method for us to go home, at any time during the day. Discontinuing this would mean finding a different way to go home and not all college students have the resources to do so. I request this bus continues to run, not only for myself but for the many that use it. Discontinuing will urge many to start driving, adding to the traffic, and making it tougher to find parking. Commuting from Fremont is tough enough, and this bus made if much easier, so I request you not to change it. Thank you! Hoping you consider our request, [Name redacted] Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please do not terminate express route 181 Fremont to San Jose. As one of many riders that take this bus along Stevenson, I will have no reasonable public transportation option available to me. Fremont Bart stations along the 680 corridor are nowhere near home, nor easily accessible. In addition, once at Berryessa Station, the end of the line, how do I get to downtown SJ? Many 181 bus riders get off at Hedding St. and take the light rail to get to north SJ. How will Bart at Berryessa help with this connection? This is unknown ‐ time will also be a concern. At present, it takes approx. 30‐ 35minutes to reach downtown in the morning. The evening commute is twice or more longer ‐ still reasonable given the traffic on 880N. Since funding has now been made available to extent the last leg into San Jose to Diridon station, would it not be more reasonable to continue the 181 bus line until such time as Bart reaches downtown? Very many SJSU students will also be left stranded should this route be terminated. Routes: 64 Subject: misc All Comments Received on the Draft Plan 100 yrs ago there was public transportation from downtown to Alum Rock Park This is progress? We want the 64 or something back at Miguelita as it was for many years before 2002 when someone who was looking at the balance sheet took it away So much for the elderly & retired population! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I wish to add that I use the commuter line 181 to San Jose from Fremont, not as an alternative to other transportation options. I use 181 from Fremont because I have no other way to get to San Jose. I do not drive. I could not work or enjoy entertainment in San Jose without this bus route.. Many of the folks who use these Express routes do so because they have no alternative. Also many people do give up their car to use Express bus routes if they are reliable. That is one of their other purposes. i also request that you do not discontinue the 181 stop at the Fremont Bart station. I understand that the new Bart Warm Springs Station will be opening soon and that may be a reason for discontinuing the Fremont Bart stop but I think it is inconvenient to take the Bart for 1 stop and then transfer to the 181, plus it will become way more expensive as one needs to pay for the additional BART trip. Once Bart goes all the way to San Jose I would no mind giving up the 181. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 This would be a really inconveniences to discontinue the 181 stop from the Fremont Bart station, me and some of my co‐worker would be impacted in a great way, If we drive in we would have to find parking and it would cause more cars on the road during commuter hours. Which is not good for the environment as a whole. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: Bus Route 48 (and 37) My family uses both. Especially concerned about bus route 48. His mom takes bus. It would be too far to walk for her, she is a senior citizen. It would be more than a mile from his house to Winchester. Also upset it would miss the hospital. Could you re‐route bus 27 through his neighborhood as a solution instead of just having it go down Winchester? Also, his family doesn't know why the bench for his bus bench is gone. It is on Pollard Road and Bracebridge Court. Why is that? Routes: 181 Subject: bus 181 I'm a student at SJSU living in Fremont and have been using the 181 bus for 4 years now. It has been extremely convenient for me and hundreds of other students now and in the future. If the 181 bus were to be removed it would cause huge problems for commuters. The parking garages at SJSU are already crowded and removing 181 would only make it worse. Furthermore, many students can not afford to be driving to school (doesn't own a car, insurance costs, fuel costs, parking permit costs). The student EcoPass clipper is already part of our tuition which makes it very helpful. BART however would be much more expensive and would probably not offer such a deal for students. In conclusion, please reconsider the decision and do NOT get rid of the 181 bus despite the BART expansion. Routes: 120; 140 Subject: 120, 140 I?m taking 140 express bus everyday from Fremont to First Street where I work. Please try to keep it even BART extents to Santa Clara county. 1. The Bart station is further than the bus stop. 2. Bart doesn?t go to first street so I need to take light rail after bart. Thank You. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I use this route on my commute from Mission Blvd to Cisco offices in Milpitas/San Jose. Please do not discontinue this route. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Please do NOT cancel the VTA 89 bus route. It is the only bus that is available to me that goes directly to the California Ave. Cal Train Station and down to my office on Page Mill Road. There are hardly ANY buses that pick up at the California Ave. station and that run reliably and quickly. It is not reasonable to ask us to walk to El Camino from the Cal Train station. That is too far, especially when it is hot in the summer and raining in the winter. Plus, there are lots of US veterans that use the 89 VTA bus route and are disabled and without this bus, they will have difficultly getting to the VA medical center, which is unjust. Please do not cancel this bus route. It is the only thing making my commute to work manageable. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Please retain services for 63, please!! I rely on 63 all my life. To change the southern end from Camden Ave to Blossom Hills will not shorten my trips but lengthen it every day drastically for hours. When I get off from Blossom Hill, I will have to walk all the way back to Camden Ave at night. I am trying to be independent by taking buses to get things done, to go to work, to see doctors, to run errands, to go to the stores. Please retain the services, I am begging you. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 "Some riders on routes that are discontinued may be able to use other nearby transit routes." NO. This statement doesn't apply to 13 and 63 at all. Once you discontinue 13 and stop running 63 down to Camden, there's no near by transit routes at all for us to take. How nearby is near? An hour walk? Two‐hour walk? This proposal to 63 is too drastic a change. How do I get to Blossom Hill in a safe manner every day and every night from there to get home? Walking? Biking? Using a scooter? With grocery in both hands? How is this helping us to get around easily? Routes: 201 Subject: Dash What about DASH is that going away! It should not if anything expanded to valley fair for free! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Many SJSU students take the 181 because it is free for us through school, discontinuing the 181 service would make the commute to SJSU more expensive and less convenient for students. Routes: General Project Question Subject: misc Hey, why not load the proposed changes in to Google's trip planner somehow? People should be able to compare their current usual trips to trips unders the proposed changes. By the way, did you gathers metrics from Google on the VTA trips people plan there? Routes: 42 Subject: Bus Route 42 Route 42 is the only bus that goes to where [I] work. The next closest bus is a 20‐minute walk from [my] job. [I work] over by Great Oaks and St. Iganacio. [I don't] want it cancelled. Routes: 120; 140; 180; 181 Subject: 120, 140, 180, 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please consider not removing all the express route from Fremont Bart (181,140,120,180) They serve very important connection between Fremont and San Jose, especially when Bart is unreliable. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Your nextnetwork suggested route changes say that the 82 route will be scaled back to the school route at school bell times, and that the new 282 school route is formerly route 88. Do you really mean formerly route 82? Do the proposed changes really mean that route 82 is proposed to be completely eliminated?? Can you seriously consider eliminating all normal service to the DMV on route 82? The Sacred Heart stop on 82? the connection to Tamien Light rail on 82? The connection between Willow Glen and Downtown on 82? The claim appears to be that 82 is too lightly populated to sustain service. I rode today at ~3:30pm southbound from Paseo de San Antonio. Approximately 9 of us boarded to join approximately 11 others to continue south with 20 passengers. seven more passengers boarded within the next several stops (excluding one more aspirant who ran to board, but was passed up by the driver). 17 disembarked by the time I got off at Lick just before Tamien, leaving ten riders at that point, and serving a total of 27 riders within the few stops between the Paseo and Lick. The bus was nearly full. I regularly observe high ridership on 82 at nearly any time of the day. Many elderly and disabled people rely heavily on the 82 to get where they need to go. Please don't eliminate the 82! [Name redacted] Routes: 42 Subject: 42 Please don't cut Route 42! That would completely isolate this whole section of town! People in this neighbor would be devastated. Please reconsider, don't cut Route 42. Routes: 96; 97 Subject: 96, 97 I'd like to comment on route 96 & 97. I hope that the schedule would keep Gilroy High School students in mind so that kids could either easily transfer to route 97, or alternatively, be able to get to school on time by disembarking at 6th & Princevalle and walking to school. Please keep in mind that GHS has two start times: 7:00am & 8:00am. GHS ends the day at 3pm. Again, I hope the busses are designed so that kids could easily catch a bus home. Not all GHS kids live close to the school and some depend on the bus to arrive to school on time. Being aware of the GHS schedule is particularly important if the busses will only run every 60 minutes. The proposed schedule has a start time of 7am. That is much too late. The schedule should allow for local commuters and students to arrive to Caltrain station and GHS on time. Thank you. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 65 My mother is 74 years old and my father is 79. They have disabilities that make it impossible for them to drive, but not so severe that they would qualify for paratransit. They are also low income and have limited English speaking ability. (I am writing this comment on their behalf.). Therefore, Uber or Lyft is not an affordable or real option for them. Bus line 13 is their only connection to the outside world during the weekday for grocery, doctors visits, and other errands. If you eliminate Bus line 13 ‐ they will be home bound because they won't have a connection that is close enough for pickup and drop off. How does VTA intend to address accessibility for seniors notwithstanding the low ridership from this part of San Jose? This change will have a devastating effect on their quality of life. Please reconsider or offer alternative options for the seniors who will no longer receive service because of this proposed change. Thank you. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan By discontinuing Route 65 you are eliminating any connection to the Camden Avenue area for disabled, wheelchair bound passengers, many who ride this route. You are removing my only transportation to my job located on Hillsdale because you are also removing Route 37. This is not "community service" this is biased to serve the new Silicon Valley high earners, not the core citizens who work hard to afford to remain in our area. Please cut back service or raise fares but do not take away my only means to get to my job. There are many times during the day when the bus has plenty of riders, including two wheelchair passengers ‐ recheck your passenger count and your conscience. Routes: 42; 76 Subject: 42, 76 I need to know the exact proposed route segment discontinuation, so I can see if I will still be able too get to work. Please let me know what part of route 42 is planned for cancellation. Also, please let me know how I'm supposed to get to work if the bus I take to get there is cancelled. Routes: 121 Subject: misc Probably working on it, but still no Wifi connection on new blue express buses, after more than a week of hearing from the drivers that they have no information on status. I take 121 Express from Sunnyvale to Gilroy round trip every day, and was not working as of last night, so some people were getting off, so they could wait for the next Red Express bus that has WiFi, which creates overcrowding situation. Just thought you should know. [Name redacted] Routes: 330 Subject: 330 330 is getting discontinued due to low ridership? There are the same ppl who ride this bus everyday to go to work and home, and even school. Discontinuing this line would be detrimental to our lives as we need to find another method of transportation that will take even longer than 330. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 [Respondent] wants the 68 bus to skip stops, like the 522 does. He lives in San Jose, CA. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 I really like the increased frequency on route 68. The fifteen minutes during peak times will be really helpful, especially during evening commutes. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 My comments concern the #68 bus and, more generally, the route between San Jose Diridon and Gilroy CalTrain stations. Please don?t reduce the frequency of mid‐day service between these points. At present, the #68 is the only way to get from Gilroy to San Jose outside of commute hours. When trying to make connections in San Jose either to other buses or the train, the flexibility of the 68 schedule can make an enormous difference in total trip time. (If connections are good, my trip takes just over 2 hours; if poor, it can be almost 4 hours.) Express service of some sort between San Jose and Gilroy (in both directions) would be welcome, as well. At present there is a commuter bus operated by MST (#55) which reduces the nearly 2‐hour journey on the VTA#68 to an hour. This bus runs only a few times a day, however, exclusively during commute hours. An express version of the #68 which made fewer stops between Gilroy and San Jose would be a great service to passengers wishing to travel the full length of the route between these two end points,especially during off‐peak hours or when traveling in the counter‐flow direction during commute hours. Thank you. [Name redacted] All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 51; 53; 65; 81 Subject: 81, 65 I see that route 81 will not survive the redesign, portions of the route will be covered by the 53 and 51. I take the 81 semi frequently to go between work in Cupertino, my doctor's office at Santa Clara Kaiser and my residence in Downtown San Jose. I would also use it to get to the Rose Garden neighborhood. I do not see any replacement coverage for the 81's downtown route. The 81 has been a reliable way to get from Cupertino to home and get my medical errands taken care of along the way. The new design plan seems to rely heavily on transfers. VTA is my primary method of transportation as I do not drive and I currently I plan my trips to avoid transfers. Sometimes it is easier to stay on one line longer than risk missing a transfer or deal with the weather, unsanitary bus stops or having to carry my groceries to another bus stop. A lot of focus for the redesign has been on connecting jobs and schools with where workers live and learn. What about the current riders that need VTA for all of their errands? I worry about the low mobility riders who do not have other options of getting around. Shrinking your network and coverage hurts those riders. My daily commute uses the 65, I ride the first and last bus of the day. For half of the year this means taking the bus in the dark. I take this bus because it is the closest to my home. While some buses may be faster or better timed I choose this bus because it is safest. With a 6am commute drivers are rarely awake and I found that crossing multiple streets when distracted or tired drivers where around was getting too stressful a way to start the day. Again I am concerned that by shrinking your coverage in order to provide faster service and cut costs may be hurtful to your current riders. They are the ones that need to go farther to reach your services. Routes: 81; 89 Subject: 81, 89 Discontinuing service on Route 81 between Kaiser and San Jose State will cause great inconvenience. Not having a bus to go to Kaiser from this area will affect many elderly and sick individuals. The same holds true for Route 89 to the VA. Routes: 81 Subject: 81 I am disappointed in the elimination of the 81 line. I live on Monroe street in Santa Clara and have used the 81 for many years to get to Vallco, downtown San Jose and Kaiser Santa Clara. I am visually impaired and began using VTA seven years ago when I had to stop driving. Although I will still be able to get to these locations on other routes, it will be inconvenient and require me to change routes at least once if not twice. I would like to see a more convenient route remain. [Name redacted] Routes: 88 Subject: 88 M VTA88M is critical for my daughter to be able to get to and from school every day. This bus route reduces traffic congestion around Gunn High School. Mostly importantly saved us 90min per day in the car drive to and from Gunn High School. Especially the raining days, it could take up to more than 1.5 hours to get to and from school on the private car. Please keep this bus route. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 The Palo Alto school community definitely needs needs more discussion about the bus network redesign, as it affects a large number of students who currently use the bus to get to school. The short notice of this meeting (less than 24 hours) is insufficient and disenfranchising to most Palo Alto students and parents. Please schedule another meeting preferably at a north county location where residents of Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos can review the redesign and offer feedback. Thank you. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Greetings, I got a flyer that the VTA is considering cancelling the 89 bus route between the Caltrain train station at California Avenue and the Palo Alto VA hospital. Like many VA employees who ride the 89 bus, I wouldn't be able to get to work without the 89. Please don't eliminate this route for the early morning and late afternoon commutes. I also found it ironic that a new sign bolted to the VTA bench at the hospital promises better service to BART. Will service to Caltrain be cut to accommodate BART? Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Your research into ridership showed riders want more peak time service and more connections to Caltrain and BART, yet you're planning to eliminate route 89 serving a Caltrain stop (despite decent ridership during commute hours). Please consider keeping the 89 service at least during commute hours. Thanks. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I use Bus # 89 Route from/to Caltrain, California Way station on daily basis. I take it in the morning to reach work and also in the evening to go home. This is very important route for me and some other colleagues who commutes along with me. Appreciate, if you can keep Bus # 89 service as is with current schedule and route. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I?d like to speak to the proposed changes to VTA route 89. I understand that you, as an agency, are considering limiting or possibly discontinuing this route in your next round of changes. I also understand that this route has a varied ridership throughout the day and is especially light during non‐commute times. Since this route serves our veteran population needing to transport to the VA from both El Camino Real and CalTrain Cal Ave station, your proposed changes will adversely affect this ridership. Can you possibly consider using a smaller vehicle during non‐peak and maybe even peak hours to improve cost efficiency? To eliminate or even restrict this route will make travel for our public transportation‐dependent patients much more difficult. I appreciate your consideration of our veteran population. Routes: 54; 55 Subject: misc Currently there is no bus route that leaves the De Anza College transit center area in Cupertino in early morning on Saturday and Sunday. This makes it almost impossible to get from Cupertino to Palo Alto or northern Sunnyvale (or other northern destinations) by 8:00am on the weekends. Could the 54 or 55 routes be started earlier on Saturday and Sunday? Thank you. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I am a VA Palo Alto civil servant and rely on bus 89 to transport from VA to Caltrains California station. I take the 6:37 a.m. And 4:40p.m. bus. Please don't cancel these routes. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 I learnt recently that there is a plan to cancel the service of VTA # 140. It is disappointing to hear that as I use this bus daily for my commute to work & back home in Fremont. I would really love to have this service continued as it serves as Real convenience to many commuters like me. I hope you do consider my appeal. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 140 Subject: 140 This is very important to continue running these route from Fremont to San Jose for ,me. Please keep it. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 I came to know due to extension of BART to Santa clara county route 140 will be terminated starting Fall 2017. However I would like to bring to your attention that we (a group of 8 people) are regular commuter of 140 and we use that every day to commute to work. We don?t have BART station near neither our home nor our office. So we humbly request to have route 140 service in the same way as it is currently. Please do let us know if you need any further information in this regard. Thank you very much for your time and help. Routes: 140 Subject: 140 I use this route to commute to work at Cisco offices in Milpitas/San Jose from Mission Blvd. Please do not discontinue this route. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I do not understand why VTA is again proposing discontinuing Bus route 89. This is the only bus line which feeds the California Ave Caltrain station and transports numerous riders up along Hillview Ave area businesses. This is no way to encourage public transit use for many individuals employed along this route. There are also many veterans who use the 89 line to get to their medical appointments at the VA hospital on Miranda Avenue. Many of these individuals do not drive and and would be severely impacted without this line. I understand budget constraints, but on the other hand, Silicon Valley is so crowded with incoming boom of workers. Taking away bus route 89 only contributes to already horrendous traffic congestion. To help with budget costs, I suggest you reinstate a past bus option. Offer 89 bus schedule only morning and evening commute time feeder buses Monday thru Friday. At least this will provide some limited public transit along this route. I have been able to take public transit for 20+ years using Caltrain and bus route 89. Driving is not a viable option for me. PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE BUS ROUTE 89 EVER! Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 68 Subject: 68 Please consider adding an additional stop in Gilroy at Monterey and Las Animas. There are many regular riders that live in northern Gilroy that could benefit from an extra stop at this location. There is street parking available along Monterey and Las Animas available for commuters to park. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63 65 Please reconsider not cutting off Almaden bus service. There are 30,000+ in that area and it will impact students, disabled, elderly tremendously. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I was given notification that the 89 bus will be closed down or consideration for closure. I take this bus and rely on it everyday for my commute too and from Cal Train California Avenue. What am I to do now? Just drive into work. I know the afternoon 3:30 Mish bus has at least 25 riders everyday. Many of whom are coming from the veterans hospital. They need transportation as do I (someone whom All Comments Received on the Draft Plan commutes to and from work). I certainly hope you will reconsider your reasoning here as it will be felt by many. Bruce Bennett Commuter who takes the 89 bus in Palo Alto Routes: 181 Subject: 181 This route is slated to be dropped in Fall 2017 due to the proposed changes and because of BART service, however BART service to San Jose (Berryessa) will not begin for a full year after the cancelation of this bus route. What are commuters expected to do without transit service to the Fremont BART station in late 2017 and early 2018 when there is no BART service south of Fremont? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc Can you connect the new route to Foothill Expressway. Then a whole community can connect over to the Central Expressway route. Also it would be useful to be able to connect to the Mt. View shuttle, the Stanford shuttle, and to Stevens Creek trail from near downtown Los Altos. Possibly Foothill Expressway and Edith near downtown? It these connections are made, then the new route It is usable and provides value. It will then allow commuters and community users to get around using VTA. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc VTA has a policy of NOT reprinting schedules when minor changes occur. Not knowing that a CURRENT schedule is OBSOLETE will cause patrons to miss connections, conclude that VTA is unreliable and get them back into their cars. VTA can waste funds painting buses to look like CLOWN cars but not provide accurate schedules in a timely manner. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Board of Directors I want to communicate to the VTA board of directors my lack of faith in their leadership. As someone who relies on public transit, I feel that they and the VTA staff are ignorant and out of touch when it comes to public transit. Particularly, the recent hubbub about redesigning VTA has been flawed from the start. I think it is wrong of you to reduce coverage in the system. I think the balance should go the other way; however, indicating that preference was not even an option on the surveys VTA provided to the public. And the idea that coming out with a new logo is somehow a major innovation is ridiculous, as are ads that provide no information, but say "VTA is transforming." I get mad every time I see them. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc fast, good Routes: Blue Line; Light Rail; Yellow Line (Commuter Express) Subject: misc On behalf of all the riders, I just want to say thank you for hearing us out. I appreciate the increase in the number of express light rail trains during peak hours. I commute via light rail on the express train to work everyday. I very much appreciate the increase in the number of express trips on the Yellow/Blue Line. I hope this plan passes! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc (1) Restore your original no‐schedule / run it fast operating plan. Don't let the assholes in the union tell you how to run VTA. (2) Training: Make it perfectly clear to drivers that they work for US. (3) End the drama and driver unpredictability / unreliability regarding bicycles. Establish clear rules, including All Comments Received on the Draft Plan rules for storage devices attached to bicycles and including clear rules guiding driver discretion regarding allowing a bicyclist into the coach with his/her bike. (4) Get drivers who have a service attitude. Fire the ones who don't. Your drivers are the main reason I avoid taking VTA buses. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: General Comment transit network Why doesn't VTA promote inter‐connectivity in the public transit network? I've fixed your VTA lightrail map so now it is a true Next Network Map http://i.imgur.com/jrkQ1rA.jpg Can we also discuss the multiple stations with duplicate names (Berryessa VTA vs Berryessa Bart, Alum Rock VTA vs Future Alum Rock Bart, Capitol VTA vs Capitol Caltrain and Blossom Hill VTA vs Blossom Hill Caltrain)? These duplicate names do not promote a unified network nor a simple system for average users. If you can rename "I‐880‐Milpitas" ‐> "Alder" and "Montague" ‐> "Milpitas", I'm sure you can rename these other stations. Lastly why doesn't VTA promote a single seat light rail ride to Oakridge? So long as the Amaden spur gets neglected, no one will use it. It will probably never develop into a heavy commuter line, but people might use it to get to the mall if it was a single seat ride. This was in the older Next Network maps but I guess someone nixed the idea. Typical VTA. [Name redacted] Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I work in west San Jose, ( on the border of Campbell and San Jose.) I board the blossom hill light rail to convention center where I take the Winchester train to Bascom light rail station. Is my route going to be affected? When I leave work. I board the Bascom train to convention center where I take the santa Teresa train and I got off at blossom hill light rail. I love my commute. Is my commute going to be affected. ??? I also take light rail to downtown Campbell, great mall in milpitas and oakridge to meet with my friends. I hope my commute is not affected. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail On Mondays‐ Fridays, I work on the border of San Jose and Campbell. I travel from the Blossom Hill Light Rail station to Convention center and take the Winchester train to Bascom. On the way home, I travel from Bascom light rail station to Convention Center. While, I am at convention Center. I wait for the Santa Teresa train to take me to Blossom Hill Light rail station. Is my route going to be affected? If I go out on the weekends to downtown Campbell, great mall or Oakridge. I take light rail. is my weekend trips going to be affected too? Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Please consider changing the proposed Winchester Light Rail route to terminate at the Baypointe Center track instead of Old Ironsides. Baypointe has two platforms and would accomodate passengers transfering either to Alum Rock or Mt. View without obstructing the main line. This switches at the Great America crossover have a history of not always working. The proposed route would also necessitate calling OCC to crossover and reverse run either to or out of Old Ironsides on every trip creating a large amount of unnecessary radio traffic, and delaying the main line. The Baypointe Station is the best platform in the system to accommodate transfers allowing contious movement of in service trains. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail One complaint I have, and with the above changes can see where this may increase, is that at least in San Jose where I use light rail, the timing of lights to get pedestrians to the station for trains in many instances works to encourage J‐walking and dangerous situations. The examples I would list are during commute times, 5PM, and should be taken into consideration with all these changes. I will use All Comments Received on the Draft Plan the Champion station going towards san jose, and the light to cross Tasman at this station favors Tasman traffic, and does not change often or quickly for pedestrians looking to cross Tasman to get to Champion stations. This leads to many, did I say many, people running across traffic trying to ensure they catch the trains at this station. The other example is at 1st and tasman. The lights favor light rail trains, so if a pedestrian has been waiting the long light cycles to cross 1st street to get to the Tasman station, and then a train approaches from any direction, the light changes in favor of the train, and extends pedestrian wait times, and leads to J‐walking to try and make their train at this busy intersection. I know at other intersections the lights do not favor trains, and will change quicker for pedestrians, but these heavily used stations during commute time do not seem to follow the same logic Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Please consider extending express train service to Japan town and/or allowing the express train to make local stops after that station. Japantown is still in the San Jose downtown area, but people won't be able to get there using express trains. St. James is not a very safe ending point for the train, as the park is a hub for the homeless population. Having the express train stop at St. James means more people waiting at that station to transfer. I anticipate that security needs will increase. Selfishly, I want this service to exist because I regularly pick up the express train from japantown all the way to Santa Teresa. I work at SJSU, and my son goes to daycare in Japantown. The express train at the end of the day is really helpful for my family! Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I hope that as part of this process you fix the schedules of the green and blue lines to provide even headways from Tasman to Convention Center. Right now, you have 2 trains back to back followed by a long wait. A train should come every 7.5 minutes. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I have two suggestions: 1. I think it would increase the passengers in the Purple line, if you extend the line to further south alongside the Almaden Express way. 2. It would also remove the congested traffic on 101 and 280, if you construct another line from the east to west alongside 280 between 101 on the east and 85 on the west. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 Hi please don't eliminate bus route 328, I commute to work via 328 for almost 17 years. there is no other alternate bus service. thanks Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail This absolutely a great news for me. Currently my commute takes around 1 hour from Alum Rock to Mountain view. Two reasons, 1. Have to change trains at Tasman, 2. Too many stops between Alum Rock to Tasman and Tasman to Middle Field. Once this new proposed line is available i will be the first one to celebrate. Hope this get materialized soon. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Yes please included more express light rail trains in the morning and afternoon. That would be convenient for students taking late classes. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Never extend this part of the light rail! This would duplicate any bus service on Winchester and it would serve few riders. Light rail on highway 85 to Mountain View is a pipe dream, but please consider extending the Caltrain on limited service to Cupertino along the Vasona line and alongside highway 85 (Not within the right of way). Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail Please have the express trains terminate at Diridon Station. they would save riders a lot of time due to the transfer time otherwise, would promote a better connection to other operators, and there would be no point otherwise because the trips are completely duplicating the blue line and only save 5 minutes of travel time. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing this email to express my concern about the planned discontinuation of the Express Bus 181 route to/from Fremont BART to Downtown San Jose and Diridon Transit Center. I work at San Jose State University and have been riding this route since 2005 when I moved to Fremont (at the time, the 181 was still the 180 serving both the Great Mall and San Jose). Route 181 is extremely reliable, convenient and hassle‐free: I ride my bike to the bus stop, place it on the rack, get off downtown San Jose and ride a short distance to SJSU. Having to first get on BART to then catch another bus from Berryessa BART station would be far from ideal; I foresee connection delays and also difficulty getting my bike on BART as their bike rules are less than friendly. Also, to my knowledge there has not been any discussion about offering discounted BART passes to the SJSU community. Students currently ride VTA for free while employees pay $50 annually for an Eco Pass. It is a great benefit, especially for cash‐strapped students. The cost of riding BART and paying for parking at BART stations may discourage students and employees from considering BART. A monthly reserved parking permit at Fremont or Warm Springs BART stations is $105; a single day reserved is $6. Add to that the cost of a BART ticket. I anticipate many current 181 riders will forego public transportation altogether and take up driving, which will not do much to help relieve the congestion on our highways. In addition, if more people drive to campus, the demand for parking at SJSU will increase even though parking here is already scarce and a source of constant dissatisfaction. Let's not make the situation worse. I urge you to reconsider the discontinuation of Express 181 without further study. Why not run Express 181 for a full year after BART is extended to Berryessa to assess whether ridership significantly decreases during that time? Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail could we please consider changing the late night Winchester bound trains to actually connect with strong Caltrains at Diridon? It is currently inconvenient transferring from caltrain to light rail in the late evening. It would also be terrific to add service past midnight even if it was just one extra trip. Thanks Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have two daughters regularly use bus from Fremont BART to SJ downtown for their trip to SJSU. This was big part of our decision to chose SJSU (Fall 2016) as their undergrad college due to it's connectivity from home and kind of improving the affordability of the college for two kids at the same time. If you close this, they will be forced to drive on extremely congested freeways, not to talk of very limited parking in the downtown/SJSU area. Their schedule being all different they will not be possibly able to car pool. The 181 bus had been the lifeline for them as well as numerous parents, All Comments Received on the Draft Plan who will not have to worry about the safety of their young children behind the wheel, in the age of smart‐phones and tend to induce distraction during the long, boring stop and go traffic. The impact to the environment by adding that many cars on to the bay area traffic is also something we are all concerned about. I would humbly request not to discontinue 181 without: 1. First verifying the students shift to BART ridership to the SJ. 2. Considering additional charges to the students riding the 181 via their annual fee or separate charges 3. Adjusting(possibly lowering) the frequency of 181 during non‐peak hours. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail My input, based on daily ridership, would be to have at least 1 of the 6 trips during peak period to start/end at Baypoint. I know I and others I see daily on these trains use it for this purpose. I would suggest the 7:52AM and the 5:17PM trains. It would make no sense to use this and then need to transfer to continue on to the tasman station which is a popular end/start point. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I would like to just voice my opinion on the route change for VTA 181 Fremont Bart to San Jose. This will affect not just me but many students and other staff member of SJSU. We already have many things we pay for like our fee is close to $3000 and above per semester. On top of that many other students have to pay for rent, groceries, and many other things. We already have very limited time. With doing part time jobs, attending school, and taking care of many other matters. Not having this route will just increase more stress on many students. Firstly, if we just take bart that is going to cost a lot of money to the students. Plus it's going to take a lot longer. If a person right now takes VTA 181 it takes about 20‐25 minutes, otherwise people have to increase their commute time too. Many people don't even own a car. It's going to increase their time too. Time and money it's going to affect students and the staff of SJSU a lot. Please before making any decision of completely closing down VTA bus routes please consider these students and staff members. Sometime in your life you would have been a student too, so you would understand what kind of stress this would create. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: light rail This is fantastic news, I live in South San Jose and work at Mtn View. I have been waiting for this for a long long time. It will incredible if this happens. It will save lot of time for many commuters, it will help make our community green. I vote for this and hope this will come true. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail I commute every day from Every green to Mountain View this will great if add the express line at lest at commuting hours 6‐9 AM and 4 ‐ 7 PM Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have recently heard that Line 181 Express is going to be cancelled, and I would like to express my concern. For one thing I believe this is not a very good idea at all for VTA, nor for the daily public commuter. For one thing relying on BART to handle people taking commuters all the way to San Jose is a very terrible idea. I have been commuting since 2006 on public transit from Bayfair BART station to Fremont BART station, and vice versa. And I can confidently say that BART transportation systems is very unreliable, and always has delays. In the years that I have been taking it, BART transportation systems has never sought to improve its systems. They keep asking for taxpayers money for more improvements, and after these 12 years of commuting, all I see from them is a Station that has not opened yet, which was supposed to be opened 3 years ago, and also less seating for commuters. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan From that information I just shared, you are telling me that eliminating line 181, which I also use from Fremont BART, to get to San Jose is going to be eliminated, so that more people can take a already crowded BART train, and also become more late than ever to work? I would hope that the VTA management could look to review their decision, and refrain from eliminating route 181. It will cause more people to be populating buses that are already crowded, have no seating for them to sit anywhere in public transportation, and cause people to be late to their jobs thanks to BART Transportation Systems already unreliable service. I hope this email reaches who was in charge of the decision of removing this bus line, and I really do hope that they reconsider their choice. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I came to know that the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is planning to discontinue the Express Bus 181 route to/from Fremont BART to Downtown San Jose and Diridon Transit center due to the BART extension to North‐east San Jose in fall 2017. This is a really uncomfortable situation for the passengers like me. Please do not stop this route until there is an alternate transport facility to San Jose State University. I sincerely request the Transportation Authority to keep the Express Bus 181 route. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Good evening, I am currently a student at San Jose State University. I have heard about the news about the discontinuation of route 181 and it is going to not only going to affect myself but various students and staff that commute. Please keep the route available until the end of the semester as it is hard as it is to go to and from school. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 My dad usually travels in 181 Express. Without 181 Express, he would end up taking Bart and switching multiple buses. It would be best to not stop the service of Express 181. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Speaking out as a San Jose State student, my only way to campus is by taking the 181 bus. I have many other friends and peers that also use 181 as transportation to arrive to SJSU. If the service is discontinued, it will hinder our way of getting to school, period. Therefore, it would be greatly appreciated if this plan of discontinuation be thought through carefully as to prevent problems for not only students, but employees living in Fremont to travel to work in San Jose, as well as professors that take the bus to get to campus. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I'm happy that there will be more express trains in the future. I hope that there will be one sooner in the morning and afternoon than currently offered. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I looked at the map for the new network in the Cambrian Park area, where I live. Compared to four or five routes within a half‐hour's walk on the old network, there is exactly one route within a half‐hour's walk from me. And this last remaining route is useless to me, as it goes nowhere I go and transfers to none of the routes that I use. I do not have a driver's license, let alone a motor vehicle to drive, so I depend on the bus system to get to and from work. Naturally, this makes me very concerned for the future. How am I supposed to get to and from work? Either reconsider terminating the 330, or All Comments Received on the Draft Plan provide an alternative route. This route has "low ridership," but the ridership is dedicated. I have seen the same 10‐20 people every morning and the same 20‐30 people every evening for years now. We know each other‐‐‐perhaps not by name, but as people who see each other every day. The guy who gets on at that stop and gets off two stops down, the guy with the comic book superhero shirts, the little old lady with the grocery bags, the lady who's always on her cell phone, the guy and the lady who work at the hotel who talk to each other in rapid Spanish, the guy who watches cartoons on his phone hunched in the back corner, the guy who used to work on his laptop but started playing Pokemon Go and now that's all he does on the bus, the guy with the $400 headphones. These people ride this route. The only thing that will stop them from riding this route is the termination of the route. We need this route. I need this route. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail if the Orange line becomes a reality, it will save lot of time and make easy commute. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I commute everyday from Alum Rock to Sunnyvale. I live right next to a VTA station and I work right next to a VTA station. However, currently, VTA would take more than twice as long as driving, so I drive. Express service on the Orange lane would definitely take my car off the road most weekdays. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Please consider add a Light Rail Line between Alum Rock and Downtown Mountain View. At least during Rush hours. I've been taking Light Rail to work every day since Alum Rock line open in 2004. Now it's too crowded. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail A new VTA Light Rail service plan Message: Scenario 3, a new line of service from Alum Rock to Mountain View. Winchester to Baypointe is perfect! Make a good used of the Baypointe station. Current transfer at Tasman station is dangerously over flow and when it rain, it is miserable for the riders Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail In reviewing the 3 scenarios, I think #3 would be the best. You have a large station built(Baypoint) that should be used as it was intended, as a main transfer hub. I honestly think transferring trains is not a huge deal as long as the schedules are set that the wait would be no longer than 5‐10 minutes. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail There is light rail down 87. Traffic is very heavy on 85. Why do only company buses go down 85? Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I am so happy with the proposed hours of operation for the Orange light rail line! I live in Sunnyvale and work in Mountain View, both fairly near light rail stops, and I have several things that take me to downtown San Jose on a regular basis (haircuts, friends who live nearby). My drive to work is short enough that I don't usually commute via light rail, but what I find I am all the time wanting to do is, *after* work, take light rail to downtown San Jose instead of driving in rush hour traffic! But what usually stops me is that the last light rail train I can catch *back* to Sunnyvale/Mountain View leaves downtown San Jose just after 9:30 p.m.‐‐which does not give me enough time to get to downtown All Comments Received on the Draft Plan San Jose and, say, have my haircut and watch a movie, or watch a movie and eat at a restaurant, and come back. Even if the trip between Mountain View/Sunnyvale and downtown San Jose will now likely take longer overall because I'll have to transfer, the fact that my return trip will be possible *at all* will give me so many more opportunities to take the trip via transit and will definitely increase my ridership. Sitting in a well‐lit light rail vehicle and reading is so much more pleasant than wrestling with rush‐hour traffic; I'm so pleased! Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail The plan includes more frequent trains between Alum Rock and Mountain View which is good, but east and west bound Berryessa rd. frequently gets packed with cars at Capitol because light rail trains affect the light at Berryessa and Capitol. Berryessa rd. Is a major artery and it needs help now. Will Berryessa get worse? Or will there be adjustments to cross traffic lights at grade crossings? Please consider roadway cross traffic when adjusting train schedules. [Name redacted] Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail start at Almaden‐Camden via San Tomas to Montague to the Milptas BART Station via Capitol Ave to Alum Rock T,C to Eastridge LIMITED stopping to the Capitol Station limited stopping on Hillsdale to Camden to Almaden Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Very excited to read this. I live in Evergreen and work in Veritas. I waste lot of time on high traffic on 101. Currently don't take light rail as frequency degrades after 9 AM at Tasman station and also it takes lot of hassels for changing train. I am sure couple of my colleagues will also join me in quitting car and coming on Light rail. You should also think of increasing Car Parking space at Alum Rock Light Rail station. Currently it is pretty small. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Greetings VTA, Please fix the light rail instead. I live and work close to light rail stations (Almaden and Moffett Field), but the light rail is still significantly slower than the worst case traffic scenarios. I'd love to get out of my car and ride public transit rather than being stuck in traffic, but I just don't have the substantial extra time required by the public transit. I can not find any service improvements in the Next Network plan for the slow light rail. Consider my neighbors and myself completely unimpressed with the new plan. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Ligh Rail I want to bring your attention towards some of the observations and feedback I have about the VTA‐
Light‐Rail service (especially from Winchester to Mountain‐View). (1) Frequency of trains towards Mountain‐View (post 10AM morning) is very less as compared to Alum‐Rock ‐ On Jan/06/2016::There was approx 25min waiting time between service to Mountain View (at Tasman station). However there were 3 successive trains in within 25min slot towards Alum Rock, few of which were running almost empty. Most VTA users use Tasman as transit station to goto Mountain view, hence trains going towards Alum Rock have less users after Tasman. ‐ On Jan/05/2016: There was approx waiting time of 15min between services to Mountain View (atTasman station). However there were very frequent services to Alum Rock. (2) As there are many companies and offices located towards Mountain‐View, so request you to increase the frequency of trains to/from Mountain‐View ‐ During Morning: Many users take transit at Tasman Station to go towards Mountain‐View. So please add more trains post 10AM (late morning). ‐ During Evening: Many users take transit at Tasman Station All Comments Received on the Draft Plan while coming from Mountain‐View. So please add more trains post 7‐8PM (late evening) (3) Many trains run with status "Not in Service". I think its loss of revenue for you as well by running empty trains. so please see if this can be avoided. (4) Many users do not keep trains clean. They litter food and beverage leftovers on seats and floor. Feedback : As you already have the cameras installed in every compartment of train, you may keep a track and penalize the offender. It may be difficult to penalize the offender right at the spot, but based on camera recording, the offender may be penalized later once he travels again or gets down at main stations where VTA officials can be deployed. (5) There are approximately 37 stations on Winchester‐Mountain_View route. With such large number of stations, even a 15sec delay at every station accumulates and collectively causes a delay of 10min by the time train reaches its destination (15sec * 37 = 555sec = 9.25min). This causes uncertainty between successive train timing, especially at transit stations. So this may also be cause of trains running late or at different timings ‐ An alternative to this is add one transit station to break the route. Lastly, train timings of google‐map and electronic‐display at VTA stations DO NOT match the actual arrival train timing (May be because of point #5). So please see if that can be somehow corrected. Apologies for a long list of observations. But I hope above feedbacks may help you improve the service and add more users to VTA Light‐Rail. (I'm looping some of the community members of envision.org VTA survey, who may also take this into account for long‐term planning). Thank you. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 As a daily user of 89 from California Caltrain station to Stanford Research Park, I wanted my feedback heard. Obviously I will be impacted and not sure why VTA would be disconnecting a community transportation hub between transit agencies. To have a Caltrain stop with NO VTA or other connection seems to be the wrong direction for public transportation plans. Also I would hate to the Veteran riders I see going to the VA loose their access as well. Could VTA consider reduced trips for this route aligned with key Caltrain times rather than removal of the route? Or can VTA work with Stanford Marguerite service to adjust their Research Park routes to include the California Caltrain station stop? Please let me know what can be done to reconsider this route removal or alternate coverage. Thanks for your time! Routes: 201; 500 Subject: DASH Looks like the DASH, one of the most ridden busses, will be replaced by the 500 and will connect Diridon to Berryessa BART, which is great. Will it stop as frequently downtown as the current DASH? And will it now cost full fare for this connection? The current DASH is a terrific free shuttle. Routes: 20 Subject: 20 Start route 20 an hour earlier Routes: 523 Subject: 523 Shorten the 523 to end at De Anza College cause the stops on Saratoga/Sunnyvale are far enough for a local not to lose time. Routes: 48 Subject: Bus Route 48 [Name redacted] and I spoke mainly in Spanish. She is concerned about bus route 48 being discontinued. She relies on it. Routes: 89 Subject: Bus Route 89 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Wants to see bus route 89 continue from California Ave to the VA. This bus is a lifeline to him because he has liver cancer. He could maybe take the 88 but it doesn't run as often. His 89 bus seems to be crowded during commuter hours, seems like a number of tech workers. A lot of people he knows at the VA who work there take this bus from California Ave. Rides it 2‐3 times a week. Rides it in the morning. Marguerita Stanford bus use to go to the VA from California Avenue but not anymore. They took that out about a year ago. So 89 is only way for him. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Currently there is no notice of bus route 181 elimination in the fall at the civic center bus station. Please post a notice at this stop. Thanks. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a student attending San Jose State University. I have been taking the bus everyday to school. This is a convenient way for me to get to campus. I understand VTA is planning to end 181 bus from transportation at sjsu.edu. I am very much against this plan to discontinue the 181 bus because this would force me to drive to San Jose everyday. Without the 181 bus option, there is no other way for me to get to school from Fremont without driving. In addition, the parking spaces at San Jose are already very limited. On every bus I have taken, the bus has been filled to and from San Jose. In many occasions, passengers have had to stand. For these reasons, I cannot imagine the traffic, parking, and environmental issues terminating the 181 bus will cause. I hope you can take my concerns into consideration before officially ending the 181 bus to San Jose as it affects many students and others. Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I recently heard of some plans to end the VTA 181 bus route. I am unsure of the reasons, however I would be amiss in not sending this email conveying my disagreement with such plans. I, like many other SJSU students rely on the VTA181 express bus route to get to and from school. So to anyone who may read this, and to anyone who may have control in this decision, I urge you to please reconsider. Thank you for reading. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 To whom this may concern, I recently found out that multiple VTA routes are scheduled to be discontinued later this year. One of those routes happens to be 181 which is from Fremont Bart to San Jose. I take that bus everyday to commute to school. I understand that you guys want to get rid of it because of the new Bart extension but I strongly believe that your guys' decision will negatively affect many students and workers. I don't know what it would take for you guys to reconsider but I hope you all took us students into consideration. Discontinuing the VTA routes means that we would have no option but to use the Bart for transportation and from my knowledge the Bart fees will not be covered under our school tuition. VTA buses are really important to a lot of us and I hope you guys reconsider. Thank you for your time, [Name redacted] Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Blog comment for logging and consideration. Support for 181. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Hello! I'm a San Jose State University student. I am a commuter from Fremont to San Jose. I use the Express Bus 181 every single day to attend my classes. I was saddened to know that it is planning to be discontinued in Fall 2017. I do not understand why this line is being discontinued just because of the Bart extension to Northeast San Jose. Cutting this bus line for people means that hundreds of students who take the 181 Bus from Fremont to San Jose will no longer have a way to get to their university. San Jose State University itself already has parking problems for students and faculty who commute to school via car. Discontinuing this bus means an increase of students who will be forced to drive which in turn affects the parking issue in downtown San Jose. Students who may or may not be able to afford to will be forced to drive or rent apartments in downtown San Jose. I understand that there is a Bart extension but that line is not going to bee stopping near San Jose State University whereas the Express 181 Bus stops only a couple of blocks from the University making it very convenient. I hope that you will decide to not discontinue the Express 181 Bus and allow it to keep on running as it is used by hundreds of students and others daily. Thank you for your time and allowing us to voice our concerns. I greatly appreciate it. Routes: General Project Question Subject: BART How many parking spaces will be at the Berryessa BART Station? I am sure all spaces at the Berryessa BART Staion will be filled quickly each morning just as parking at the Caltrain Diridon Station is filled by 8AM. In other words, for someone who might need to take BART at 10:30AM, where will they be able to park? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Good Morning ‐ I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction and dismay at VTA's plan to discontinue the 181 Express in response to BART's PLANNED extensions into the South Bay and San Jose. This plan is absurd for anyone who has regular experience with BART for several reasons, at this time: 1) BART has a history of service disruptions, chronic and severe service delays. Anyone who rides BART regularly knows this, and there is no indication that their management can solve their historic problems, even with their new cars, which will still represent a fraction of the operating fleet when they are finally introduced ‐ that alone is a big question. Without the 181, getting to San Jose from the East Bay will be less predictable, and offer no options for timely service once one has made it to the southern portion of Alameda County or Santa Clara County. 2) BART has a history of missed promises, delays, and substandard reasons. Remember, the Warm Springs station was supposed to be u p and running last fall, yet we have no clear identification of when it will be open. The cause for this delay should cause concern, as well ‐ mismatched computer systems that couldnt speak to each other. Taking away the 181, and the ability to get from the current end of the line at Fremont to San Jose will in effect force people into cars or crowd local buses, extending the commute time for many students and service employees who either can't afford this option due to income or time. Without a clear, believable final opening date for the entire extension into San Jose, followed by actual openings, your plan to end the 181 places the burden of mismanaged transit systems on the people those systems are meant to serve. 3) Adding more traffic to the 880 corridor is the last thing the southern region of the Bay Area needs, and would place a burden those who can least afford one the least. Your plan to end the 181, without complete BART service to San Jose will do just that. It already takes 90‐120 minutes to commute from the Oakland/Berkeley corridor using both BART and VTA181, and there is a sizable number of people who do so, ranging from low paid service employees to students at SJSU, who are also often lower income ‐ indeed, the 10‐20% food insecurity rate of SJSU students speaks to the financial crises many students face in Silicon Valley. Your plan will either force these individuals into their cars, which will be more expensive, or force them out of school, which All Comments Received on the Draft Plan would be a tragedy for our majority minority campus community and the SF Bay Area. Coupled with the state of the freeways in the East and South Bay, this idea only promises longer commute times and higher auto repair bills from increased use and damage from driving on roads that are dangerously maintained. I strongly urge VTA to maintain the 181 Express route, and not follow this disingenuous, illconceived transit plan that will only damage the customers of your system, and the other citizens of the region. VTA needs to think in a regional sense ‐ you are part of a region of citizens with lengthy inter‐regional commutes and not considering the actions and records of your other regional partners is a deriliction of your duties! Routes: 13 Subject: 13 This is regarding bus route 13 .i believe that this route is to be discontinued.my request is not to do so. I am 73 years old and when I do need the bus I use it,though it is not very often. In fact the service is useful to all of us to reach the Expressway.i feel that if the frequency is increased and is also available on weekends it would be ideal .in fact if we have this service in both directions it would be more often used.Many Schools are in the vicinity of this route and if the timing or frequency is increased, it would greatly benefit students and old people alike. Thanks and hope you will consider our request. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I heard about the recent plans to cancel the Express Bus 181 route. This worries me and my family. I ask for you to reconsider this decision because there are many university students like me who have no other way to commute to San Jose. My parents are working full‐time and both cars are reserved for their own transportation. Thank you for your time to read this, and I hope a solution will be provided to keep everyone content. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 As a student at SJSU I use the VTA express 181 to commute nearly every day. I do not have the funds available to pay for a parking pass which is roughly $600. I strongly urge you to keep this line running. I do not know how I will get to school without it. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 I live in Almaden Valley. Although few people get the bus, there are still some seniors and students to need it. Can you just to consider to cancel 13 and extend 63 to cover old 13 route in Almaden Valley. You don't need every 63 to Almaden Valley. At least, there should have one every 1 hour. There are still some seniors and students who can't drive. Please consider my advice. Thanks! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please do not discontinue this route, 181 express. It is heavily used by students, staff and the general public. It will be very inconvenient for many people. Proposed Bart station is not going to be near the University. Thank you. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail I just wanted to send a short note to thank you for the time you spent in Campbell Monday evening to discuss the planned changes coming up. I'm a pretty happy VTA user (I primarily use the light rail to go from Race St. to Downtown Campbell for work). I think overall, the goal of increasing frequency of service on routes that warrant it is a great approach to be taking. It's just not feasible to continuously All Comments Received on the Draft Plan serve routes that cost >$15 per person. My only comment was to ask about increasing frequency on the weekend Mtn View/Winchester, soon to be Green, light rail line. Right now, it's every 30 minutes. I see on the Next Network website that it's remaining at 30 minutes on weekends. I was told at the meeting by Jason Kim that that was an error (and the printed version I received was correct at every 15 minutes). I hope that this is simply an error, because I really don't want to use the light rail when it's every 30 minutes. Every 15 is often enough that I can count on getting to my destination in a reasonable time. Thank you again! (And best of luck‐‐that meeting was a little brutal at times.) Routes: 63; 65 Subject: 63 & 65 Please Don't take out 63 and 65!!! We want keep it !! It got lot easier!!! I think Hope place want to keep it to!! Cuz If you drop 63 and 65 how the handicap go to work at Hope!!! SO Think about before you do that!!! Thank you!! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a teacher that works in Fremont, and lives in Santa Cruz. I have been riding Bus 181 from San Jose Amtrak to Fremont Bart Station daily. What would be another option for this trip if you discontinue this service? Thanks. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART Has VTA discussed or considered the possibility of enhancing the capabilities of the tunnel under Santa Clara St. that will be bored for BART SV Phase 2? In 2000, voters approved Measure A to fund Light Rail on Santa Clara St. / Alum Rock Ave. Currently, this is replaced by BRT. However, San Jose has a unique opportunity that likely will be gone soon if not at the very least considered. The Santa Clara St. tunnel should be studied to see if it can be created in a way akin to San Francisco?s Market Street Subway. Rather than simply moving BART trains from the Alum Rock station to downtown San Jose, VTA ought to consider also making the tunnel available to light rail. A potential light rail line on Santa Clara St. / Alum Rock Ave. would ideally run from Diridon, through the transit mall, then turn onto Santa Clara St. From there, it would descend into the tunnel, running above the BART layer. Stations would be located at the same places the BRT stations are, but instead be underground. After reaching the end of the tunnel, light rail vehicles would come back up to the surface and run in the BRT median on Alum Rock Ave. Since BRT runs from Eastridge all the way to Palo Alto, the BRT service would not be significantly negatively impacted since the Light Rail line is specifically for inside‐SJ travel. If funding is an issue, I am certain that voters would be willing to support a Ballot Measure, either in 2018 or 2020, to fund billions for light rail, BRT, and other mass transit improvements, which would include this Santa Clara St. light rail in‐tunnel option, finishing Vasona extension, Eastridge LRT to Capitol LRT station, and more. I strongly suggest VTA consider this ballot measure for an upcoming election. I will be bringing up this suggestion at a future Public Meeting, but I wanted to hear first to know if it?s been considered. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 Will you make adjustments to serve the new Gavilan College Coyote Valley Center opening Spring 2017 (January 30 ‐ May 26). Just got a postcard in the mail announcing this. Routes: 523 Subject: 523 What is being constructed for this project and is construction on schedule? http://www.vta.org/projects‐and‐programs/brt‐stevens‐creek Final design September 2015 Construction October 2015 ‐ October 2017 Thank you. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have recently found out about your plans to discontinue the 181 bus that departs from Fremont Bart to downtown San Jose. I am writing to ask that you do not discontinue the 181 bus, I and many other students who get their education from educational institutions in the area have no other way to get to school and University ! Again, I ask in the kindest way on behalf of fellow students just trying to get somewhere in life, that you do not discontinue the 181 bus. Thank you very much for your understanding and I hope all works out. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I live next to the Santa Clara Transit Center and use the #10 bus between home and the SJC airport frequently, often in early morning and late night hours. I am concerned about two issues related to the proposed cancelation of bus #10: 1. What is the earliest time the revised bus #60 will pick up at Santa Clara Caltrain Station for SJC Airport, and what is the last time the revised bus #60 will pick up at SJC Airport for Santa Clara Caltrain Station? I am afraid the 5am start time and 11pm close time do not provide insight into when the available times are between Santa Clara Caltrain Station and SJC Airport. My fear is the morning bus will be too late to catch the first flight and the last bus will be before the last flight arrives. 2. Will the revised #60 be free? I don't think so, in which case we are losing a free bus service between Santa Clara Transit Center and SJC Airport. Perhaps the free service on bus #10 is no longer justified, yet I'd like to understand why if this is the case. Thank you! Routes: 304 Subject: 304 Grasias por dar un buen servicio pero por qué quieren quitar la ruta 304 yo lo ocupo. Mucho [Translation: "Thanks for providing a good service, but why do you want to quit the 304 route? I use it."] Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I just wanted to give you my thoughts on Line 13. I think it is an important bus route for many people especially children from Bret Harte and Leland. Before I went off to college, I used to ride the bus to school and back home almost every day. And there were and are many kids just like me. In total, I have ridden and depended on the bus route for 7 years while in school. Even this last summer, when I was taking summer classes at De Anza, I used the bus to get to the Ohlone Light Rail station to begin my journey. I also plan to use Route 13 this upcoming summer as I have an internship in downtown. In short, I just wanted to give my experience. I understand that, ever since the 2008 recession, it has been hard to maintain routes and keep them profitable. But just know that the quarterly earnings report doesn't tell the whole story. So many people and so many families depend on it to go to work, go to school, go shopping, etc. And given the large amount of new houses that have sprung up in the Almaden area, Line 13 will be more vital than ever ‐‐ as people search for an environmentally friendly way to beat the increasingly congested roadways. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my opinions. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 It is really crucial for commuters who live in Fremont or stop by Fremont to get to downtown San Jose. I never use Bart. In fact for going to San Jose, Bart would be the last resort for me. The peak hours are very full. I even attached two pictures of my bus ride today showing how full it was. And my handsome self was standing up because there were so many riders. Maybe you guys can just have a All Comments Received on the Draft Plan few rides during the busy hours, like from 7:00 ? 8:10 AM and in the afternoon from 5:30 ? 7:00 PM. PLEASE DON?T CANCEL IT! I WON?T BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK OR SCHOOL IF YOU GUYS DO! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: misc One thought in hearing about the various plans for the next network project is whether there could be more of an on‐demand transit system similar to what is used for the VTA Outreach service for accessibility services or the FLEX pilot in North San Jose to replace the under‐utilized bus routes that reach people with few other transit options. Given how little volume of use is involved, could an Uber‐
like, on‐demand transit service meet the needs of those populations more economically than a full bus schedule, freeing up more resources for the popular, heavily used routes? [Name redacted] Routes: 35 Subject: 35 I use the #35 bus to get to the CalTrain Station either at Downtown Palo Alto or Mountain View. I believe connecting to Cal Train stations is very important. SamTrans has major bus terminals at many BART and CalTrain stations. Since the #35 bus usually has only a few riders, it would be significantly cheaper to have minibuses doing this route. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 Route 330 is very important for professionals to commute in the morning. Please do not discontinue it completely. How about reduce its frequency instead? Routes: 13 Subject: 13 To whom incharge on VTA's Transit Redesign in South San Jose My kids ride 13 from school to home everyday. I am glad that the Leland high school students are considered and please do not forget about lots of Bret Harte middle school students who also ride 13 after school time. So I think making sure those students get the bus services are very necessary. Best Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I take the bus rouse 181 every day in order to get to and from school. I am a college student and have no extra money to spend on Bart. This will affect the students at sjsu because it will make people start driving to school and we already do not have enough parking as it is. Please do not cancel this route. Routes: 21; 35 Subject: 35 & 21 We are very isolated in north Santa Clara. Looking at the map one would think we were out in the county with only two roads to connect us. If you are depending on Stanford and the city of PA to move some of us there should an addendum to your maps. That is the least you could do. Also we need to connect to San Mateo Co. and those possibilities should be on your maps especially the 35/21, 22/534? I will be writing to SM county as well. 15/20 minute frequency would be really good. Please aim for it. Announcements of meetings must be on the bus in the form of an alert poster (if hand outs would take too much pape)r. That detour around the Palo Alto Transit station was poorly announced before the event. Some people do not have computers imagine that!!! They are more often on the bus. Please have meetings in places where there is a bus stop and start the meeting 15 minutes before the arrival stop and end 15 minutes before the return stop. We are talking about transit correct? Example the 35 gets to City Hall PA at 7:14 pm. and leaves 8:10. I know that some of you that work at VTA understand this request. Thank you for doing a difficult job. But above all try to make it work for the riders. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 26; 82 Subject: Bus Route 26 and 82 Would suggest we take 26 and have it go parallel with 56 . Doesn't think there's a need for the 56 past the Social Security office on Hamilton. No way to get from Tamien light rail station to Hamilton. Not good to take 82 off Hamilton. Doesn't think there there should be a 65 or 63 south of Hamilton Ave. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA transit plan Up until 2003, there was a bus line along Kifer Road in Sunnyvale but it was cancelled in 2003. Since that time, the number of high tech companies between Lawrence and Fair Oaks has exploded, from Intuitive Surgical to Apple. Our nonprofit is located at 725 Kifer Road, and we also distribute over 200 VTA low‐cost monthly passes for low‐income residents, who have to walk a half‐mile to our offices from the closest bus stop. We have staff living in San Jose who have commute times of 90 minutes. The new cold weather shelter in Sunnyvale is located at a very dangerous traffic intersection off of Mathilda and Ross. The north‐south bus routes for Sunnyvale in general are lacking. If we want to alleviate gridlock on our roads, we hope that VTA will study the growing traffic and need for non‐auto transportation in north Sunnyvale, which will help the quality of life for everyone in Silicon Valley. Our staff is available for inputs to VTA ‐ we have a lot of statistics on our clients who take VTA or who could be more self‐sufficient if more public transportation was available, Marie Bernard Executive Director, Sunnyvale Community Services Routes: 53 Subject: Bus route 53 Takes the 23 to the 53 to work at the Goodwill store . Takes the 323 home. Doesn't want the changes to 53. Routes: 181 Subject: Bus Route 181 He doesn't want to take BART to SCC. He doesn't have access to a car. He travels to San Jose State University, where you work. Might be hard to make the timing of a AC Transit bus. Worried about it being more expensive. If you can't continue the whole route, at least continue it during commuter hours from 7 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 6 pm. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Please reconsider your thoughts on discontinuing bus route 13 Ohlone/ Chynoweth please because I use that bus every day and it is so useful to me it helps me get to Gunderson Highschool from almaden every morning and my parents get to work at 5 so I have no other option but to skate 4 miles to get to school and I know many other people that need this bus please it was one of our only busses. With out this bus and the 63 bus being in almaden I have no way to even get out of almaden. I really do think us residents if Almaden deserve a bus line atleast to a lightrail or a bart station etc. Thank you for your time and may you please reconsider Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63, 65 Now that you are removing the 13 bus and 63 from almaden there are no bus lines remaining in almaden. Is there a way you could at least have one bus line that goes weekdays and weekends to ohlone chynoweth lightrail that is all that i ask for thank you for your time All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Don't discontinue the 63 south route. I regularly take the 63 from Hamilton area to Redmond and can only get there by bus. Don't punish people who don't or can't drive to get to the grocery store. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Don't discontinue the 65 route down Leigh. I see many students use this route to W. Valley College. Routes: 64 Subject: 64 I can't make out when the route will be on Julian. Please clarify. I think it should turn at the arena to get people to both the housing authority and social services. Also is there a way to increase during commute hours the frequency on the Almaden side? Frequently the past few months when the early buses don't arrive and you have to wait 30 more minutes for the next scheduled bus, it is standing room only in addition to us being late to our destinations. With these two changes I could see ridership increase. Routes: 88 Subject: 88M, 88L, 88 We rely on the VTA 88M and 88 line to take my son to and from Gunn school every day. We live in Midtown Palo Alto and both my husband and I work and are unable to drive my son to Gunn. Without this convenient bus service, I don't know what we would do. Please do not get rid of the 88M and 88 lines. It is necessary for our Gunn student and many, many others, Thank you. Routes: 42 Subject: 42 I hear on the Radio how the VTA is going to support the community better with more rides, better service and transportation where you need it. Well route 42 along Monterey Rd is needed, I can see that you can do away with the Silverleaf neighborhood bus stops but to completely do away with any access is ridiculous. Appreciate if you can continue to support this neighborhood. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Hi ‐ I've heard and saw on your website that you are proposing discontinuing the 89 route. I hope you seriously reconsider as I am a daily rider in the morning and evening. A fair amount of my colleagues ride the 89, as well as, neighboring companies along Hillview. It is a very important route for many of us and more importantly for veterans who I see daily going to and from the VA. Please reconsider not eliminating this bus route. Kind Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I go to Leland High School where lots of students ride the 13 bus. Please don't cancel it. Routes: 63 Subject: PLEASE RETAIN SERVICES FOR 63 A lot of people are not aware of your draft plan. I myself wasn't even aware until I heard this lady talking about it 2 weeks ago on the bus. I am busy every day trying to catch the bus to get to work, to go home. I don't check your web site every day, every minute because I am busy with my life. So do other people. So I don't understand exactly who were the ones that gave you feedback that it was ok to cut some services for 63 along Camden Ave all the way to Blossom Hill. The Councilman doesn't even take buses. How does he know what it's like to stand in the cold, in the rain waiting for a bus? Have you tried walking for more than an hour just to get to a bus stop? I heard a councilman actually said it was cost‐effective to drive...... You need to come up with other ways to preserve your cost All Comments Received on the Draft Plan instead of cutting services all the time. That's not customer service at all. There were 5 riders on the bus this morning before we even got to Meridian/Redmond. And again, there were only 2 passengers from Blossom Hills. So your proposal is not a very smart move. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 It is important to keep VTA 88, 88L. We think the public transportation is very important. It is safe and good to environment. My son takes bus everyday. If you cancel, it is very inconvenient for him, also for lots of the same families. We live in Palo Alto, we are proud of this city. As it has history also it has bicycle way and public bus for normal family. Thanks. Subject: Save route 88 Bus serving Gunn High school in Routes: 88 Palo alto Please keep route 88 to serve all Gunn High school students who depend on public transportation to get home. If we spend so much money on guarding the railroad crossing just so no one get killed again, please spend a little for those who are still alive and need to take a bus!! We've been there ourselves when we were in high school. Thank you. Routes: 16 Subject: Bus Route 16 Concerned about bus route 16 affecting paratransit riders who go to the DePaul Health Center because of service area impact to paratransit from transit service redesign. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Comment Your new vta logo is awful is ugly as [EXPLETIVE]. you could it pay someone to make it for you whoever did it its probably from elementary school,no no,I think someone from elementary school could it do a better job,vta does not get better on anything ,you should disappear,hopefully some other new transportation company comes up so all th retarded vta executives go unemployed. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Line Comment I OFTEN ride #82: Back & Forth, from Downtown to Westgate I would like to see Service continue. Often I use the #82, 7 days days a week. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: message Well thought out. Routes: Orange Line Subject: Orange line light rail express Please include the orange line express light rail during peak office hours with stops at major stops like VTA Milpitas BART, Great Mall, ciscoway, Old ironsides, crossman, borregas, Lockheedmartin and Mountainview stations. It will improve ridership a lot. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: don't fix it Don't fix it if its not broken, I like it the way it is now.‐1.27.017, the new bus system will make certain routes longer Routes: 27; 37 Subject: 27, 37 On weekends: Proposed run times for 27 bus does not allow getting to work by 7:30. I work at intersection of Camden /Union / Ross interchange. If the bus starts exactly at 7am from the los gatos All Comments Received on the Draft Plan city center, I won't make it to work. It needs to be on ot before 6:45 am. Current proposed 27 route closest stop is Union and Camden an at least 20 to 25 minute walk. currently I transfer to the 37 which you plan to take away. Proposed changes has removed my 37 bus that goes across Camden and stops in front of Cambrian post office where I have just started working. I will definitely work Saturdays and possibly Sundays. Please have bus 27 go to Los Gatos civic center. Every tI'm I take the los gatos busses. Atleast 4 people get off in downtown During meeting in Cupertino regarding proposed bus changes I inadvertently stated concern for bus 82. It actually should be bus 37. I live near downtown Los Gatos with a destination of Hillsdale near Ross (post office.) In your proposal the 37 bus I just started using as a transfer is completely removed. This change requires me to walk a long distance from the Union and Camden stop. I walk all day. Other postal workers may care but not sure since I just started. Taking the new 27 then taking the 63 north does not get me any closer and is a longer irrational bus ride. Please Note ‐ I just started this job at the post office at Hillsdale / Camden split near Target and Smart and Final. There is a library there, TJ max and other stores. Before that I regularly took the bus to San Jose State from Los Gatos and to job interviews etc... after graduation. History: I discovered taking bus when living in Portland. Much easier there to do. Please somehow get me closer to the post office from Los Gatos. Routes: 181 Subject: Vta cancelling routes I am a student at San Jose state university and reside near by Fremont and commute to SJSU daily taking 181, as almost all SJSU students have free vta rides it's been easy to commute , but due to extension of Bart if vta cancells 181 it would be hard to many students and professionals to daily spend money on Bart and then commute to destinations, I have seen many individuals holds free vta rides commute through 181 try considering alternatives as free Bart rides from Fremont. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 It is bus 37 not 82 that is of concern being removed from service. Particularly near Hillsdale and Ross intersection near library and post office. Not mentioned during Cupertino input meeting: Please help provide alternatives to a big ongoing summer problem. Can you please find a way to provide busing to Santa Cruz during summer months on weekends only? I bet you could fill up a few busses especially on good beach days with the right marketing and promotions. Los Gatos is overwhelmed with traffic using the town as a short‐cut during the summer on weekends. It's a big problem and potential money maker for you. I suspect it causes traffic problems in Santa Cruz as well but have no contact information. (Please don't put off looking into this due to crossing county boundary.) The bus does not need to stop in Los Gatos. Maybe a network of Park and Ride lots that are empty on the weekends? Just help Los Gatos by getting some cars off the road that are passing through our town. If the current Santa Cruz 17 bus that goes from Santa Cruz to Diridian can exist, I'm sure there is a way to do this as well. Routes: General Project Question Subject: regional bike plan It is great VTA is looking into developing a regional bike plan ‐ It will be a much needed alternate transport infrastructure around the county given the development, growth and congestion that we are already seeing. How is this effort going to bring together the bike plans of the various cities in the county? Is there any coordination effort with the city staff / Bike Commissions in the city to align various plans and to develop cross city bike network connectivity that is safe and accessible to all ages? In Cupertino, We are in the midst of updating our Citywide Bike plan. We would be happy to meet with VTA representative to discuss our plans in support of the regional planning effort. Look forward to hearing from you, [Name redacted] All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 522 Subject: line 522 I am a VTA rider and I use 522 bus the AC temperature is set at very low degree and almost all passengers Attlee so cold in the bus please make sure that this is set to an appropriate temperature as this is making people sick . Hope u do the needful at the earliest. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: advice for VTA This letter expresses my opinions regarding VIA networks; also some general comments and observations regarding the VIA. Here are my views on the county's traffic needs with focus on VIA's route network: o Develop network based on primary routes with local feeder services o Eliminate long distance local transit routes o Invest in infrastructure projects, such as overpasses, to relieve congestion and reduce travel times o Exploit expressways for primary route development o Scale vehicle capacities to actual passenger usage o Implement an origin to destination fare system using digital technology o Plan and progressively implement separating primary transit routes from road and pedestrian traffic o Increase VIA's revenue by developing business and residential properties adjacent to VIA stations and termini The network should be composed of a series of primary routes with stops/stations spaced, say, every half mile to a mile. These routes may be thought of as neckleces with each stop a pearl. These stops also serve as termini for local feeder routes. There should be parking, shopping and higher density housing adjacent to these stops. And easy transfer and fare continuity between primary and feeder vehicles. This is the model for Stockholm's transit system. Hong Kong goes a step further. The Hong Kong Metro built high rises above their stations earning revenue from rentals. Our county's particular need is for efficient transport to and from residential areas and work places. VIA's primary routes should include as much grade separated transit right of way as possible. This requires infrastructure projects: overpasses, underpasses, tunnels, elevated sections, etc. It is clear that traffic volumes and congestion will increase into the future. We I urgently need these individual infrastructure projects to be implemented along with development ofVTA's network. Doing so will reduce accidents and reduce travel times. Happily, Santa Clara County has an excellent system of expressways. Many are based on former light rail (interuban) lines. These expressway corridors should be exploited to serve as primary VTA transit routes. San Tomas‐Montague is an excellent exmple and should be developed to serve the need for transport to and from workplaces. Capitol, Lawrence, Foothill, etc. can similarly be developed. These expressway corridors lend themselves to further development of elevated or cut and cover rapid transit. Developing primary routes, however, only makes sense if development goes hand in hand with creation of feeder routes. VTA's focus on El Camino Real does not contribute to the goal of workplace/residence transport. The projected El Camino 'rapid' project will also increase traffic congestion by reducing available public roadway capacity. Since the route is open to cross traffic, bus speed along the route is not likely to improve appreciably. In contrast to El Camino Real, I visualize a primary route along Stevens Creek Blvd. This road is quite wide and carries less traffic than El Camino Real. In VTA's draft plan the route terminates in Cupertino. I suggest that the route should extend from the California rail station in Palo Alto, along Page Mill and Foothill, to Stevens Creek terminaing at Winchester; it could also be extended along San Carlos to downtown San Jose. The route would link significent county communities, Stanford, colleges, major valley businesses such as Apple and shopping centers. Some general comments: I came to live in Santa Clara County in 1979. Since then there have been several changes of name, changes of logos and changes of color schemes on vehicles as well as materials projecting identity for the transit enterprise. The costs of these changes may be trivial in the scheme of things but they add up and do nothing to enhance the actual transport of passengers. For my four decades in the valley, I have observed empty or nearly empty VTA vehicles on All Comments Received on the Draft Plan our roads. Yet the busses get bigger and bigger. This is stupid! Even with various subsidies, the total cost to society for procurement and operation of large vehicles is an outrage. There are a huge number of routes which could and should be operated using light busses carrying, say, fifteen passengers maximum. I also noticed that, with the introduction oflarger and heavier vehicles, bus stops on our roads have been modified with concrete pads to carry the weight of these vehicles. This would have been unnecessary with smaller, appropriate sized vehicles. I am confounded by the number and variety of existing bus routes operated by the VTA. Some routes are too short. Some routes are too long, Some twist and wind so much that they take an unreasonable amount of time to get to a destination. There is no sense that VT A operates a system (let alone a 'network'). It seems more like a patchwork of routes developed over time, ad hoc, due to various demographic and political pressures. The routes can be rationalized and enhanced by implementing a sensible transfer system with digital fare collection equipment and systems. (Fare Cards work so well in so many cities, in countries less well developed than in our high tech area. Take a study trip to Istanbul, for example.) VTA integrates fairly well with Bay Area public transport, especially with the new BART extension. The glaring deficiency is traffic and transport connection with Santa Cruz city and county. Highway 17 is a dangerous slalom run in the best weather. There are more and more daily commuters and weekend vititors to and from Santa Cruz. In the near term we need more frequent bus service over highway 17, and with good connections for northbound passengers. I appreciate that there are multiple, sometimes conflicting, burocratic interests to resolve but highway 17 is approaching or has surpassed its capacity. I think it is time to recondider a rai1link between Santa Cruz and VTA light rail at Campbell. I emphasize my continued interest in the development and improvement of efficient transportation in Santa Clara and the Bay Area. Routes: Light Rail Subject: security Can we not have private mercenaries with a side arm on the platforms? Can we please do without that? I saw one of them at the great mall station walk up to a young man who was smoking an e‐
cigarette to tell him that he couldn't smoke anything on the platform, and as he walked up, he had his hand on his gun. This is unacceptable behavior. These people are obviously very poorly trained. Routes: Light Rail Subject: restroom There are no bathrooms to use when I am riding the light rail. Routes: 13; 64 Subject: 13, 64 I heard that no 13 and 64 buses serving south San Jose Almaden valley area will be suspended. I am very shocked by this message. My parents, in their 70s, rely on these lines to get out of house, doing shopping, meeting friends, taking classes. Would you be able to consider keeping the bus line with smaller vehicles or other alternatives. For seniors, these are the only transportation options in the valley. Thanks. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Train times Please reply with estimated implementation date for train delays and estimated arrival times at each light rail station. VTA is the only Bay Area marquee system without this feature. BART and Caltrain both have this feature. Today, due to police action I missed Caltrain connection. If there was an alert at station marquee; I would ride my bike to Sunnyvale Caltrain instead. Routes: 88 Subject: 88, 88L, 88M All Comments Received on the Draft Plan We heard about VTA is planning to cut bus 88, 88L and 88M, we would like VTA to consider all the Gunn High School students who rely on these buses to go home everyday. I know the initiative of cutting these buses are trying to put more frequent transit close to denser jobs and housing in order to increase ridership. However, students are as equally important or more important to serve as they are the teens, most of them do not have driver licenses to drive or any other resources, they rely on these buses. I don't mind you increase the price I just need my kids to have bus ride and get home after school without long waiting. The bus schedule needs to be frequent enough and reasonable for these students. VTA serves our community for many years and High School is part of the community. Please consider to continue serve these students as much as you can. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bus & Train schedules I have been riding the VTA Express Bus to Lockheed Martin then the Lightrail to Middlefield for a year. The newly revised Lightrail schedule as of July 5th offers very poor timing from the bus to the Lightrail . Now when my bus is pulling into Lockheed, the Lightrail is pulling away. The timing was right before the change where I waited only 10 mins for the next Lightrail . Please consider the bus schedule when coordinating the Lightrail schedule. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Paratransit service We contacted VTA paratransit to get my Paratransit rides set up. We never even got a response after calling several times. No return calls. We set up our own transport to Cubberley HS for therapy classes. I note that a VTA paratransit vehicle was used for transport of another person to go to the same classes. Why not TWO RIDERS going to the same place? Our taxes support VTA Services but we got no service. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Train heat on Will you please advise the early drivers that we passengers would appreciate some heat in the mornings while riding the train? I am sure they are nice and cozy up in their driving area. I am currently on the train heading towards Alum Rock. We are at the Virginia St. Location it is 6:27am and freezing on this train. They clearly have the AC on. They days are getting shorter, not longer and we passengers would appreciate some heat in the morning. Thanks. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 The VTA 88 Lines provide necessary connection between South Palo Alto and Gunn High School for numerous students. The proposed VTA288 service in the Next Network Plan that would replace the current 88 nlines reduces the service for current bus riders in my neighborhood, particularly for the current 88L riders. Please keep the service from multiple South Palo Alto neighborhoods to Gunn High School. Our students need this access to get between home and school. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Train heat on I am currently on on Alum Rock bound VTA Light Rail train at the TAMIEN stop. Once again the train has no heat going and it is 6:26am. Please have your drivers put the heater on . The early morninga are dark and cold. I am sure your driver is nice and warm in their areas. This is ridiculous! This is my second time complaining to you folks. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am GREATLY concerned about the cut in services for the Gunn High School students, especially as they have all sorts of different hours for start of classes, and end of day times. The limited hours proposed sound great on paper only. On wet days, and special weeks, the regular bus schedule during the daytime becomes quite important. My daughter doesn't have a bicycle to get to and from school, and I am a full‐time student in San Francisco as well, so the bus line is a life line for her. Please keep as much of the 88 and extensions to continue if not all of it and expand it. Routes: 121 Subject: line 121 breaking The 121 bus due at 7:57 am at Morgan Hill Caltrain arrived broken. It was an old style bus (non‐wifi type replacement) anyway. The driver said he told the transit yard that it was defective before he left the yard, but the yard sent the bus anyway. The 121 bus due at 8:13 am arrived on time, but one of the riders reported a rubbing or thumbing sound over the back left wheel soon after we left MH Caltrain. Driver checked it at Cochran and drove on. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 I have 2 high school students and one more on the way, who take the 88M regularly to and from Gunn daily. While the new 288B replaces the route my kids take (we are on Middlefield and Loma Verde), you must be aware that at least twice a month, the 88M doesn't for pickup at dismissal and they have to take the 88 in order to get home. If the 288B doesn't come, their only alternative is 288A which drops off several blocks from anywhere along Middlefield. Looking at routes alone is not sufficient when the bus doesn't come on schedule or at all. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am using 120 Express every week to go to work from Hunter Ln at Mission Blvd to 350 W Java Dr, Sunnyvale. It is very convenient and I like it. Based your future plan, what is your plan to address my need since I see the proposal to cancel Route 120. I bought annual pass for VTA and it is not fair for me that I can use that only half year and I have to pay additional for BART or AC Transit Bus. I would like to see Route 120 is kept as is. Routes: 88 Subject: 88, 288 I am a resident of South Palo Alto on the E. Charleston corridor and a parent of a student at Gunn High School who is a frequent bus rider. My daughter and her friends have been riding the 88 Bus both to and from Gunn for three years, and they have found this to be the most convenient, relaxing and cost‐effective way to commute to school. They are aware of the traffic congestion issues that bus riders help alleviate and they appreciate the low impact that ride‐sharing has on the environment. Riding the bus daily has also made them aware how easy it is to use the bus to get around town, and they are now frequent weekend bus riders as well! Having viewed the draft of the proposed VTA changes in our area, my daughter and I are concerned about the proposal to cut the 88 and replace it with a 288 bus that will have much more limited hours and route coverage. We, along with many other residents young and old, count on the daily 88 bus service, and I am concerned that these changes may further erode ridership, which will in turn give the VTA reason to completely cut service in the future. Students and other residents who have more options to ride at convenient times during the week will be more likely to count on and continue to ride the bus, and ridership will increase. In order to accommodate Gunn students, additional hours should be scheduled. At the very least, there should be: a 7 ‐ 9am high volume window; hourly rides from 9am ‐ 2pm; and the 2 ‐ 4pm peak window should be expanded to 2 ‐ 6pm, with 25‐minute interval trips, as many students have after school obligations and cannot make it to the bus during the times currently scheduled or proposed. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Currently, if a student needs to stay after school even 10 minutes, they miss their bus, and after that the intervals between buses become very long, up to an hour?s wait. This of course discourages the bus‐riding habit, lowering ridership over time. Encouraging increased bus ridership among our youth is important to future VTA ridership, and the way to increase ridership is to offer more robust scheduling. Please consider maintaining and expanding the 88 bus line scheduling to accommodate our students and others in need of service along the 88 bus corridor. Routes: 63 Subject: Elimination of bus routes to Almaden Valley I currently ride the bus 63 to my job as SJSU. I walk to the from my home to bus stop at Meridian and Portobello. When I was a high school student, I needed to ride the bus to go from Pioneer HS to Leland HS. I am distressed that you are completely eliminating all bus service to the Almaden Valley. I voted for the most recent transit bonds but if you continue with this shortsighted and flawed plan. I will never vote to give VTA bond measure ever again. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: VTA service to Downtown Los Gatos Why would you consider an elimination of service to Downtown Los Gatos?!?! Traffic is already bad enough as it is and now you want to make it worse by eliminating VTA service to Downtown Los Gatos?!?! Additionally, you would be eliminating services to an entire community!!! Please use your common sense and do NOT eliminate VTA service to my town!!! Subject: Do not cut all VTA 88, 88L, 88M buses for Gunn Routes: 88 High students Most Gunn High school students (among 1900) need transportation to school and home. Please don't cut the 3 routes below. We depend on buses since we don't have cars like adults working at the VTA. Please help us. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus 13 I would like to suggest that you do not cancel the bus 13 route next year as part of your new plan. If it is not bringing enough revenue, then is it possible you could raise the price? I am a student at Leland High School and there is many of us students from Bret Harte and Leland that depend on the bus to get home, to get to after school programs, and even to get to work for some. Multiple kids live in downtown San Jose or Morgan Hill and the bus is the only way they can make it to the light rail station from school. Many of us have working parents who are unable to pick us up after school and we live too far away to travel by walk or bike. Personally, my mother is a single parent and she gets arrives home from work after 8pm as she works very far away from where we live. Without the bus, getting home will be a big challenge for me and there are many others like me. Instead of canceling the bus, would it possible to raise the price by a certain amount (many of us would be willing to pay more to go home) and making sure that everyone pays the right amount every time no matter what? I do hope you take this into consideration. Thank you for your time. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: don't fix it, if its not broken only change the bus lines, only in the city of San Jose,not Gilroy area that people don't use alot of, for example32,35,48,49 63,64,53 etc.people use alot of line 22,522,23,54,55,81 and sometimes 523. Routes: 48 Subject: Bus 48 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan For all these years I have been taking Bus 48 or Bus 37 to go to places where I needed to go. And I am very grateful for your service. Now you propose to discontinue the service of all the bus stops near my home this fall. That would be a disaster to me. You see, I am 90 years old. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, spine fracture and lymphoma. If you cancel those bus stops near my home and I want to visit a doctor or go to some places I?ll have to walk to Winchester Transit Center to take a bus. That would be too far a walk for me and I can never make it. I really don?t know what to do. President Trump said in his inaugural speech, ?To all Americans in every city small and large, from mountain to mountain, from ocean to ocean, hear these words ? you will never be ignored again?.? Encourage by these words I writing this letter to you, hoping that you will not ignore the few helpless seniors like me and you?ll listen to our appeal. Please don?t discontinue the service of the existing bus stops near my home . Please don?t take away the only means of public transportation I depend on, Thank you. Subject: PLEASE RETAIN 63 SERVICES ALL THE WAY TO Routes: 63 ALMADEN VALLEY There were 7 passengers on the 8 am bus this morning even before we got to Redmond Ave. And AGAIN, there were only 2 people got on from Blossom Hill stops. So your proposal to change the southern end from Camden Ave doesn't make any sense at all. Not quite sure what board of directors were thinking. They obviously don't take buses at all, so they don't care how their actions will affect us. Routes: 140 Subject: Please DO NOT discontinue Express 140 DA lot of commuters like me have been using the Express 140 bus to commute between work (on Tasman Drive) and home (Fremont) . Given the slow progress of the Warm Springs BART station , it is very unlikely that the BART extension to Great Mall will be functional by Fall 2017. So please do not discontinue this bus service until the BART extension to Santa Clara actually starts operating. More importantly , commuters like me will find it very inconvenient to first travel up to the Fremont BART station , then take one train to Milpitas and then transfer to another train to get to Tasman Dr. , so most of us will just end up driving all the way to work. We highly recommend you to at least, let the bus service continue for a couple of weeks even after the BART extension starts functioning, so that you can monitor whether the ridership actually reduces significantly or not. With that, you will be able to make a more informed decision. Please let us know your thoughts. Subject: Please provide some service to Routes: 13; 63; 65 Almaden/HarryRd Please provide some service to Almaden/Harry Rd. If you have to cancel bus 13, please send some of the 64 or 63 bus up to Harry like every hr during the day. Bunch of seniors will be affected negatively by the discontinuation of service because it is how they keep their mental health and physical health ‐ by going out and being active and meet with friends. I know some seniors got free bus passes by attending the lunch programs and they might have not been counted as riders everyday when they use the free passes the buses. But they do rely on the buses to go out. Please, please, maintain some service to our area. Routes: 55 Subject: 55 I live Northeast of the corner of Remington and Sunnyvale Saratoga Road in Sunnyvale near the current Route 55. To determine if the new route will still be accessible to us, we need to know exactly where the stops will be. I've looked at all the maps and I don't see stops shown anywhere. Where can All Comments Received on the Draft Plan this information be found? Given how busy Sunnyvale Saratoga Road is and how there is no place to turnout between Remington and the Matilda fork, I suspect there will not be a stop here, which means we will have to cross this very busy road to a stop on Remington, or go all the way up to El Camino. Can you please clarify? Same goes for the new express route 523, by the way; would love to see where its stops will be. Thanks! Routes: 20 Subject: New route 20! So wonderful to hear that I could take vta to Bart from mountain view downtown. Frequency on weekday looks great, but no weekend service means I won't use it. Also suggest extending frequency to 11pm. Please add weekend service. Routes: 27; 72; 73 Subject: Comments on 27 & 72/73 Overall, I support the changes to the bus network with a request for one change: please have the 72/73 line end at Diridon Station instead of St James Park. As a frequent rider of line 48 and 49, I support the new line 27, especially since it will go directly to the Winchester Light Rail Station. Thank you. Routes: 65 Subject: Elimination of Route 65 There's already a lack of real, direct access to various points from our neighborhood. I see from the plans that the Cambrian area loses its most direct route (which was already limited, and had already experienced cuts before) with the elimination of Route 65. The modification of some "nearby" routes does not change the lack of access. Routes: 82 Subject: Cancellation of Route 82 The notice has been posted on 82 route bus stops saying "service to this bus stop may be discontinued". I have spoken to a number of riders and they have misunderstood that only that bus will not stop at the stop. They don't understand that the entire bus route is being cancelled. This is a very important route to students to SJSU, elderly folks going for the govt. assistance, and to commuters going to SanJose downtown and to those catching VTA/Caltrain at Tamien station. Please don't cancel route 82. It serves an important service. Routes: 55 Subject: route 55 proposed changes I appreciate the time you put into seeking feedback and I see some of the reasoning behind changing routes to "follow the money" however, as far as I'm concerned the change to Route 55 to take it West to Bernardo instead of the current Remington Drive‐> Fair Oaks Ave., is not good. 1. The proposed change would leave me with only route 26 in order to travel North and intersect with the Mountain View ‐ Winchester light rail. 2. The 55 at Remington goes past the Sunnyvale Community Center/Senior Center complex, and there is also senior housing, and medical centers, and many large apartment blocks with hoards of tech workers taking the bus stops at Fair Oaks near Old San Francisco Road. 3. On the Sunnyvale transport plan, Fair Oaks/El Camino is marked as a major transit hub. This could no longer be the case if Route 55 would not travel North up Fair Oaks Ave. ** For the above reasons, I request that Route 55 is not re‐routed West of Remington/Fair Oaks. Routes: 21 Subject: Line 21 Please consider rerouting the line on El Camino in downtown Santa Clara in order to save time (Downtown is built for pedestrians, so walking a few blocks is not a huge deal). Also, consider All Comments Received on the Draft Plan rerouting the line on Chromite Drive to better serve dense apartments and an Elementary School, reroute the line to serve Lawrence Caltrain Station (Perhaps on Monticello, Agate, and Willow). Also, consider rerouting the line onto Evelyn between Wolfe and Reed. Line 21 (today's route 32) along the south side of the tracks barely misses a few dense areas, and an entire Caltrain station, which mean the line is not serving as many people as it should, and also it ends up with many gaps between high‐
rider stops. Rerouting the line to better serve these areas could result in higher productivity on the line, which is lacking (As evidenced by removal of the line in Network 90). One last idea could be to streamline the 21 directly from Middlefield to University in Palo Alto. Even though this may waste a bit of time, it could make it easier for people to know from where to take the bus (And let's face it, drunk people will not walk far). This problem is not true for downtown Santa Clara due to the lack of a large business area like other cities. The rest of the line 21 is good the way it is, like the reroute onto Logue and Maude is good, as well as the route through downtown Mountain View and along California, connecting with lines 22 and 522, all of that is great, so please do not change it! Routes: 120 Subject: 120 affect my work commute Don't cancel 120. I need it for work. It is the only reason that I take the vta shuttle. Bart plus another shuttle will take very long time and not practical. Plz save 120 Subject: We need to buy food by bus no.53 we can not Routes: 53 drive. no can drive Routes: 82 Subject: 82 I'm a senior citizen and I can't walk very far. I hope you don't cancel the 82 bus. Routes: 53 Subject: Route 53 have to continue. Thanks Route 53 have to continue. Thanks Routes: 48; 49 Subject: Los Gatos VTA Route It is essential that Los Gatos maintain a VTA route that goes to and through downtown Los Gatos for high school students, seniors, and library users. The town of LG is working hard to solve our traffic and parking issues. We need the VTA as a key ingredient of this solution. Keep the downtown VTA route! Routes: 55 Subject: Changes to Route 55 I cannot attend any of the public meetings due to my work schedule but I wanted to make my voice heard regarding the planned changes to Route 55. I live off of Fair Oaks, between El Camino and Old San Francisco, and take the bus everyday to the CalTrain station. If the bus route is changed to go down Sunnyvale, instead of Fair Oaks while crossing El Camino, there would be a 15 minute walk added to each way of my commute. There is also a Valley Medical Center clinic on Fair Oaks that receives a lot of traffic from the 55 bus stop. Next to that medical center is a senior low‐income housing complex, which also has a lot of Route 55 riders. Moving this route would make the transit system much less accessible to many people who have no other way of getting around. I urge you to please reconsider changing that part of Route 55. Thank you. Subject: Negative impact on SJSU students with Routes: 181 cancellation of route 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am a SJSU student and I live in Fremont and I rely on VTA 181 to get me to school. Every time I board the bus in the mornings from Fremont, the bus is always packed with commuters. Many students use 181 to get to school from Fremont and the cancellation of it would force me and many others to drive to school, impacting the environment, as well as parking availability for other students. Based on SJSU's annual transportation survey for 2016, VTA 181 is the most used bus route for students to get to school, with 19% of students who do take VTA, take the 181 bus line. Getting rid of this line does not make any sense for those who live in Fremont, and instead would have lasting negative impact on the community. Routes: 55 Subject: route 55 SB Any chance we could shift the 55 Southbound schedule back 5‐10 minutes? For those of us in the North Sunnyvale neighborhoods trying to get to NB Caltrain during off‐peak hours, the current timing leaves us either running for the train or stranded for 25 minutes waiting for the next one. Routes: Light Rail Subject: project light rail I miss part of info I not sure word is mean "amp plan" from metro station on light rail to santa clara at caltrain station on santa clara city under airplane ? I not understand I read about future alum rock to capitol light rail soon and down town santa clara and alum rock street for project but I not hear from amp planning huh please explain to me about that ? klet me know thank you Routes: 10 Subject: VTA Bus 10 I just received an email from Team San Jose regarding changes, which concerned me. I have been a Volunteer at the San Jose Airport for the last 5‐6 years. I am an individual with disabilities and I do not drive. I have been taking the Light Rail early in the morning and transfer to Bus#10 to get to the Airport to volunteer on Saturdays. At the Airport, I refer lots of passengers to Bus #10 which is free as well. I refer them to bus #10 when they want to know how to get to Caltarin Station or to go to SF or get to the Metro Light Rail to travel to Downtown San Jose or other locations. They also use Bus #10 to get to restaurants and then come back to the Airport to catch their next Flight. Please do not change Bus 10 and if you do, please make it free. If Bus 10 is taken away, I do not know how to get to the Airport to Volunteer. I may nott be able to volunteer anymore. Also, If I do not get the free ECO Pass, I will not be able to continue to volunteer at the Airport. Please allow us to help the passengers. Please Keep Bus 10 for free and grant the volunteers Eco Pass. Thank you! Routes: 13; 65 Subject: Almaden service I don?t know where to begin to express my concerns about eliminating bus service entirely from Almaden Valley. First, San Jose is attempting to be a city that meets the needs of an aging population and transit service is an important part of that goal. If we want people to give up driving when they have health or mobility issues that could cause safety issues on the road we must provide alternatives. Just because someone resides in Almaden does not necessarily mean they can afford to take taxis or Uber‐type services every time they need a carton of milk or have a doctor?s appointment. Bus service allows Almaden residents to get to light rail which, aside from students going to SjSU, provides access to many parts of the city and even to connections for travel by train outside of San Jose. While economic considerations are important, they should not be the only consideration, nor the main one, Quality of life is an important issue as well and eliminating service would greatly impact the quality of life for many residents. Indeed, it is possible that if service were more frequent it would be better utilized. In closing I?d like to add my voice to those requesting that, at minimum, service that provides basic transportation for Almaden be maintained and consideration All Comments Received on the Draft Plan for the young and the elderly in particular be a guide in the decision‐making process. [Name redacted] Almaden resident Subject: Request to not remove VTA bus services in Routes: 13; 63; 66 Almaden I understand that VTA is proposing removal of all bus services (routes 13, 63 &328) to Almaden valley. I use this route often, so requesting to not remove this service. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Bus services in Almaden Valley Hello. I am very concerned to hear all buse services will be eliminated in Almaden Valley which services used by children attending Leland high school and Bret Harte Middle school. Also, many senior citizens who utilizes bus to attend senior centers and other places in town will be affected. Their sense of independence will be taken away when they don't have any means of transportation. Both children and elderly people who are most vulnerable will be affected by this change. Yes, I remember voting for extra funding for transportation the mast election and I feel betrayed that now to hear the most vulnerable people in my town will be neglected. Please reconsider not eliminating public transportation in our town. Almaden has always been an asset and we can continue to be an excellent tax base as well as provide expertise and support from our citizens to the rest of San Jose. Please don't neglect our children, parents and grandparents! We will support you as long as you support our friends and family. Thank you. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: VTA Bus Almaden Just saw the sign at the bus stop, It mentions that the VTA will no longer be in service come next fall. I am a senior and my husband was just told he no longer can drive. This is very alarming. Routes: 13; 63; 64 Subject: 63, 64, 13 Bus service in Almaden Valley I would like to provide my feedback on the proposed reduction in bus service to Almaden Valley. VTA provides important service to students in Almaden, so I would like to see to see Routes 63, 64 or 13 extended south towards Harry Road including weekends. Thank you for your consideration. Best Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13,63, 65 I'd like to express my disapproval of the elimination of VTA bus service to the Almaden Valley. Routes: 13 Subject: VTA Bus 13 Please DO NOT eliminate Bus route 13, many people in Almaden need it. thank you Routes: 10 Subject: VTA #10 Airport Flier Shuttle I understand that there are plans to incorporate this presently free VTA #10 (Airport flier) shuttle service to a new more extensive paid route (60). I feel that this service is a valuable asset that should be retained. I work as a volunteer at the information desk at the airport, and on every shift I work, I recommend this route to numerous arriving passengers for both the light rail and CalTrain connection, and when I tell them that it's free, I invariably encounter a broad smile. This service also enables arriving travelers who are either in transit or awaiting friends on later flights to avail themselves of restaurant facilities that are sadly lacking in the non‐secure areas of the airport. We want travelers to San Jose to be welcomed and not charged an admission. Please keep this service to All Comments Received on the Draft Plan our arriving guests. I want to continue to see those smiles. It's a happy introduction to our city, perhaps small, but real, nevertheless. [Name redacted] Routes: 13; 63 Subject: VTA #13 and #63 We live in Almaden Valley and we take #13 and #63 everyday to go to Library and community center. If VTA terminates #13, and change route for #63, we have to walk 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to community center! We are seniors, and have knee and eyesight problems. We cannot drive. VTA is the only way for us to get out of the house. If we need to walk more than 2 hours a day to go out, our health will not allow us to do so!!! Please please don't terminate #13. We have paid very high taxes to live in Almaden. VTA said because it cost them more dollar/person to operated #13 and #63, so they terminate the buses. But that's not fair! Please please consider there are lots of seniors and students who rely on VTA bus everyday. Thank you!!! Routes: 58 Subject: Discontinuing Line 58 Thank you for your work on designing a fair and equitable plan. My commute time would be lengthened if Line 58 is discontinued, and I am forced to transfer. I work near Zanker and Tasman, and see other commuters at least ten riders on many trips) who ride through from the Kely/Bowers area who would no longer have a direct bus to this area. I do understand that my problem seems minor compared to other areas of the county where service is being discontinued entirely. Thanks for listening. Routes: 63 Subject: Route 63 I teach at Castillero Middle School at Meridian and Camden and know several students that rely on this route to get them to school and back (not to mention myself, a carless teacher who lives downtown SJ). The proposed change would add much hardship to these students and families, as well as a long walk from Blossom Hill to Castillero. Please reconsider this change and continue the route all the way to Camden and back. Thank you. Routes: 54 Subject: Please do not discontinue rt. 54 Please do not discontinue rt. 54 which goes down Hollenbeck to Homestead High. It offers students another way to get to school instead of clogging up Homestead Rd. by car. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Morgan Hill Service I would like some more express buses to Sunnyvale. They seem to have gotten very busy. Also, you should find a way to advertise the routes to the local neighborhood. That will increase ridership. People are shocked when they hear that a nice bus goes to Sunnyvale, Mountain View, or SJ for $4. Routes: 12; 21; 304; 330; 37; 62; 89 Subject: 89 VTA is reckless This caller was angry and irritated. He asked to speak to a manager. I did not offer to transfer his call to anyone in management because he sounded irrational. He hopes VTA does not discontinue the 89 bus. He says they have 10 riders during peak commute hours. We could use a small community bus instead, and run the bus less frequently. VTA is spending money recklessly, and there are ways to keep the routes. VTA is indifferent and reckless. VTA people drive their cars to work so they don't know what it's like to ride the bus. Cutting this line is a mistake. Ken was not interested in receiving line 89 ridership data. He is also concerned with several other bus routes, which he listed off too quickly for me to write them all down. Some of those were 12, 21, 37, 304, and 330. He also asked All Comments Received on the Draft Plan questions about line 62 assuming that it is not a route we are proposing to eliminate, when in fact line 62 has proposed changes. I guided the caller to the next network website. He insisted to speak to a manager, but hung up when I wouldn?t transfer him.. He took my name because he felt I did not handle his call correctly. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus 13 Matters! I am concerned about these Proposed Changes because this will leave Almaden Valley (especially Via Valiente‐>Camden‐>Harry‐>McKean‐>Almaden RD area) with NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ! My kids take bus 13 from school to home everyday. Lots of Bret Harte MS and Leland HS students take bus 13 after school time. Would you please work out some reasonable plans instead of cutting off bus 13 completely? Such as, extend bus 63 to Via Valiente‐>Camden‐>Harry‐>McKean‐>Almaden RD area, keep bus13 but reduce frequency, provide "school trippers" for Bret Harte MS and Leland HS students... Routes: 10 Subject: VTA FREE #10 shuttle Re: #10 Shuttle I am dismayed at the proposal to stop the FREE #10 shuttle from the SJC Airport to other points: Light rail, Caltrain, etc. I am a volunteer at the information Booths at our Airport and have seen how grateful many travelers are to learn of, and use, the shuttle to get to their points of destination via the FREE #10 shuttle. Also, because our airport does not offer meal options outside of Security, many travelers, and those waiting for delayed flights, use the #10 to obtain food. Please reconsider. Many people already complain about all the walking (no moving sidewalks in terminals). Let?s offer them a chance to smile and feel welcome to San Jose by continuing to offer the FREE shuttle. Thank you for your generous service to our community. San Jose continues to be a great place to live AND VISIT. [Name redacted] Routes: 35 Subject: Irene :D's Two Cents on This Plz note low ridership does NOT equal gettg rid of bus lines like what happened with lines 36, 56?( brokaw & murphy) and the line that was on Arques. As we are experiencing more traffic, more housing and office projects, I hv been seeing ridiculous car traffic, esp. On Mathila, Kiely/Bowers/Grt.Am., Saratoga, Stevens Creek/San Carlos, DeAnza, San Tomas & Lawrence expressways and streets. Their must some simple way to make it less congested and smooth‐flowg for drivers and passengers alike! Build another layer of streets ;o), syncg lights, even hvg wonderful traffic cops, coordinatg, conductg orchestratg traffic at very busy intersections. Anyway, it may b comg down to traffic mission‐control ctrs monitorg & adjusting lights if not rone already. Anyway, my respect and admiration for making things more convenient & smooth flowg. Routes: 65 Subject: Bus Route 65 Concerned about fellow passengers not having access to route 65. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Line Comment I take bus 65 to and from work and I implore you to keep this bus running. My other options almost double my commute time. Routes: 89 Subject: VTA Bus #89 Hi VTA ‐ I rely on Bus #89 to commute between my office and Caltrain (California Ave Station). The California Avenue Caltrain Station is the closest train station to the Research Park but is not within All Comments Received on the Draft Plan reasonable walking distance for most employees in the Research Park. The #89 bus serves a critical need during peak commute hours. Therefor I urge you to keep the #89 bus running. Thanks! Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Do not cut Almaden Valley off This is completely unacceptable. Why do we pay the HIGHEST property taxes in San Jose but will now get less services? the city continually takes advantage of our tax dollars and then places it elsewhere. We have less police service to our area, now yet another PUBLIC service is being cut? San Jose is only growing as well as the population to Almaden Valley as Silicon Valley continues to expand. There are at least 4 new housing communities being built this year and this is the only area where land is still available to build. Please do not cut services that our community‐‐it deserves just as much as every other neighborhood in San Jose.? Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Bus service I'm commenting to support the continuation of VTA Route 82. The 82 is used heavily by large numbers of elderly and disabled people. I have heard it contended that the 82 is too lightly traveled to be sustained. This is simply not true. I use it on a daily basis. Last Wednesday afternoon there were 27 different people using the 82 bus on my relatively short southbound trip between the Paseo and Lick. Today on southbound at 12:30pm between the same stops there were 25 different riders, with standing room only at times. This morning at 8:30am northbound from Lick there were 23 different riders from there to the Paseo. Yesterday southbound early afternoon, 13 riders over the short distance. Yesterday morning early, 13. At almost any time of day that I ride, there are usually significant ridership, particularly, elderly and disabled. What about the DMV stop? What about Light Rail service for connectivity? What about Sacred Heart from the west? What about South Willow Glen to Downtown? 282 only at Bell Times simply doesn't cut it! Routes: 13 Subject: Please keep it! Please, in the southern portion of Almaden Valley, we NEED the availability of Route 13‐ we have no other public transportation. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Pass Important start a vta pass when warm springs bart opens cost 3 dollar to ride anything on vta for 14 hours to replace your 8 hours currently this is a problem and would help with shopping, college research, movies visiting family going to parks other things this is a need demand and will make vta service better when the bart extension is complete ridership will go down once the bart stations open and more once berryessa opens so make better benefit competition to other transportation the pass cost needs to be 3 dollars and will keep us rideing your service when need to just starting new routes in not the answer will hear more next year this vta pass is a great idea for riding light rail bus routes and flex service anything vta operates Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Routing Could this stop by Lawrence Caltrain? There's hasn't been service there in years, and it's barely out of the way. Myself and a few of my cowards would take it then. Thanks! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bart Connections I would really like to see bart connect smoothly with Amtrak capitol corridor. I go to Sacramento on weekends and it would be nice to see connections for Amtrak trains departing from Richmond and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan arriving bart trains so people can transfer without missing the limited Amtrak trains headed towards Sacramento. Routes: 103 Subject: Route 103 driver Why can't the VTA have a dedicated driver on this route? Every day it's someone different. Routes: 65 Subject: No for stricking down bus 65!! This bus is critical for me to get to work! Without it I won't have any transportation! Please do not end this route. The community needs this bus. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus Route 13 13 bus is very important to us seniors. Please don't cancel it. This is our main way of travel, to go senior center. Very inconvenient if you cancel it. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bart Connections 1. VTA should minimize friction between transferring to/from BART, Caltrain, and other transit agencies. Currently, many regional trips are more expensive on transit than driving because transit riders pay so many fares. VTA should also study incorporating unlimited BART and Caltrain travel within the county into the monthly pass (like SF Muni), especially when Caltrain is electrified and BART phase 2 opens. 2. Nobody takes three buses unless they have to. VTA light rail should be an integrated system with the buses, with the same fare policy. Transfers between all VTA buses and trains should be free. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Phone Chargers Install plugs for phone charger_Thank You! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Lot at 85 The lot seems full most weekdays, mainly due to company buses having a stop there. What will happen to this lot? Will it still be used for parking? I would dislike the cars from company buses to be on the street, if the lot is lost. Routes: New routes Subject: Coverage Evergreen Area Please consider providing better transportation coverage in the Evergreen area, specifically from the Villages. Many of us living in the Villages work but the transit is not available during working hours. I work in Fremont and would like to take BART from either Berryessa or Milpitas BART stations but getting to the BART stations in Santa Clara County from Evergreen area appears to be very time consuming. I'm fortunate enough to adjust my work start time to 6:00am with a 2:30pm stop time to avoid the worst commute traffic but it isn't helping reduce the car pollution. Additionally, getting from the Evergreen area to Campbell (another work site) is very time consuming. It appears there is not enough public transportation getting from the east side to the west side of Santa Clara County. Please consider expanding the frequency and times of transportation from the Villages to Eastridge Transit Center, and/or consider a VTA parking area at Evergreen College where the frequency and times appear better getting to and from Eastridge Transit Center. It would be helpful to have express bus service from Eastridge Transit Center to Berryessa or Milpitas BART. Light rail service from Eastridge Mall to Milipitas BART would be excellent but not sure if that will ever happen. Thank you for your time and consideration. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 45 Subject: Bus Service WhiteRd/Mckee I understand the desire to save money lost to low‐ridership bus routes. However, there will be a tragic loss of mobility and community connection for many lower‐income and older residents if line 45 is completely eliminated. Please consider a cheaper compromise that would at least retain service for the most important area: that around the vicinity of McKee Road and Kirk Ave/Toyon Ave. Here there are: Linda Vista and McCollam schools A half‐dozen churches around Kirk Ave Shopping centers at McKee and Toyon Hundreds of lower‐income apartments on La Pala Dr, southern Toyon Ave, and northern Madeline Dr. The solution would be to restore the continuation of line 64 farther east to Toyon. In the past, line 81 did that, making a loop on N White‐Penitencia Creek‐Toyon; however, it was slashed when the new 45 line was created. Now, if there will be no 45, then at least line 64 will need to continue east, possibly a smaller loop of Gridley‐Golf‐Toyon or Vista‐Summit‐Kirk. The VTA would actually get much better ridership per mile by doing this, because line 45 is a short, wandering route that is inconvenient and requires transfers. Thank you so much for your consideration of this serious problem. Routes: Light Rail Subject: LR Map Update In Los Ángeles, the transit map has BRT and train. In many other cities, multiple transit modes are on one map. VTA's light rail map needs to evolve into this. There are multiple modes of transportation in Santa Clara County ‐ Rapid BRT, light rail, BART, Caltrain. The map needs to be updated to become a "Rapid Transit Network" map. This will help people make transfers more easily and for them to more easily discover the new modes of transportation. Please consider this. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: NextN Real Time I think it's embarrassing that VTA doesn't have its own smart phone app for real time bus information. On the VTA website it points to 3rd party apps for which VTA claims no responsibility http://www.vta.org/getting‐around/gtfs‐info/dev‐apps Will Next Network add real time apps like other cities have: Atlanta, Washingon DC, Chicago ? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Foothill College access Greetings, It is darn near impossible to get from Mountain View High School to Foothill College, the closest Junior College. To get there, you need to take 3 busses, going down Grant Road to El Camino, up El Camion to El Monte, and then up El Monte to Foothill College. Why can't there be a bus that does from the Mountain View high school area (near Bryant / Grant Road) over to Foothill College? It seems that our public schools including Foothill College should have better VTA options from the local High Schools areas. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 25 Subject: Route 25 decrease in service Route 25 runs relatively inconsistently as it is, reducing the service and adding time between bus arrivals will make it near impossible to get to work and get my children to and from school and appointments. Reducing the service on weekends, the only time I have available to run errands, would make it a hardship on the whole community. Are you planning on running extended buses like on the 22? The 25 on weekends is already frequently packed, often during the week too. Putting more time between them and therefore fewer buses, would mean more packed buses! No bueno! Routes: 19; 68 Subject: Gilroy Bus Serv. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I would ride the bus more if there was a bus stop near Santa Teresa and Longmeadow. Currently the closest bus stop is over a mile away at Kern and Mantelli. I need a bus that will take me to a #68 bus stop so I can get to the Santa Teresa Light Rail station. Thank You. [Name redacted] Routes: 22 Subject: route 22 REDUCING SERVICE? Are you kidding? The 22 is already frequently packed with the extended buses. Now you want to reduce service and pack the bus even more? You keep reducing service, putting more cost on the riders and giving us less and less. If your goal is to increase ridership and funds, try doing what you promised years ago‐‐‐bus service every 10 minutes on the 22, period! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Caltrain Route Why would you have a route that duplicates a caltrain route? just get caltrain to double frequency to 30 min all day and 10 min during rush hour Routes: General Project Question Subject: Webinar Info. Hi ‐ I see that there's a webinar at 10 am on Jan 24 with a YouTube link. Do we just go to that link at the appointed time or do we sign up first somewhere and, if so, where?? Thanks. Routes: Light Rail Subject: LR Service There needs to be more light rail (VTA) service between the Japantown neighborhood and Santa Clara University. I don't see how this plan addresses that? There are many students who live in those neighborhoods and need better access. Routes: 201; 500 Subject: DASH The DASH line currently serves downtown San Jose at no cost for passengers. The proposed Rapid 500 will replace the DASH line. Will this connection be free for passengers? If not, what will be the fare? Routes: 65 Subject: elimination of route 65 i think eliminating route 65 would be an error. there are a number of students who take this bus to leigh high, del mar high school, san jose city college, a special needs college on parkmore/moorpark, and san jose state university. today when i disembarked, the 63 bus was there at the same time. 1 student got off the 63. 5 people got off the 65. there are also lots of senior citizens who catch the bus downtown to go to a senior day center across from san jose state. many of them are chinese speaking only. routing everyone to bus 63 would inhibit the mobility of these seniors. don't make it harder for students and seniors to use public transportation! Routes: 13 Subject: Bus Route 13 Concerned about the proposed changes. Concerned about loss of bus route service to students at Leland High School. Her son takes this bus home every day. She took it with him several times and saw lots of students riding it. No seats for the students because so many people ride it. She asked if we could keep bus route 13 or reduce the frequency? Or could we extend 63 to serve the students? At least, VTA can provide school trippers to Leland High School students. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Middlefield Rd Info. Please fix your website so we can understand what the changes are for Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Does this mean you're going to provide school bus service or will us residents still have t deal with All Comments Received on the Draft Plan your empty buses that never yield to residents trying to either get around them or get out of their driveways? Your web site design is horribly uninformative. How much are we paying for this garbage? Routes: General Project Question Subject: Seat Belts I was just wondering why the buses here have no seat belts? Every time I get in one I feel very vulnerable because there are no seat belts. I take an Amtrak bus every week from Stockton to San Jose and it has seat belts. It makes me feel more secure. I know that it is unlikely to crash but it can happen. This is a newer bus I take every day from San Jose to Palo Alto Express. Thank you. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: VTA route 13 and route 63 Please reconsider the drafted plan of eliminating route 13 and shorten the route 63 to reach Almaden valley. With the draft plan, it leave Almaden with no public transportation at all. We have increased number of population being senior and Leland high and Bret hart middle school rely on the bus as the primary means of transportation. Whatever the proposal is needs to address the needs of those two under severed community. If it is possible to extent 63 via Camden road to reach Leland and have some stops along the way could be one solution. Then it's possible to elimate 13. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Public Meetings Schedule You absolutely *must have* a meeting at San Jose State University, West Valley College, and De Anza College WHILE THE STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL!!! To not do so is grossly negligent on VTA's part and likely in violation of Title IV as many underprivileged and minority individuals are students at these schools where they try to improve their lives. Routes: 53 Subject: Route 53 Why move 81 from Benton to 53 on homestead? Benton already has stops. Adding stops to homestead will only increase cost. There are a lot of residences on homestead as well as benton, so that should not be a factor. Routes: 63 Subject: Route 63 I really hope Route 63 can reach Expressway/Camden Avenue. My son used this route on weekends when he was studying in UCB. We may have other kids still need to use this route. Thanks Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Changes on Almaden Bus Routes [I am] a resident of Almaden Valley. I'm very concerned about the proposed changes on Almaden bus routes, which will leave Almaden Valley no public transportation! Currently, lots of Bret harte middle school students and Leland high school student take bus 13 back to home after school. Cutting off the bus will have a huge negative impact to these students as well as lots of people living in Almaden. I understand the low ridership issue, but completely cutting it off is not acceptable. Please work out reasonable alternatives, such as reducing the bus frequency, extend bus 63 to cover Almaden area, etc. I would really appreciate any viable solution regarding this issue! Routes: 63 Subject: Bus Route 63 works at Almaden Shopping Center. We need bus service in Almaden Valley. She can't drive in the dark. Her housekeeper takes bus route 63 to get there from East San Jose, Willow Glen. Used to pick her up at Harry Road. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 37 Subject: Hillsdale Bus Service There is a lot of people living on hillsdale ave both to the left and right of Highway 87. The route 37 is a lifeline for all such people living on hillsdale ave and nearby areas in San Jose and is itself not well connected in its current form. Instead of expanding its scope, the proposed changes completely eliminate the route and replace it with route 21. Unfortunately, route 21 does not even extend to San Jose and only exists in palo alto, Mountain view, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. Infact, the whole area of south west of curtner Ave and Highway 87 is so poorly connected that one cannot even think of using public transit to go to office/grocery stores/other places. I request you to at least add bus services on hillsdale Ave connecting to San Jose Diridon Caltrain station and to Capitol Expressway VTA Light Rail station. Without it, a lot of people living (such as people living the low income housing on Hillsdale Ave, students renting places on hillsdale ave, and other people living in surrounding areas of Hillsdale) will be forced to take taxi or uber every single day to go to railway station/grocery stores. Thank you. Routes: 120 Subject: bus 120 Route 120 should not be affected when BART starts service to San Jose. BART to San Jose won't reduce bus 120 commuters as it is a very different route. In fact, when BART warm springs station opens you will see more people coming to that syation and hopping on to 120 afterwards. So 120 ridership will actually improve with BART coming. Routes: 522 Subject: Route 522 The problem I find with Route 522 is that it does not mimic the 22 route completely. I could take it and WOULD take it more often, but many of my trips start where only the 22 runs, ergo, the 522 is useless to me. Have the routes match up and I would take the 522 often. I don't know why you feel it is appropriate to have a similar route, and use an express number, when the routes are not actually the same. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Bus Route 13 and 63 seems drastic to cut all routes in Almaden Valley. He does use bus occasionally from Camden and Almaden Expressway to light rail station and light rail from there. He doesn't want to have to drive that extra bit when he takes his bike. Would rather have reduced service than no service. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: don't fix it, if its not broken I'm emailing u today‐1.31.017, I'm very happy with the current bus layout is. please dont change it, will harder for all the people that uses your buses, especially the disabled people as myself. Routes: 13 Subject: VTA route 13 This change leaves Almaden residents with no Bus at all! This will make life miserable for many seniors and juniors who rely on the public transit. Please change this plan to keep route 13! Routes: 13 Subject: Against changes to 13, 63, 64 & 65 Why cancelling and reducing frequency buses into Almaden Valley at the same time? Low rideship on buses might change if 1 or 2 route is changed. Suggestion: Discontinue 13 / 65, keep 63 to alamaden expressway and Camden, Do NOT reducing frequency of 64. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus Route 13 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please continue offering these bus routes. Children at both Bret Harte Middle School and Leland High School need to have this public transportation available to them as well as many members of our community. I see people taking this bus to the community center, grocery shopping, work and so much more. For some, this is their only means of transportation and it should not be taken away! Many parents rely on their children taking this bus to and from school as a safe means of transportation. Do not take this sense of peace of mind away. Please re‐consider keeping this bus route. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Route 13 and 63 change the recent proposed change on 63 and 13 will leave NO puclic transportation in Almaden vally. Not acceptable ro the residents, especially students who rely on them! Routes: 13; 63 Subject: No public transportation in Almaden valley? This proposed change leaves no public transportation in Almaden valley!! Not acceptable!!! Routes: 37 Subject: Route 37 Please do not discontinue 37 route because I am student of West Valley Collage. I used commute everyday to my college by 37.. it is a lifesaver for me. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus #13 Please don't get rid of this bus. It is the only way to get to and from Almaden valley for those who don't drive. Many students and seniors depend on it. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: GUARANTEED RIDE PROGRAM I REALIZED VTA NO LONGER OFFERS GURANTEED RIDE PROGRAM AND WAS A CLIENT OF AND HAD AN AUTHORIZATION TIL SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR WHICH WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE FBI STUFF.. WAS WANTING TO APPLY FOR REGULAR ADA SERVICE WAS GONNA ASK IF YOU COULD SEND AN APPLICATION TO MY CASEMANAGER AT SAN ANDREAS REGIONAL CENTER SO I CAN QUALIFY FOR SERVICES SAN ANDREAS REGIONAL CENTER Routes: 181 Subject: Express bus 181 Please do not discontinue express bus 181 in the fall 2017 as planned. I take that bus every day to work as I do not have a car. Thank you for allowing public feedback. Routes: 181 Subject: Alternative of 181 service Hi There, I'm one of the commuters rely on 181 get to San Jose to/from work daily; I appreciate the bus service, as it gives me peace of mind instead of fighting in traffic. Is it possible to limit the service only the commute hours, for e.g., 7:00 ‐ 9:00am and 5:00pm ‐ 7:00Pm. I'm sure there are more riders will appreciate this than shut down the service entirely. Thank you for your attention. 181 frequent commute rider. [Name redacted] Routes: 68 Subject: Santa Theresa Route in Gilroy? Why is there no Santa Theresa Route in Gilroy? It seems that the fastest growing part of town would be addressed by a route from Day Road to Thomas with a stop at the Gilroy Transit Center. The largest development of new homes has been west of Santa Theresa but there is no service for this part of the city. Christopher Ranch Highschool to Gilroy Gardens is completely unrepresented. Please consider a All Comments Received on the Draft Plan route that provides coverage of Santa Theresa from Day Rd and Christopher Ranch Highschool to Gilroy Caltrain Station. Routes: 23; 323 Subject: Transit to O'connor Hospital I looks like there will no longer be service to O'connor Hospital. If this is true then how will disabled riders like myself get to our healthcare providers without enduring some horrible odyssey of a long walk. Please do not end service to any hospital. Routes: 23 Subject: O'conner Hopsital Hi this is my second message on this subject. Seriously. No service to a hospital. Have you ever had to go to a hsopital and if so did you want to walk. Please don't end service to any hopital. Routes: 55 Subject: Concerned about route 55 I am concerned about the proposed changes to Route 55., specifically dropping Fair Oaks/Remington from the route. There are many apartments, at least 2 senior living centers, and the Sunnyvale senior center on the current route that would no longer be conveniently served. For those who have alternate means of transport (i.e. Cars) this could increase congestion. For those who don't, this could have more serious consequences. Routes: 63 Subject: Bus Route 63 Please keep 63 bus, especially the stop on Almaden Expressway and Camden Ave. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: VTA Bus Almaden We started a collective petition last night and we have already had more than 75 Almaden supporters within 12 hours. We believe the number of supporters will grow. The following link will take you to our petition page and we have lots of people leaving comments regarding their needs for bus service up to Harry. Subject: Petition: Maintain Bus Service for Almaden Routes: 13; 63; 65 Valley We started a collective petition last night and we have already had 90 Almaden supporters a 16 hours. We believe the number of supporters will grow. The following link will take you to our petition page and we have lots of people leaving comments regarding their needs for bus service up to Harry. https://www.change.org/p/santa‐clara‐valley‐transportation‐authority‐keep‐bus‐service‐for‐the‐
almaden‐san‐jose‐ca‐
area?recruiter=668778944&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share
_email_responsive Sincerely, Routes: 55 Subject: 55 The changes proposed to Rt 55 in Sunnyvale that eliminates stops on Old San Francisco to Fair Oakes then to El Camino is puzzling and not desirable. Students use those stops to go back and forth to DeAnza college and to Caltrain as well as Rt 26 buses. The Santa Clara Valley Health facility and adjacent senior housing building will lose bus stops which are frequently used by passengers including community residents , many seniors and clinic patients. Also this line helps our neighborhood to enter and return from downtown Sunnyvale and shopping activities. I live right off of Fair Oakes and want to express opposition to this plan. Thank you. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: Light Rail Subject: LR Map Update I wanted to know why the light rail map, which is being updated to add the new orange line, is not going one step further and turning the map into a ?VTA Rapid Transit? map? Attached is an example of what I?m talking about, and also attached is your proposed new 2017 map for comparison. My suggestion / feedback is below. I hope that VTA will strongly consider my suggestion, and I?d love to hear the Next Network team?s thoughts. I am very open to working with your team to help suggest ways this idea could be implemented, and to respond to questions. Out of all my suggestions for Next Network, this is the one most important to me, and I would love to see it happen ‐ and I know I?m not the only one. Los Angeles has both light rail and rapid bus / BRT on their rapid transit map. I believe VTA should do the same, and more. First and most importantly, I believe VTA should strongly consider adding the BRT lines ‐ 500, 522, 523 and their station areas / stops to the map. VTA has just built these, and riders need to become aware that these rapid transportation options exist. The best way to do that is to put them and their stops on the map, similar to below on the suggestion map (though I would go further and put a dot at each station). I believe it is very useful for county residents to know, for example, there are new rapid transit routes. This would encourage riders to head to places such as Valley Fair / Santana Row, Berryessa BART, De Anza College, Sunnyvale Caltrain, and more by the bus, for example. Ridership will be strengthened on these lines if VTA takes the proper effort to prominently highlight them as much as possible. Secondly, BART is coming to Santa Clara County this year, thanks to VTA building it. Looking at your 2017 map, it?s very hard to figure out this transformative service even exists. In fact, the 2017 map as shown below indicates that the Berryessa BART station might as well not exist, as it?s not referenced anywhere in this map. I believe that VTA should go one step further. VTA is building the BART in Santa Clara County. VTA should have this line on the map with the Milpitas and Berryessa stations highlighted as in the attached ?suggestion" map. Lastly, on top of adding the BART lines, I think it would do VTA very well to consider adding part of the Caltrain line onto the map ‐ the Blossom Hill, Capitol, Tamien, Diridon, College Park (optional), Santa Clara, Lawrence, Sunnyvale, and downtown Mountain View stations. Despite Caltrain and BART not being VTA‐operated services, VTA is the public transportation agency in Santa Clara County and, in my opinion, should be actively working to encourage people to take rapid transit of all forms. At the very least, I believe VTA should highlight this section of the Caltrain line in order to assist county residents, especially those not in San Jose, in accessing rapid transportation. Routes: 37 Subject: Route 37 My son has special needs and is unable to drive. The 37 bus takes him to the Light Rail Station, which has been very important for his access to the community. Closing this route will impact his world dramatically. This is also the route to West Valley College. How will rider's be serviced if the current proposal is approved. Routes: 81 Subject: Line 81 (forgive me if this was already submitted; the last time I tried to leave a comment, the page timed out so I am not sure if it was actually submitted or not). I would like to applaud VTA for their efforts to make public transportation and multi‐mobility a priority for Santa Clara County. I am a transportation planner and understand how important offering community members choices for when they travel can be. I would like to recommend VTA reconsider completely removing Line 81. With Measure B funds now available, making Line 81 a limited route would serve those of us who use the 81 for commuting. I understand the fare box recovery for this line is very low, overall, but I take the bus during commute hours at least 4 days a week and at the times when I ride, there are many people on All Comments Received on the Draft Plan the bus with me. Keeping this line in place would also allow for the multitude of students, teachers, and staff who use the bus to get to Herbert Hoover Middle School and Trace Elementary (one block away). I know Clipper does not allow for the data to show where people are getting off the bus, but at least 4 to 6 people alight at that stop from my bus alone. Of course, I am an imperfect source of data, but I hope you reconsider eliminating this route all together and making it a limited route with a few buses in the morning and a few in the evening. Thank you again for all your hard work with this! Routes: 22 Subject: route 22 I'm sure many daily riders will agree that it's time VTA cleans or renews their 22 buses! They look and smell really bad! Please practice cleaning the buses! Routes: 523 Subject: Closest Stop for Proposed Bus Route 523 [Name redacted] wanted to know the closest stop to her home under the new proposed system. A. Shoor answered that the 523 bus would be closest but wasn't sure where the stop would be. After hearing back from J. Tyree, A. Shoor responded, "[Name redacted], I believe I have an answer for you regarding bus stops near your house under the current proposed changes to VTA?s transit system. Here is the info I received back ? Looks like the Rapid 523 would make one stop to serve that neighborhood. The 523 would stop on Mathilda at Ross Drive, which looks like a 10‐minute walk from the customer?s residence. She would also be about a 15‐minute walk to the nearest stop for Route 56, on Fair Oaks at Weddell. I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have further questions or comments on the proposed plan. Alex" [Name redacted] responded, "From [Name redacted] Thank you for the prompt answer. How often does the 523 rapid run? If I need to get to el Camino and Mathilda, would the 523 Rapid stop there?? Thank you. I look forward to your response [Name redacted]" 2/1/17: A. Shoor responded, "Yes, considering how prominent an intersection Mathilda and El Camino are, I can only imagine it would stop right there. The 523 would run every 15 minutes, one of the more frequent bus routes of any in our system. Here is more information on the 523: http://nextnetwork.vta.org/routes‐23‐323‐523. Create new Route 523 which would connect Lockheed Martin Transit Center, Downtown Sunnyvale, De Anza College, Vallco, Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, Mexican Heritage Plaza and Berryessa BART Station. Weekday Frequency Saturday Frequency Sunday Frequency Hours of Operation" Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bus Thornton Way We would like to see the bus stop at Thornton and Empty moved or discontinued. The buses speed down our street on a regular basis and we have complained for years. While we've seen some improvement, the biggest problem is drivers that don't stop at this stop, (since there are hardly ever any riders) speeding to catch the green light at Moorpark. We have tried everything, including following the bus to the next stop to plead with them to slow down. Please consider moving the bus off of our street. Thank you. Routes: 46 Subject: bus 46 I think there should be some connectivity to nearest hub, bus terminus or landess/park Victoria intersection that can assess to Great Mall/transit hub. So route 46 cannot be removed Routes: 13; 63; 66 Subject: Constituent has a NN comment Attached letter outlines the position of AVCA Board regarding the elimination of bus service to Almaden Valley. Please review the letter and respond at your earliest convenience. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 63 Subject: Bus Route 63 I have a client who regularly comes to my classes by bus twice a week. I am close to the intersection of Meridian and Redmond. She also regularly goes to the Almaden Community Center. She will be unable to do so if this route is discontinued. She does not have a car. Routes: 65 Subject: Discontinued route Bus 65 drops and picks me up right at SJCC, it is definitely a hassle to ride bus 23/323 and get dropped off 20 minutes away from school. PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE BUS 65 Routes: 55 Subject: rerouting the 55 bus My two kids rely on the 55 bus to get to and from De Anza College. They catch the bus at the intersection of Old San Francisco Road and Fair Oaks Avenue, which is part of the route which is proposed to be modified. If that part of the route is changed or eliminated, it will present a hardship for my kids in getting to and from school. Since VTA is, in large part, funded by tax revenue, I don't feel it would be a good use of tax‐payer money to create hardships for people to get to and from school, medical appointments, or any other destination. Routes: 55 Subject: More about changing the 55 bus route VTA claims that this change is in support of the BART extension into Santa Clara County. BART and VTA are separate entities and should remain separate. Changing bus routes on which people rely cannot, in any way, be considered as serving the public. I fail to see how the BART extension, which won't directly serve the Sunnyvale/Cupertino area, should affect local bus routes. In fact, BART will barely come into SCC and shouldn't even be a factor in considering bus routes that people depend on. Routes: 330 Subject: Spanish language Todavía sa apasar el bas 330 por la San Tomás Express wuy cuando ba a dejar de sircuar yo lo agarró todos los días por la cabrillo y San Tomás Express wuy gracias espero yege mi mensaje por favor en español gracias translation I still use line 330 for San Tomás Express Way and i need it on a daily basis to Reach cabrillo and St Thomas Express way stop Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Faulty Isochrones The problem, or deception, of your isochrones is that they solely account for the transit travel time ‐ and ignore how many riders will go from a 10‐15 minute walk at most on either end to a 30 minute walk on either end. For example, my home <==> work "isochrone" doesn't actually change in your "next network". It's still a 45‐60 minute trip. However, I don't live at a bus stop and I don't work at a bus stop. Where they're currently within a block or two of either, the "next network" would make me walk 15‐20 minute on either end. (And not everyone walks as fast or as easily, nor do we always have light loads. Try getting two toddlers and 5 bags of groceries a mile, and claiming a 20 minute walk is easy.) Routes: 37; 48; 49 Subject: Lines 37, 48 and 49 Please maintain some kind of service along Camden Avenue. Although there is low ridership along that thoroughfare on the 37, the abundance of restaurants, shops and other establishments warrants a decent east‐west bus transit service that would be lost if 37 is eliminated altogether. Perhaps consider reconfiguring or consolidating existing 37, 48 and 49 routes to maintain what already exists. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 58 Subject: Route 58 I don't use a car since route 58 gets me right to my work, which is San Tomas expressway and De la Cruz boulevard. The other option is 57, which leaves me in like a 30 minute walking Distance. If route 58 is removed I will be forced to use th car everyday, and stop relying on public transportation. I don't agree with the idea of removing the line, I would be ok to make it only work mornings 6‐10 and afternoon 5‐8pm Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Corporate shuttles using Camden VTA lot The Camden VTA lot is full or overflowing on weekdays with corporate shuttle parkers. If the 65 bus route leaves, what will happen to this lot? I would dislike having the lot sold and then corporate parkers are using the neighborhood streets. The corporate shuttles are going down Hwy 85, how come there is no public transportations down Hwy 85 for those without a corporate shuttle? Routes: 181 Subject: please keep 181 ? and a question Hi: I am writing to urge you to keep 181 service. It seems to be a popular route, and many people rely on it to get from southern Alameda County to San Jose ? some of whom are disabled or don't make enough money to afford sensible alternatives. My question is: Will there be a gap in time between when 181 would stop service and when BART service to San Jose begins? If so, what would you suggest people do to get from Fremont to San Jose via public transportation? Many of us don't have other options. Thank you very much for taking time to read. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Bus routes to Almaden Valley, # 13 and 63 I catch these buses from Almaden Valley Regularly and will be greatly impacted if these routes are discontinued. Please offer an alternative. Routes: 37 Subject: Route 37 I occasionally take the bus to/from Hillsdale/Jarvis area and Winchester. So the new plan appears to leave me unserved. Another reason public transportation doesn't work for me. If I wanted to get to the new Bart station, how would I use public transportation from my home in the Hillsdale/Jarvis area? Routes: 37 Subject: Route 37 discontinuation VTA planners, Why not think about either reducing the frequency of runs or implementing a smaller bus/vehicle on this route? Our family has a special needs student that relies on the bus to get to light rail. Although reducing the frequency will necessitate changing his commute schedule, it would certainly be better than having to walk the mile and a half to the light rail station, crossing multiple very dangerous intersections, including Harriet/Westmont, Hacienda/Burrows, Hacienda/Winchester along with Winchester/CA17, WHERE LOCAL DRIVERS DO NOT YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail Really appreciate the new Alum Rock route extending to Mtn. View. I plan to ride this route as soon as it is up and running. Would be nice if the route eventually extended even farther south into Evergreen. Thank you for the changes! Routes: 53 Subject: 53 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan TWiMConcern: This looks like a good start however, I believe the system would work better if there were more busses running off the Caltrain & Lightrail stations down major residential streets. Perhaps more, smaller busses to start? I am encouraged to see the increase in frequency (particularly on route 53) however, personally, I would like to see it increased to 10 ‐ 15 minutes during rush hour to encourage more use. In addition, please consider timing the schedule to the Caltrain schedule, particularly on the weekends and the final train. There is no question that this a "chicken & egg" situation. There needs to be ridership to justify the increased service but without increased service people will not use it. Therefore, my final suggestion is *advertise like crazy!!!* Good luck. Subject: Next Network: issues with The following bus Routes: 68 routes: 68, 42, and future route 76 Hey i was reading the next network map and i noticed that in the new map for this fall, my bus stop and my bus route (rte 42) are gone. This negativity affects my transit route as it will now take an extra 15‐20 min to get home via route 68 because it doesn't stop at San Ignacio Ave and Bernal Rd. So here's what i suggest: between Santa Teresa/Bernal Rd and Blossom Hill/Cottle/Monterey Rd, split route 68 into 2 bus routes (route 68N heading on Bernal towards Monterey and 68W on the existing 68 route) this would fully replace route 42 between the Santa Teresa light rail and Monterey/senter rd. Plz listen to this VTA. U gotta have a positive transit network for EVERYONE. Routes: 120 Subject: Do not stop Bus #120 I sincerely suggest/request not to remove bus #120. The trip which starts at 7:42 am at BART will be full which is convenient time for working professionals from intuit/google. Instead ,add a trip in the evening which starts at 4:30 and cancel one at 5:44 pm. most of the people want to leave early by 4:30 that way evening buses will be full, people are looking for other commute options as 5pm /5:30 pm return buses doesn?t help , Parents are required to pick their kids, if there is a bus at 4:30 from san Antonio&casey , the commuters will increase in bus, you can cancel a trip which start at 5:44pm at casey if makes sense. For the people who live close to Mission Blvd Fremont who commute to Intuit this is the best way. The bus almost full in the morning which starts in the morning at 7:44pm at BART station VTA is getting back enough from the fares. Even the future BART will not help us. Me and my friends who commute in this bus cannot take BART, we have to again switch to driving all the way to work. *** Providing BART and removing other like bus#120 is not going to help. You have to increase the public transportation, that way people can rely on buses and traffic will reduce on the roads. Routes: 27 Subject: bus line 27 Please have bus 27 go to Los Gatos civic center. Every tI'm I take the los gatos busses. Atleast 4 people get off in downtown During meeting in Cupertino regarding proposed bus changes I inadvertently stated concern for bus 82. It actually should be bus 37. I live near downtown Los Gatos with a destination of Hillsdale near Ross (post office.) In your proposal the 37 bus I just started using as a transfer is completely removed. This change requires me to walk a long distance from the Union and Camden stop. I walk all day. Other postal workers may care but not sure since I just started. Taking the new 27 then taking the 63 north does not get me any closer and is a longer irrational bus ride. Please Note ‐ I just started this job at the post office at Hillsdale / Camden split near Target and Smart and Final. There is a library there, TJ max and other stores. Before that I regularly took the bus to San Jose State from Los Gatos and to job interviews etc... after graduation. History: I discovered taking bus when living in Portland. Much easier there to do. Please somehow get me closer to the post office from Los Gatos. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: don't fix it, if its not broken The VTA is getting to be like 'RT' in Sacramento,Ca. I like it the way it is. some routes you can delete from service. Routes: 37 Subject: Bus 37 It is bus 37 not 82 that is of concern being removed from service. Particularly near Hillsdale and Ross intersection near library and post office. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA board .... I would bery much like to serve on the VTA board for South county ...I ride the bus everyday and question those that redo our map .... the service in Gilroy is inconsistent at best ... I want to change that .... you need to serve DSS on Murray and this map doesn't cover Murray Ave. also benches need to be provided for the long wait .... I can help with that ... please contact me asap Routes: 21 Subject: bus line 21 I really like the idea of a single bus route the length of Middlefield as far as Palo Alto. Running parallel to and more frequently than Caltrain along a well‐known corridor, it could reproduce some of the success of the 22. I think it would be better if it continued straight along Middlefield between San Antonio and Moffett: The route already provides Caltrain connections at Sunnyvale and Palo Alto The detour duplicates Caltrain connections provided by route 44 and employer shuttles A straight route would provide service to many apartments, offices, and retail along Middlefield A straighter route provides faster service to passengers A straighter route is more intuitive to customers A simpler route reduces operation costs, making frequent service more feasible Route 22 avoids detours to connect to Caltrain, and it is VTA?s most popular line One potential vision for route 21 is as a frequent route that can extend the frequent service provided by light rail down through the offices and apartments in the North of Mountain View clear to downtown Palo Alto. Routes: 246; 47 Subject: route 246, 47 Its great to have school tripper, helps kids. However, the plan is totally ignoring old and commuters looking to access transit center at Great Mall. Understood, the plan says residents can walk to route 47, but practically it is not possible (or would be painful) for senior citizens. My proposal is to: 1. Extend school tripper route 246 to non‐school hours to all day, make it community tripper connecting it to the transit center. OR 2. Alter route 47 to cover larger area, lets say northbound could continue on Calavaras road until temple drive, take Yosemite drive and sequoia drive then to yellowstone dr back into Park Victoria drive. Similarly, southbound could turn on to Park Victoria then immediately to YellowStone dr, sequoia drive to temple drive via Yosemite drive and then to Calaveras road. OR 3. Alter route 47 to cover larger area, Calavaras road all the way to the end where it touches Piedmont Rd, then turn on to Yosemite Rd and back to Park Victoria dr. In any case, altering/extending route 47 or extending route 246 or continuing with route 46 seems good approach, IMHO. As the BART starts its operations, having connectivity to transit center is a must to residents, renters as well as senior citizens. Routes: 46 Subject: route 46 IMHO, the route 46 ridership could be given one more chance. The charts shown with title "Increase frequency on high‐ridership routes" and "Spend funds more cost‐effectively" for route 46 is in the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan center of the distribution. (http://nextnetwork.vta.org/network‐design‐changes) This only says that the route is being used fairly okay compared to other routes such as route 60, 71, 70. Best would be to reduce number of trips during non‐peak hours. such as: 1. 15 mins trips during peak hours and 1 hour trips during non‐peak hours. 2. No trips between 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Thanks. Milpitas resident, planning to use BART when its starts this Fall. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Express LR The updated light rail routes look good. But an express service should be added between Milpitas BART and Moffett Park. This new service would easily be preferred over the current express bus route to Fremont BART. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Service I use the VTA on a regular basis. That is to say have plenty experience withe VTA. Throughout my experience it was both pleasing and comfortable. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Service VTA is doing great work! Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Palo Alto Routes I live in Palo Alto. My neighbors whose kids attend Gunn, do not like the new changes to line 88, and would prefer to retain existing service schedule. You'll probably get many messages in support of this position. I'd like to express my support for fewer, more frequent routes. It is the only way to true mass transit, that is popular and widely used. Underserving everyone by being spread out too thin means everyone rather drives. I grew up with frequent mass transit, and never thought I'd drive a car. Here, mass transit is always the last option I consider, because most of the routes run only once an hour. Routes: 68; 97 Subject: bus route 68/97 Why not eliminate propose Route 97 and simply extend selected Route 68 trips to Gavilan College like you did in the olde days? I get that weekend service not go to the College, just have those trips terminate in downtown Gilroy in the same manner that route 40 terminates in DT Los Altos on Sundays. Routes: 63 Subject: Please extend #63 to cover Almaden Valley Hi VTA, We are seniors living in Almaden Valley. We take #13 to community center everyday in the morning, and ride it back home at 1 pm. #13 is essential to our life!!! We cannot drive. I also see lots of students taking the bus. We live near Foxhurst way. It's the last stop in the loop for #13. Please consider to provide Almaden Valley a bus service. Please extend #63 to cover the same route as #13. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: General Comment I will go to the webinar Routes: 13; 63 Subject: route 13, route 63 keep route 13, route 63 bus service in almaden valley. might shorten the routes on route 13 to cover bret harte and leland students. from almaden expressway to via valente, and turn left on camden to pick up leland high school students and then continue camden ave. back to almaden expressway. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 68; 70 Subject: Bus Route 68 and 70 Keep bus route until midnight. A lot of people like Mr. Gamino get off work at 11 pm. He needs to catch the bus, the last one at 2nd and Santa Clara St southbound to Gilroy. He usually gets to the bus station at 11:45 pm for 12:04 am bus. Other working folks ride this bus and so they need this midnight bus. He also rides the 70 bus. The new 70 bus will be less convenient for him. He'll now have to take the 76 to get to Eastridge to transfer to the 70. Wants to keep the 70 as it is. A lot of folks take the 70 connnecting at Capitol light rail. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART Silicon Valley When will the Warm Springs BART Station be opened because of the long delay that has happen in years? Routes: 13 Subject: Route 13 My kids take the 13 from school so I can work until now. It is very important to have this bus otherwise there is no transportation for kids. Pls consider my situation. Thank you. Routes: 13; 25; 35 Subject: Do not discontinue it I am using buses 13 and 37 and25 all weekdays. Do not discontinue it. Routes: 60 Subject: VTA Service Bus 60 Some consideration should be given to getting Bus 60 to intersect more closely with Caltrain schedules at Santa Clara station. Especially during peak commute hours. Subject: VTA route 88 buses in Palo Alto to and from Routes: 88 Gunn High school Please keep all the route 88 buses (3 lines) to and from Gunn High School. Students depend on the buses to go to school. School schedule also varies, so they may have a short day on Tue or Wed but a longer school day on Mon or Fri. Cutting services meaning students cannot go home. Most parents both have to work. Thank you. Routes: 13; 25; 37; 63 Subject: For buses 13, 37, 25, 63 Please do not take out these buses i need them for my everyday commute. Routes: 23; 522 Subject: Driver not stopping The driver of the 522 bus I am on was not slowing down as she approached the Sunset stop, so I started signaling for her to stop, eventually hollering, but she still drove by at high speed. Thanks to her hitting a lengthy red light at King, I was able to catch up with her, at which point she was rude about it, claiming I was waving her through when she never even slowed down and I just about jumped in front of the bus to get her to stop ‐ no way to be mistaken for waving her through. (Which I do for the 23, and it goes along with stepping BACK from the curb and very different hand movements.) Routes: 13 Subject: We need route 13 to be kept Route 13 is the only transportation that my parents can use to go out as they cannot dive. Please KEEP it. Thanks! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: I SUPPORT the VTA Next Network plan I wholeheartedly support the Next Network plan to emphasize a grid of frequent transit routes. This is the right step to creating a transit network that is useful to more Santa Clara County residents. I hope that the VTA does not waver from the basic idea of this plan. Other than filling in some large gaps that would be left without service completely, VTA should stick to the network of frequent all‐day routes. Santa Clara County needs far more bus service than is currently provided or will be provided with Measure B revenue. However, the Next Network plan provides a good framework for future expansion. As money rolls in, more existing routes can add frequency, service span can be extended into the evening, and new routes can be created to fill in gaps. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Scheduling for infrequent routes As part of the network redesign, VTA has rightfully placed emphasis on the frequent trunk routes. However, the infrequent 'coverage' routes can be made much more useful with proper schedule planning. Timed pulses between nearby infrequent routes or timing to match frequent routes should be done whenever possible. Currently, this is not always the case. Transferring from an infrequent route to a frequent one is always easy. However, going the other way is hard unless the infrequent route is timed to meet the frequent one. Timed transfers don't cost many more service hours (other than having to idle during the transfer) but they will save customers tremendous amounts of time. Routes: 63 Subject: ROUTE 63 COMMENTS you keep saying you based on public feedback to design this plan. Whom did you ask anyway? I have been on bus all my life and I have never had anyone approached me asking for my feedback. I work every day, including weekends, busy with my life, who has time to check your Web site every so often to see we need to give you feedback? I am on the 7:39am bus for route 63 every morning including Saturdays to get to work in downtown. Then I take the 5:46pm bus every weekdays, and 5:59pm bus on Saturdays to go home. I have done this for the past 2 decades. If you end your service at Blossom Hill, that means, I have to walk 3 miles to get to that bus stop every day, every morning all year round in all weather and cost me another 50‐minute‐ride to work. Then I get off at Blossom Hill and walk another 3 miles to get home AT NIGHT. How is this a better solution? How could you have come up with this plan to solve your fiancial crisis? How do you guarantee my safety? Or maybe you don't care. Public transits are supposed to provide services for ''public'' who needs it no matter what. As a government agency, that's what you do. If you want to increase ridership, cutting services is not a smart way to do it. My commute will be greatly impacted by your proposal. Try to literally walk a mile in our shoes before you make any insensitive decision. Please retain/keep the current services for 63 or extend it to cover part of 13. You want to see an increase of ridership, you do something POSITIVE to make it happen. You don't just cut services and hope more riders will take public transits. If you think cutting services equals to increase ridership, you obviously are very bad at math and logical thinking. Routes: 82 Subject: Route 82 don't eliminate Please keep Route 82. It helps me to get to and from work from Winchester to work Downtown. The 282 is a good idea but I don't have kids so I would never ride it. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: build more bus stops more bus stops means people will ride the transit more often All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 10 Subject: ruta 10 porque eliminar la ruta 10 que tiene camiones especiales para los viajeros con maletas y mesclarlos con una ruta de pasajeros regulares con una espera mas larga Routes: 66 Subject: 66 It's not good to re‐route buses from Great Mall to BART station because then there's no VTA bus to get people from downtown San Jose to Great Mall, like the route 66 bus. Once someone takes a bus to Milpitas BART Station, how will they get to the Great Mall from there with no public transit to use? Routes: 323 Subject: 880/stevenscreek en esta area se necesita acomodar los ciclos de las luces pues en hora de trafico los carros que salen del 880 hacia valleyfair bloquean la interseccion haciendo perder todo el ciclo verde para el trafico que avanza westbound cuando el trafico avanza w/b tienen luz roja otra ves y hace que el trafico se retrace coriendo dos rutas 23 y 523 realmente aumentara la aglomeracion en trafico Routes: 65 Subject: Discontinued route Bus 65 gets me to SJCC perfectly without a long walk. PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE THIS ROUTE! Tons of students use it and it would make getting to class harder! Routes: 37 Subject: Bus Route 37 This is popular in Campbell/San Jose. Keep Bus Route 37. Picks it up at Union and Camden and rides it to Hillsdale. Sometimes she rides it further to Capitol. It's the only bus that does it. If you can at least the afternoon ones. She is retired and disabled. Routes: 89 Subject: Bus Route 89 Catches the 89 at California Ave and El Camino and rides it to the VA hospital. Might have to take the school bus the 88 instead. Gets all his health care up there. Routes: 89 Subject: Petition to Keep Route 89 Peak Weekeay Service I wish to voice my concern over the VTA Next plan to discontinue Route 89 service in Palo Alto. While I understand that this route suffers from low ridership during non‐peak hours, route 89 is an important link between Caltrain and the employment hub around the Page Mill/VA Hospital and is heavily used during peak commute hours. Route 89 is the only VTA connection to this Caltrain station, and the other two Palo Alto stations are also underserved by VTA. Even if low overall ridership demands a restructure of this route, it would be great if this route could be reduced to a rush hour only schedule to maintain this vital link for commuters, rather than have all service discontinued, in order to maximize value for riders and minimize costs for VTA. Routes: 46 Subject: route 46 Route 46 is easy access to Pedimont and Evens Rd residents trying to get to transit and shopping centers. Route 46 ridership and earnings are better than lots of other routes (can be seen in one of the web pages http://nextnetwork.vta.org/network‐design‐changes). It would definitely make sense if they just keep it with increased frequency during peak hours and reduced frequency during non‐peak hours. Also, they have to see how BART would help increase ridership and connectivity. IMHO, it's too All Comments Received on the Draft Plan early to take a decision on replacing route 46 with school tripper route 246 (senior citizens and commuters should be considered). Routes: 37 Subject: route 37 Is this an error? There is an existing Route 21 already which is no where near Route 37. If you look at the new Route 21 description it says it replaces Route 35, NOT Route 37. Routes: 61; 62 Subject: RE: Bus Routes #61 & #62 Both Routes 61 and 62 both are very imporrtant and necessary bus routes. Both of these routes are equally importañt. To eleminate Route # 62 will çreate a hardship on riders at both ends of the route. Riders along Union Ave. will be suffering the most. Even though I live near Berryessa Road and Lundy Ave. there are times that I need to travel to Foxworthy and Union for a meeting. I do believe both of these routes should be more frequent, but I don't want either one to be e!iminated. Routes: 20 Subject: route 20 I like the new route 20, but why not extend it up Shoreline replacing route 40 in your plan. Make Route 40 more useful by routing it direct from Showers to DT Mtn View via the San Antonio Caltrain Station and Alma. Routes: 288 Subject: line 288 the route of line 288 looks to be splitting north of Alma, can you please explain what are these two routes? is it northbound/southbound? If it is so, please provide information on which is the northbound and which is the southbound. if it's not the case, please explain this split. thanks. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: route 675 Cambrian area It looks like for anyone in the area of Camden Ave & Highway 85 or Camden Ave and Hillsdale, everything within their 30 and 45 minute zones is entirely walking. This is a HUGE are to be left without ANY bus coverage. Routes: 54 Subject: route 54 These changes mean that there will no longer be bus service close to the Sunnyvale Library, Sunnyvale City Center or any of the central Sunnyvale city buildings. We need to keep service to these city facilities. Poor and disabled patrons should not have to walk 6 blocks and cross a major street to get to these vital services. This route change, dropping 54 and replacing it with 523 will cause your riders to have to walk 6+ blocks go get to the Sunnyvale city offices/services/library.. This is NOT acceptable. Routes: 51 Subject: rounte 51 The US Post Office is the largest in Los Altos. Please rerouted the 51 bus to go by this Post Office. Routes: 27; 49 Subject: route 27, 49 I am writing to express my concern about stopping direct service to and from Los Gatos High School. We have 3 teens and also know many other teens that use the bus in the AM and the PM. We are all wanting to make sure that 27 comes down Main instead of Highway 9. Please know that there are many people served by this bus line and changing it this way is a real hardship for teens we are trying to help be more independent. Thank you for hearing our point of view and we will be attending meetings as well. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 70; 77 Subject: route 70&77 It appears (revised) routes 70 & 77 have stops that include both Berryessa and Milpitas BART ‐‐‐ what is significance of having both routes stop at both BART stations? Is it not possible to have each route stop at one of the new BART stations ‐‐ i.e. route 70 stop at Milpitas and 77 stop at Berryessa (or vice versa)? Routes: 37 Subject: bus 37 Please do not cancel bus 37! Cambrian park need these bus routes! Routes: 72; 73 Subject: 72&73 routes Thank you for the great work so far on the network redesign. Please consider changing the terminus of the 72 and 73 from the St James Park area to Diridon Station. Riders coming from the South University area, SJSU and areas just east of the SJSU campus are close to Diridon, but walking to the 22 or light rail is just a little too far and taking the 72/73 requires a transfer just to go less than 2 miles to a major transit station from a major destination (SJSU). With the re‐route of the DASH to Berryessa on Santa Clara street, there are no bus lines in easy walking distance of campus, especially the south and east sides, that connect with Diridon Station. I feel that few riders depend on direct connections to the St James area and the few who are headed there can easily transfer to light rail, which arrives very frequently with 3 lines converging in Downtown San Jose. Routes: driver complaint Subject: route 102 It was happened today 1/10/2017 of the bus driver 102 ,trip 6:42.am He came at 6:38 and when passenger still were loading , he started to drive with no concerned the people could fall. Ì he came early he left early and did not wait until on time as the schedule . Yesterday, when he closed the door even though I Stood near the bus and made the signal. He still left and ?id not pick me up. He just start this trip after new year to replace the old Indian driver. He is mid 30 years and Asian, we do not know his name. Bus express 102 line, time 6:43 at Olone Routes: 13 Subject: Bus 13 Bus 13 is the only one that goes to Almaden's middle and high school. It is also the only bus that can take us to the light rail. My children, along with many others, take the bus after school. It also is the only way for many kids to get home safely if they have to stay later for sports or clubs. I've seen kids at the bus stop at 5, as it's getting dark. As more families have both parents working, it is important for our children to have a safe way to travel. PLEASE DON"T STOP BUS 13!! Routes: 13 Subject: Route 13 I am a resident of Almaden, San Jose. My son uses route 13 every school day. If this route is discontinued, a lot of the school kids will be negatively impacted. A lot of his friends with both working parents rely on this route to reach home. Please do not discontue this service. Routes: 27 Subject: Bus stops for NB route 27 There is no sidewalk on northbound Winchester Blvd between Hwy 85 and Hacienda Ave. Where do you plan to provide bus stops in this direction for the new route 27? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Bus service in Almaden Valley All Comments Received on the Draft Plan As a resident who,does not use the bus, there are many people who,depend on the bus to get them where they need to go. Is it possible to have smaller buses, or some reduced level of service as opposed to no service? I realize many of Almaden's residents think we need more service, but I'm sure you have numbers to either agree or deny. I'm mainly writing to ask for,some level of service for those who use the bus. Routes: 89 Subject: Potential Cancellation Of Route 89 Hi folks, Please consider this a vote in favor of continuing on the 89 service. I find it invaluable when commuting to and from California Avenue Caltrain station and Stanford Research Park (Hillview and Arastadero). Subject: Need to adjust proposal to maintain Almaden Routes: 13; 63 service I am deeply concerned that the proposed plan virtually eliminates service within Almaden area (also known as District 10). Almaden area ONLY has two main north/south arteries that run through it, Almaden Expressway and Meridian Ave. If the buses were eliminated (or significantly reduced) then there'd be significantly more wear of vechicles on the roads into/out of Almaden, increased traffic and additional pollution emitted from the increased number of I thought part of VTA's goals were to reduce these things. The current plan of increasing bus service to the BART station will provide zero improvement to our Almaden/South San Jose area if the bus does not come this way. My daughter and I have ridden bus 13 and her preschool teacher rides the bus into work each day. I know other families who depend upon the buses in running currently in the South San Jose Almaden area. When I filled out the last survey regarding priorities, I was looking for easier connections from ALMADEN valley to Caltrain so that making it up the Penninsula would be more timely. Routes: 37; 65 Subject: routes 65 and 37 PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL routes 65 or 37. My son is disabled and does not drive. He uses route 65 to/from Del Paso, Camden, Wyrick to San Carlos/Stevens Creek., Downtown San Jose, to route 37....to winchester station or to/from SVCTE...on Hillsdale. If cancelled, he would have an unfair long walk to other route. Or it would create real challenges for my schedule to accommodate him. I look forward to a response from someone. I have submitted comments before but have no id e a about outcome. Thanks Routes: 53 Subject: Hope bus #53 do not change the route. I am a student of De Anza College. I hope the bus #53 do not change the route or at least keep stops between the De Anza College and Bark Ln. Every morning, I take #53 to my college and begins my freshday. Hope you could consider my opinion. Thanks and have a good day! Routes: 54; 81 Subject: Keep Lines 81 and 54 I am a disable senior citizen without a car. I rely on Line 81 to get to Kaiser Homestead, and to my part‐time job on Foothill Expry. It is essential for me to be able to travel on Line 81. That line also has many wonderful places to stop along the route. I also use Line 54 to get up Bernardo, and out to other places of business I need to go. BUT, of all lines ‐ 81 is the most important, other than 22. I live in Mountain View. Routes: 13; 63; 66 Subject: bus service to Almaden Valley All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please do not eliminate bus service to the Almaden Valley. If you need to use smaller buses because of low ridership, that is one thing. Or to make less trips, but to entirely eliminate service is unacceptable. The people of this area pay a significant amount in taxes that support VTA, and we expect bus service in this area. Hopefully you will re‐consider your present plans. Routes: 54 Subject: Discontinuation of Route 54 To discontinue Route 54 and propose adding Route 523 to increase ridership doesn't make sense when it is mostly overlaying Route 55. Does increasing the frequency of a route already traveled significantly increase ridership? Most would have planned for the published schedule. To have 523 go from the Berryessa BART station to De Anza College and then to Lockheed Martin is questionable. Sensible BART riders would exit at the Milpitas station and use Light Rail from the Montague Station to the Lockheed Martin Station. The loop from Berryessa to Lockheed would be far too long; having 523 terminate at De Anza College would make more sense. Also eliminating 54 to the Sunnyvale Library would inconvenience seniors and students. Stating that disrupting 16% of your current ridership to increase frequency in other areas would increase ridership. What?!? That's a significant number you?re inconveniencing. I would think the better term would be ?losing.? There doesn?t appear to be enough maturity in the plan to proceed. Also, why are other rider?s comments no longer available? They were there a couple of weeks ago, now they?re gone. Seems to be a message by removing them. Routes: 63 Subject: Route 63 I happen to work at the last stop on Almaden and Camden. Cutting that service would create problems commuting to work. Wish for the 64 to end at Camden, but since thats not an option and since 63 will end at Blossom Hill, have till September to find a different way to go to work. Subject: Route 65 proposal to discontinue due to low Routes: 65 ridership Hello. I would hate to see this route discontinued. I have used this route in the past, and it is a terrific resource. What else can be done to save this route? Thank you. Routes: 13 Subject: Proposed discontinuation of bus 13 We are residents in Almaden Valley and frequently use bus 13. While bus 13 may not have the desired level of passengers, it does provide a most important public service, connecting us and other residents in the Almaden Expwy. corridor to light rail, bus 64, bus 27, etc. There is no alternative to bus 13. Without it the closest suitable VTA stop (Almaden LTR station or bus 64 at Coleman) is 25 minutes by foot away from our home. We respectfully ask VTA not to decide in favor of the proposed discontinuation of the bus 13 line. Also, has it been considered to extend line 64 beyond Almaden LTR station into Almaden Valley as replacement of line 13? Routes: 82 Subject: Bus 82 route This bus is vital for our family. From Notre Dame high school to Willow Glen in the afternoon between 1 ‐ 6 pm it serves as how our daughter gets home. The flexibility it provides is great. There are always many people on the bus too. Please do not cancel this route. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Pruneridge/Hedding/Berryessa East/West Route All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I live in Santa Clara and we used to have a bus stop around the corner from our house on Pruneridge. It was discontinued. I would like to see a new bus route which goes across the Valley to the planned Berryessa Bart Station. This would be very convenient for people needing to visit County offices, Kaiser Hospital and to connect to the new Apple campus, downtown light rail, Guadalupe River Trail or new BART station. It could start at the Apple Campus or Cupertino Town Square (Vallco whatever in that area) and end at the Berryessa BART station. Straight shot across the Valley, lots of connections. Routes: 48 Subject: Elimination of bus routes You are eliminating bus #48. How will I get to my doctor's office and other medical offices? Too many bad decisions. How much is it going to cost to change logos on buses, bus stops ‐ millions that could have gone into providing service. Routes: 13 Subject: VTA bus 13 There is already minimal transit it Almaden Valley. As a retired person I often take Bus 13 to the LR and Oakridge because it is handy. I know a couple years ago they put on a slightly larger bus. Now you are talking about eliminating this route leaving a large portion of San Jose without transit service. Please do not remove Route 13. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Routes, buse I have never taken vta in my 50 years here and never will. Too many door to door alternatives. I am impacted by huge double buses with almost no passengers. Cars are moving to electric and safer. Making fewer lanes for cars will just make it worse. Won't small minibuses going more places faster make more sense. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 during commute hours I'm commute from Fremont to San Jose daily via 181; it will be great to keep the commute hour service, even if 2 hours only could be huge for commuters like me. I know there are more commuters like me, needing the continuity of 181, at least a minimum service during commute hours. Thanks and looking forward to ride 181 in the coming fall. Routes: 66 Subject: 66 Line Comment I would like to suggest that Line 66 which now starts / terminates at Dixon Landing should be extended to California Circle on which there are several office complexes, new residential complex and also Hindu temples like BAPS, Sai Baba temple, Gurudwara, etc. Many passengers now alight at Dixon Landing Bus Stop which is about .5 Mile and walk to these places or walk up to Walgreen's same distance to board the starting point. The change suggested by me would help the existing users of Line 66 and will definitely increase the number of passengers. Also California Circle is a circular road and there is no need for any U‐Turn to end and start the bus. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Line Comment VTA88 bus, 88L, and 88M bus routes and schedules that serve Gunn. WE NEED THOSE Buses. Thanks. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Winchester/West Valley How will I now get from the West Valley College TC to the Winchester TC? Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Line Comment All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Our neighborhood has Special needs members that take Bus 13 to get to the Almaden light rail station so they can make connections to work in willow glen or downtown. Without bus 13 it is impossible or difficult to get to where they need to go. Without bus 13 will also effect Leland High School students who take bus 13 to school and home. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Line Comment I took vta120 every day. It helps me a lot in commute. Please don't stop this route! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 VTA route changes for Fall 2017 My SJSU student commutes to SJSU avoiding cost of gas, parking, avoiding traffic and potential accidents. This route is invaluable to him and other Almaden Valley residents who commute to school or work. Rather than eliminating the route going further south to Almaden/Camden Avenue, reduce weekend routes. It is important to enable commuters to go northbound and southbound at least 2‐
3x/day, Monday‐Friday. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Line Comment I wish to add that I use the commuter line 181 to San Jose from Fremont, not as an alternative to other transportation options. I use 181 from Fremont because I have no other way to get to San Jose. I do not drive. I could not work or enjoy entertainment in San Jose without this bus route.. Many of the folks who use these Express routes do so because they have no alternative. Also many people do give up their car to use Express bus routes if they are reliable. That is one of their other purposes. i also request that you do not discontinue the 181 stop at the Fremont Bart station. I understand that the new Bart Warm Springs Station will be opening soon and that may be a reason for discontinuing the Fremont Bart stop but I think it is inconvenient to take the Bart for 1 stop and then transfer to the 181, plus it will become way more expensive as one needs to pay for the additional BART trip. Once Bart goes all the way to San Jose I would no mind giving up the 181. Routes: Light Rail Subject: 902 Line Comment Hi VTA, I think a plus would be trying to align light rail arrival at Diridon to be convenient with the main CalTrain (commuter time bullets and limiteds) routes. There's certain trains that require a nearly 20 minute transfer due to the time schedules. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Line Comment You guys are asking for feedback... If I wasn't following your Facebook page, I would not have known about the potential threatening change you guys are proposing. Copying this from Facebook. It'll be an extreme inconvenience. There's people who take it from capitol all the way to WVC. You guys want to help the community, but you're doing something worse. The 37 is very full during the spring and fall semester. Spring semester is about to start on the 30th, and I guarantee that it will be popular Monday ‐ Thursday. It is a necessity for us college students and other community members who use the 37. If you guys cut the 37, please let me know. I will start a petition to bring it back with the folks who ride the 37. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Line Comment Bus No 53 is the bus that plies through Saratoga, many seniors and college students of West Valley College use this bus on weekdays. If this route of 53 discontinues we will be put into hardships and we will not be able to travel! Hence our suggestion is to run a community bus ( smaller bus ) in this route All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to cover Saratoga . This will be appreciated. If not bus no 53, some other small bus may cover this route to enable us to ravel by VTA Thank you [Name redacted] Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Saratoga cut off from VTA Many seniors in Saratoga depend on Bus 53 to take them to their activities, errands and meetings at Saratoga Senior center. Now the bus route proposed does not come to Saratoga at all. The other routes that have been added to West Valley College also do not come to downtown Saratoga. Please reconsider re‐instating the Route for 53. Even a small community bus is sufficient to meet the needs of this community. Routes: 81 Subject: 81 Line Comment I see that route 81 will not survive the redesign, portions of the route will be covered by the 53 and 51. I take the 81 semi frequently to go between work in Cupertino, my doctor's office at Santa Clara Kaiser and my residence in Downtown San Jose. I would also use it to get to the Rose Garden neighborhood. I do not see any replacement coverage for the 81's downtown route. The 81 has been a reliable way to get from Cupertino to home and get my medical errands taken care of along the way. The new design plan seems to rely heavily on transfers. VTA is my primary method of transportation as I do not drive and I currently I plan my trips to avoid transfers. Sometimes it is easier to stay on one line longer than risk missing a transfer or deal with the weather, unsanitary bus stops or having to carry my groceries to another bus stop. A lot of focus for the redesign has been on connecting jobs and schools with where workers live and learn. What about the current riders that need VTA for all of their errands? I worry about the low mobility riders who do not have other options of getting around. Shrinking your network and coverage hurts those riders. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: isochrome tool When will this tool be available for use again? It's been "updating" for two weeks now. If you plan to inform the community about how these changes will impact our lives, you need to give us the tools! Routes: 13 Subject: 13 strongly against discontinue of route I am shocked to learn that VTA proposes to discontinue route 13 due to low ridership. Route 13 is the ONLY public transportation for Almaden resident. Please keep in mind that not everyone own and can drive a car. Route 13 is THE ONLY public transportation for these folks to get around. This is the lifeline for them. VTA should not only looking at financial returns in making this kind decisions. I am strongly against discontinue route 13. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Line Comment I WANT TO LET U KNOW THAT DON;T CANCEL 181 BECAUSE MY KIDS TAKE THAT FROM STEVENSON AND STRAIGHT SHOT TO SAN JOSE, NOW THEY WILL HAVE TO GO TO BART THEN EITHER GET OFF AT GREAT MALL OR BERRYESSA BART THEN IF THEY END UP TAKING LIGHT RAIL THAT;S ANOTHER 40 MINS. THAT'S 2 CONNECTIONS AND LONG TIME SO I URGE U TO NOT TO CANCEL THE SERVICE BECAUSE ALOT OF PEOPLE DO TAKE IT FROM STEVENSON BLVD. U CAN CANCEL THE WEEKEND SERVICE BUT PLZ. CONTINUE WEEKDAY SERVICE AGAIN PLZ. DON'T CANCEL THE SERVICE THANKS. IT'S GOING TO BE HORRIBLE WE GOING TO END UP NOT TAKING THE TRANSIT IM GONNA HAVE TO EITHER BUY THEM A CAR OR DROP THEM OFF EVERYDAY. PLZ KEEP THIS SERVICE Routes: 48 Subject: bus48 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan We just realize that VTA is proposing to eliminate the Bus 48. This will be a total disaster for people live in the area along Pollard road, Burrow road and Hacienda neighborhood., especially the elderly including my mom. They depend on the bus to go around and the elimination of bus 48 route means that they will not be able to go any way on their own and loose their independent. We strongly object the plan. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: wi‐fi Free wifi Routes: 63 Subject: 63 PLEASE DON'T DISRUPT SERVICES Email: RIDING 63 HAS BEEN MY LIFELINE ALL MY LIFE SINCE I WAS A KID TO GO TO SCHOOL, NOW TO GO TO WORK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL IT'S OK TO DISRUPT SERVICES FROM CAMDEN TO BLOSSOM HILL. YOU ARE ONLY PUSHING MORE PEOPLE TO DRIVE INSTEAD OF USING PUBLIC TRANSITS. I, ON THE OTHER HAND, DON'T DRIVE BECAUSE OF VISION ISSUES AND CAN'T WALK FAR, ARE BEING FORCED TO WALK ALL THE WAY FROM CAMDEN TO BLOSSOM HILLS. YOU SHOULD HAVE TRIED USING A SMALLER BUS FIRST BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING SUCH DRASTIC CHANGE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IF YOU DO STOP RUNNING BUS AFTER BLOSSOM HILL? DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS TO WALK AT NIGHT? ARE YOU REALLY SERIOUSLY ASKING PEOPLE TO BIKE WITH GROCERY AND BAGS ON THEM, AT NIGHT? Routes: 63 Subject: 63 STOP CUTTING SERVICES Email: LEASE WALK 3 MILES IN MY SHOES LITERALLY EVERY DAY AND NIGHT FOR A MONTH JUST TO CATCH 63 AND TELL ME THAT YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE SOUTHERN END OF 63 FROM CAMDEN AVE TO BLOSSOM HILL/MERIDIAN. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Elimination of the route I have lived in Almaden Valley for some 30 years, all the while gladly paying taxes to support the VTA offerings that I use. For over two decades, I commuted daily on the bus and thus have first‐hand experience with the ins and outs of depending on transit. Even working two times a week now, I maintain the same routine. Living just north of Harry RD, I have watched VTA service decline over the years. I used to enjoy jaunts on the 64 when it extended to the end of Almaden Valley. After it was replaced by the 13, especially after it was converted to a one‐way loop near my house, everything took longer with uncoordinated transfers. Years of cutbacks, all justified in the name of ?efficiency,? drove away many riders by making the bus so inconvenient. It is as if VTA is setting up the 13 to eventually ?fail? by squeezing out potential riders by any means possible. But even in its much‐
diminished state, the 13 is essential to many. With each passing year, the 13 has become more essential as I age in place, along with many of my neighbors. Now I hear that VTA is considering doing away with the 13 altogether. Already, there is no 13 on weekends. Thankfully, I still dare venture out in the comparatively sparse roads. But with its complete elimination, I could endanger both myself and the commuters if I need to go somewhere at the wrong time. My driving reflexes have been continuously eroding. And looking at my fellow 13 riders, nobody would want many of them driving either, even if they had a set of wheels. Is the VTA really seriously thinking about imprisoning all these transit users, all for the sake of reallocating literally one bus, a miniscule 0.25% of its entire system? How is putting that one extra bus on Santa Clara Street in Downtown San Jose to lower the wait time by a fraction of a minute going to add ridership or increase ?efficiency?? When buses are already going by every 4 minutes, no one would even notice. That is absolutely illogical. But people like me who will be stranded with no buses at all will definitely suffer immensely. To make matters worse, I All Comments Received on the Draft Plan heard VTA ads on KCBS recently suggesting that listeners consider using their services and asking them to check vta.org/seniors. Well, there sits a new blog entry stating that ?VTA is a Great Choice for Seniors?. ?VTA keeps you mobile ? increases your sense of community ? enhances your independence.? What kind of sadistic joke is this? For so long, the big knock on public transit has been the ?last mile? problem. With the loss of the 13, my ?last mile problem? immediately escalates to a ?6‐mile problem.? How many other current users would suffer similar fates should VTA go through with its master plan to eliminate routes that are ?undersubscribed?? Even a one‐mile problem is a major hurdle on foot. A bike? For us older folks, a spill can lead to broken bones or worse. And the skill to ride one is not universal. How about getting pancaked by a car due to the cutbacks in transit service? Would VTA own up to its role in increased injuries and fatalities due to its misguided vision? Of course, VTA claims that there are contingencies in place to ameliorate any issue that crops up by using paratransit and ride‐sharing services. Well, most transit riders I see don?t have any noticeable disabilities. So, paratransit is a non‐starter. Furthermore, getting someone to pick up a rider will cost a lot more money, either for user or VTA, compared to running the single bus assigned to the 13. It also increases the traffic that has clogged the roads throughout the region. There is simply no sound financial argument to eliminate the 13. I am especially disappointed with the VTA board. I supported Measure B, fully expecting that something would be done to ease the congestion that so many people have to endure. At the very least I didn?t expect to be harmed. Rather than helping the situation, VTA has intentionally targeted a certain segment of the population for serious disruption in their lives under the guise of increased efficiency. With such a diverse population, even in Almaden Valley, it is perhaps easy to foist a flawed transit plan on the public that does not have the facility of language or know the transit jargon to provide a cogent argument as to why VTA should not go in that direction. But suffer they will if it proceeds. VTA did not even bother to schedule a public hearing in Almaden Valley ? a part of the county that will lose all bus service if this ?Next Network? plan goes through. Why not? I challenge each VTA member, especially my own council representative who apparently thinks everyone here is well off and should drive, to use the present VTA service to go to work and go about life?s activities every day for a month. Yes, every one of you. See how that works out. And think about what happens if your neighborhood bus line is eliminated. Perhaps then those in a privileged position to be an elected official and board member can experience how those who depend on transit will suffer. Just remember that Almaden Valley is a very diverse community with many who did not grow up in America and cannot get accustomed to sliding into the driver?s seat. As for me, I am fortunate not to be absolutely dependent on VTA, at least for now. But I choose to use it for the overall good of the community, for the environment and to dampen the effects of climate change. I hope VTA will still be here at the end of this year with the 13 in place. For the sake of all those so dependent on its continued presence, I implore you to keep the 13. Routes: 68 Subject: 568 Line Comment Should be rapid 568, continue from DTSJ/diridon area, down monterey to gilroy. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: General Comment It's about time you adopted colors =) however, why continue with route numbers on some and not all ‐ it would be better to drop route numbers and just go with colors. would be cool if the signs on the LR cars would display the actual color =) Routes: 168 Subject: 568 BART replace it with a rapid line. like rapid 568 from gilroy to diridon/DTSJ, then continue to berryessa BART via santa clara and king streets. of all corridors, monterey should get a rapid line. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 55 Subject: 55 Line Comment I take 55 daily to/from Remington in sunnyvale to Sunnyvale Caltrain station , I see the spots on Remington/Faioks always have min 5+ travelers getting down or getting in .. especially in Rush hours 6‐8 AM and 4‐6 PM .. my request is continue this route at least in the Rush hours .. The passengers range from students , office goers , Shop goers etc .. or a 55V via this Route .. Routes: Light Rail Subject: 902 Line Comment Turning trains around at old iron sides station is going to be a mess. It hardly worked when old iron sides was the end of the line and it hardly works when a single train needs to turn around there. There is no point to it, anyone that would ride a Winchester train north to catch and ace train would be better off getting the ace train at diridon. Way back in the 90's VTA built an expensive and wonderful transfer station. Then for some reason they refused to use it once Winchester line was built. Bay point would be best suited as a transfer station and terminal. It was built for it, there is separate boarding clear berthing areas where people will know what train is what and where to get on at, and it has provisions to allow trains to pass each other if needed. If a train broke in the center platform train can just go to the center track and turn around and come back to the other side of the station. If a train broke at old iron sides trains would have to go on too the opposite track and then come back on to normal track some where. That always affects all Tain's in the area and causes more delays. Routes: 304 Subject: 304 Line Comment I would really hate to see the 304 go. I used it to commute to work in Santa Clara from DTSJ in the mornings. I started my commute over from Story and McLaughlin, so I would always start my day by bussing downtown on the 72. The 304 saved me from having to deal with a longer commute time to and from work. I've looked any plans for alternative routes to get from/to there but have seen that almost all the bus routes I used to take will have that area cut out (the Santa Clara/Sunnyvale area over by the Santa Clara Square). There should be either an alternative route that extends from Great America from South SJ (through a similar route the 304 took), less frequency of the buses (from 30 minutes to an hour intervals?), or maybe take the smaller buses that run through downtown for example, and have them run the routes that the limited buses took (charge a single ride as like a normal bus). I believe this would be better than cutting out routes that would leave blank areas on the map. I know daypasses exist, but people try to shorten their commute as much as possible because if they are working a 9 to 5, they do not want to have to start their day at 6am to catch the 3 or 4 buses to get to work on time. Or the 3 or 4 buses back to get home by 8pm. This would not only discourage ridership but also adversely affect people such as myself who rely on public transportation for work. Thank you for your time. Routes: 81 Subject: 81, Stop 63991 Please keep stop 63991 on Park and Davis in San Jose. I take the 81 bus to work at SJSU. It's very convenient and love it. My elderly neighbor also uses this stop to go to doctor appointments and grocery shopping. Please reconsider. The people who live in apartment complexes, like me, are lower income folks and appreciate the bus across the street. Single family homes use the bus less. May cut the stop on Park and Newhall. Routes: 46 Subject: 46 Line Comment All Comments Received on the Draft Plan i am regular rider for route 46. i use it to go to great mall transit center. Please don't discontinue it and keep it connected from John sinnott elementary school to great mall transit center or milpitas bart. Subject: 63 and 13 Line Comments: Service Cuts in Routes: 13; 63 Almaden It seems there would be no service in Almaden Valley south of Coleman if your proposal is approved. How will we connect to the Light Rail Station (#13) or to Caltrain (#63) if these routes are eliminated or reduced? You have also recently eliminated the Starrs ride program for seniors. Many of us cannot walk that far. Routes: 51 Subject: 51 Line Comment There should be Saturday service on Route 51. This is the only bus that takes kids to Mountain View High School which often has events on the weekends. It adversely affects families who must take public transportation. Subject: 63 Line Comment: Eliminating Service to Routes: 63 Almaden Valley We have heard our service will be eliminated. It is necessary for students attending the various public middle and high schools in Almaden Valley. Also, there are many seniors here, including my husband, age 72, and myself, age 70. When we are finally unable to renew our driving licenses we will need to use public transportation. Not all of us can afford Uber or taxis. Please reconsider and keep our public transportation in Almaden Valley! Routes: 17 Subject: 17 Line Comment Although I understand the need for cut backs on low utilized lines, and the desire to have passengers walk a bit further, the Camden/Hillsdale corridor is now without any service at all. Likewise, the last leg on Camden from Bascom to the Winchester Light Rail Station is a very dangerous stretch to walk. If anything, could a small piece of transportation be provided on the old 49/37 route that would connect, at minimum, Bascom to the Winchester Light Rail Station? Or could the 61 make an extra loop to Winchester along Camden/San Tomas under Highway 17 so people are not required to walk under the busy freeway intersection there? The Winchester Transit Center becomes more important in the new plan, with the extension of line 60, plus being the current starting point of light rail. Thank you for the consideration! Routes: 62 Subject: 62 Line Comment I live near 17th and Hedding and have to use a mobility scooter as I have to use because I had stroke. I do not see any bus service for Hedding and I need to use the bus stop at 17th and Hedding. What will happen to me? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: texy Thank you great guest Routes: 25 Subject: 25 Line Comment I just wanted to express my concern about the next network plan for VTA removing White Road from the 25 bus' route. I feel like the 23 bus route change to white road is good, but the removal of the 25's All Comments Received on the Draft Plan route through white road, I feel would affect a lot of people who travel a lot between Story and King and Story and White for groceries, shopping, etc. I frequent the 25 a lot to be able to get to Food Maxx, or to catch the 71, since it is a convenient distance from the 25. I say having multiple buses along the route would also help encourage ridership on these buses (the 23 and 25) because the 23 is coming from DeAnza College, and 25 for people who are coming from the Willow Glen/Keyes/Story areas. Thanks! Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Line Comment Seriously? There's nothing past West Valley College on the west side of saratoga?! *sigh* There goes volunteering, or attending any kind of event at Montalvo Arts Center. :( Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Line Comment The 89 Route is highly important for Stanford, Veteran Hospital Employees. Also Veterans themselves to get to there medical Appointments. Discontinuing this route would cause major disruption to a lot of monthly pass holders as well causing decreased revenue for VTA. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: bus 585 I work with people with special needs and I needed clarity on paying and not paying a fare. Can I get an example photo of what is needed on the RTC card to be able to board without paying a fare and what the card may have missing to where I would pay $1.00? Routes: 89 Subject: 89 being discontinued? If VTA 89 is discontinued, then the California Avenue Caltrain stop will be abandoned. I rode the 89 from Caltrain this morning, and there were more‐than 10 people on the bus. What is low‐ridership then? The 89 morning route is great, but I rarely take the afternoon 89 bus, because it's notoriously late or it sometimes doesn't even show up! No wonder afternoon ridership on the 89 is low! Routes: 60 Subject: 60 Route stops The interactive map does not display the new stops although there is a sentence that says stops will change. It is hard to comprehend the impact without seeing how far I have to walk from my house. Also, it does not show what the route time is from first start point to end point. So, hard to tell if it is helpful. If this info is online please send me a link to this info. Thanks for all your work. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 63 and 13: VTA Service to Almaden I have recently heard about the plan to cut all bus service to Almaden area including route 63 and 13. I am shocked and very unhappy about this decision. I use 63 to go to work at San Jose State University. There are elderly people who cannot drive and rely on the bus system, besides there are people who provide services in this area and need the bus to get to Almaden. I know that the majority of the funds for the bus system comes from sales taxes and I am sure Almaden residents pay more taxes compared to other San Jose neighborhoods. It is not right to completely cut us off from the public transit, we pay our share. I understand that ridership is low but as a minimum there should be a service that connects us to light rail and other bus lines. I have tried using light rail but parking there is impossible and either I have to use a bus to my destination or use a bus to light rail station. Subject: 23 REROUTING OF BUS from Forest Ave. to Routes: 23 Stevens Creek All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Bus Route 23: Rerouting the line to Stevens Creek Rd instead of Forest Avenue takes it away from O'Connor Hospital! This is extremely inconvenient from those patients who need the Hospital for various doctors' appointments or tests. This especially impacts Seniors and Disabled who depend on this line to reach the Hospital and surrounding Medical Buildings! Routes: General Project Question Subject: General Question I would like to know who is the project manager. Plus who has the authority to completely cancel or not cancel the plan. Thank you Routes: 13; 63; 64 Subject: 13,63,64 Line Comments Since my retirement I have relied on public transportation (Bus #13, 63, 64) to go about San Jose, especially to the main library downtown. The main reason is that my eyesight is not fit for driving. The proposal to discontinue those routes will leave people like me stranded. Tell us how can we get to Blossom Hill or the Almaden LR Station to take a bus ? Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Line Comment My concern is that the timing of the three trips is well consider, matched w/ the bell schedule, and doesn't leave kids in the lurch that might have challenging schedules. The added element of chaos is that Gunn's bell schedule is ALSO under consideration for revision...it might behoove Ethan Winston or his outreach designee, to get in touch w/ that bell schedule revision committee to see what the revisions are. As of this writing, there are three possible options, NONE of which, I understand, are being endorsed by students. On the contrary, I am aware that several petitions have been initiated ‐‐ all of which drive to leave the current bell schedule as is. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Line Comment There is no oveelay with route 120 and bart extention. With thee new proposal. It would take 90 to 100 minutes includes transfer. Which now tale 45 to 55minutes to sunnyvale by riding 120. Which force myself to drive again on [aweful] 880 and 237 . Please keep vta 120. Routes: 70; 71; 77 Subject: great mall Instead of making BART the last stop, please make Great Mall the last stop on the north end of 77,70,71, etc. A lot of people use that stop for heading to work or just having a safe place to wait while going to the mall. Having another stop closer to the mall increases mobility for people with mobility problems, people with small children and/or strollers, teenagers, or just people coming from the mall carrying a lot of stuff. Taking the 20 minute walk from the Milpitas BART station might not seem like a lot if you do it once, but if you do it every day (for going to work or just trying to use the mall) across the large Montague expressway and narrow sidewalk next to a busy street, it can really take a toll on you. Moving the last stop away from the mall puts an unnecessary barrier to using an extremely popular shopping destination where it's already hard to find parking. If you really wanted to increase accessibility, you'd put the bus stop within the mall boundaries so that the walk is both shorter and safer. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Line Comment I hope you are doing great. I have been using 181 express ever since I started studying at San Jose State University. 181 Express is the only way I can use public transportation in order to go to San Jose All Comments Received on the Draft Plan State University. I was wondering if 181 Express could come back in the plan or would there be any alternative transportation to go to San Jose State University. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Line Comment Please please keep bus line 88, 88M lines. and 88L. Many students take bus 88. It is very helpful to parents and commuters! Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Line Comment Please consider cutting down rather than eliminating the 82 bus. I am disabled but able to take the bus. I live near Lincoln/Minnesota. This is the bus I use for physical therapy 1‐2 times a week near Winchester/Hamilton. Now it is 30 minutes door to door. Without the 82, it will take 1 hour 45 minutes (64 to 26‐‐64 often late there because of multiple road diets so 10 minutes between is not enough). Like many seniors, I cannot afford a smartphone and uber. Theloss of the 82 will limit my life in other ways‐‐1 hour 45 minutes to Pruneyard, 2 hours to Westgate. Many a time I have helped other seniors navigate from my area to Social Security office on Hamilton. This will make that journey more than 2 hours. Also, many times I have been at Sacred Heart during the food giveaway times, corner of Alma and Monterey. How will all those people with their carts get home along Alma? There is no other close by east‐west bus. I have a bus‐friend who lives in the senior complex at Hamilton and Winchester who volunteers at Sacred Heart. She will have to stop doing that because it will take her 3 hours to get to Sacred Heart without the 82. I have never been on the 82 bus when it is less than 1/2 full; I travel in the daytime before 5pm. My suggestion is to either limit the 82 to once an hour and keep the stops the same, or replace it with a community bus from Monterey to Winchester. Too many of us seniors and disabled folks with limited incomes will really suffer without the 82 line. Routes: 82 Subject: Next Network Effort Comment ‐ Bus Line 82 Please do not discontinue Bus Line 82! I am a disabled, senior and I depend on it at least twice a week. I would have to walk alot further and take multiple buses to the areas I need to go. If Bus Line 82 is discontinued I would have to connect to Bus Lines 64/26 and it would take double the time to travel. We need an east to west way to travel on public transit in the valley between Monterey/Alma and Westgate. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Line Comment My daily commute uses the 65, I ride the first and last bus of the day. For half of the year this means taking the bus in the dark. I take this bus because it is the closest to my home. While some buses may be faster or better timed I choose this bus because it is safest. With a 6am commute drivers are rarely awake and I found that crossing multiple streets when distracted or tired drivers where around was getting too stressful a way to start the day. Again I am concerned that by shrinking your coverage in order to provide faster service and cut costs may be hurtful to your current riders. They are the ones that need to go farther to reach your services. Routes: 23 Subject: Bus Route 23 She wants it to continue on Forest Ave. People from O'Connor Hospital need it. [Name redacted] takes the 23 to Alum Rock to visit her sister and to get to work. She believes it is too long a walk to go to Stevens Creek. A lot of people that live in her building also take the 23. On 2/15/17, [Name redacted] mailed A. Shoor a letter, "I use route 23 everyday to go to work and I have a yearly pass (the bus is always full) from Forest to Alumm Rock Station ... stop ‐‐> Stevens Creek a mile I measured it with my pedometer ... leave it the way it is now ... it takes longer through Stevens Creek ..." All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 65 Subject: bus 65 We have learned that Bus 65 from Dartmouth Middle School to a bus stop at the corner of Camden and Lencar Way may be eliminated in the fall. The distance between Dartmouth Middle school and our stud net's homes is too far to walk or bike on busy streets. Is it a possibility to reconsider canceling this route, for the safety of the children? Thank you for the consideration. Yours truly, Denise Clay, Superintendent of Union School District Routes: 330 Subject: route 330 Route 330 pics up employees along San Tomas. I believe most work for Cisco and get off along Tasman. Now with the planed changes, most would need to transfer somewhere. I can't speak for everyone on Route 330, but that's a big no for me. In the worst case, consider canceling one bus to increase the rider‐ship per bus, but please don't cancel this awesome route. Routes: 32 Subject: route 32 There are a lot of people including myself that rely on the 32 to get to dr appts and we live off middlefield and independent just right after the stop at tengstorff and middlefield With taking multiple trips daily it is going to be difficult on us with our disabilities Routes: 181 Subject: 181 bus Is the 181 currently out of service due to the BART extension? Or is it closing once the BART extension open Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bus Service I see the bus drivers use the placeform to help handicaps get on and off th bus but they don't help the handicaped who use the four wheel wheels wakers or the baby strollers. Does VTA dicriminate them? I request the VTA have an opinion to help them like the handicapes with the handicaped cart or motors. Routes: 181 Subject: bus 181 Hello! I currently live in Fremont, and I commute to SJSU. The VTA 181 is by far the most convenient way to travel to school, and eliminating it will be very unfortunate. As a student without a car, getting rid of the 181 route inconveniences both me and my family, as we would have to spend more to ride the BART to Santa Clara, and take yet another bus. Would there be a way to keep the 181 running? Or at the very least, add BART to the current Transportation solutions clipper card? Routes: 65 Subject: bus 65 I use bus #65 so I would really urge to keep it! Routes: 288; 88 Subject: route 288/88 I am very disappointed that you decided to eliminate route 88. It looks like you have connection with Uber, since this is what now people will need to use in order to get their kids to activities in Midtown. My kids ride 88 and 88M couple times per week after the school, to take them to tennis classes Kim Grant Academy (Middlefield and Colorado). It saves me money not to hire a driver and I feel safe All Comments Received on the Draft Plan when kids ride a public bus during day time. Also what does it mean till 4 pm service? School ends at 2:40 only for example at Juana Briones elementary (I know some families are also uses this bus), but there is extracuriculum activities at same school, that ends only at 4:10. How kids would be able to get home? Another call to Uber? Seriously. I am very positive that NONE of you who made this proposal of eliminating 88 and creating completely useless 288 NEVER ever ride a bus, moreover your kids are also have either personal drivers or nannys, who drive them around. Modified service should run from 2 pm till at least 4:30pm and it should be every 20 minutes!!! Make buses smaller, something like this. You should not eliminate 88 !!! Please I beg you, do not do it. Routes: 181 Subject: bus 181 If implemented, it will adversely affect many students and employees of San Jose State University (SJSU) who commute to campus by Express Bus 181 using VTA's Eco Pass Clipper. This change will result in increased need for driving and higher demand for parking at SJSU which is already in short supply. So I would like to urge you to not discontinue the Express 181 route(Fremont Bart to Santa Clara County(San Jose Diridon Station)). Thanks! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service to seniors You said you wanted to better serve seniors, giving them mobility and efficiency to move around independently to do their daily chores. Well, how do you expect them to do that when you keep cutting services? A lot of seniors are using canes or walkers to assist with their walking, and you actually want them to walk for hours or BIKE to get to the transit? To the next available bus stops? You obviously have no elderly parents at home or have not experienced being immobile yourself to make that kind of silly statements Routes: 13; 321 Subject: bus 328, 13 I propose not to disconnect bus 328 and 13, not to closed bus stop at Almaden expressway/Camden for bus 63. I commute by 328 to work (Lockheed Martin transit), we have quite a few passengers on the bus to work (YAHOO, JUNNIPER, etc) I commute to work since I move into San Jose (Almaden Valley) in 1997. if VTA discontinues bus 328, I have no other options. thanks Routes: 81 Subject: route 81 Greetings, Revising route 81 (route 53) in future is stopping services to Stop ID 64076(Newhall & Tulip) and 63987(Newhall & Sunnyvista). I use this route daily to commute to work. This change is going to have a major impact on lot of us who use this part of 81 to go to Monroe & Franklin(64064) and then catch route 32 to go to Mountain View OR use it to go to Santa Clara train station. Request you to please revise the plan taking into consideration stops at Stop ID 64076 and 63987. Routes: 65 Subject: bus 65 We work at camden and braham. There is only bus can take us there. But only few ,we have to wait 60 min. Night time this area has no bus at all. Once line 65 disconines how we get to work in this area. Vta should make a lightrail in this area . At highway 85 and camden. Instead of discontinue line 65 Routes: 181 Subject: 181 bus I believe the 181 is one of the most profitable routes within VTA. It's is extreme inconvenient for many of us who take 181 to work at San Jose downtown location. Also the parking at Fremont Bart is over crowded as it is. For many of us, we have to take two buses in addition to the Bart to get to work All Comments Received on the Draft Plan instead of just 181. The time will be doubled and the cost is more as well since we no longer use our monthly pass for Bart. Please reconsider of discontinue route 181. Thank you! Routes: 82 Subject: route 82 I came to know that route 82 is being cancelled in the new VTA proposal. This is very unfortunate. A number of elderly people take this bus. I take this bus at least 4 times a week to work. Also over the weekend to Westgate. I board the bus at Meridian/Hamilton intersection. The cancellation of route 82 will cause a lot of inconvenience to a number of people, especially elderly people. I personally take VTA to cut down the pollution in the valley. I sincerely hope route 82 will not be cancelled. Routes: 181 Subject: bus 181 I take this bus everyday to get to school and work. The bus is very full during the peak hours because it is very useful for riders who really don't want to take Bart. Bart would take a longer time to get from Fremont to downtown San Jose not to mention that it would cost more for people who already have a VTA Eco Pass. Maybe just cancel a few lines since there are off‐peak hours where only a few people ride. Routes: 89 Subject: route 89 Please reconsider keeping the route 89 bus. I take this bus as part of my commute from the California Ave. Caltrain Station to Stanford Research Park. The Stanford Marguerite RP stop which is proposed to replace is too far away both from the train station and from my employer. Previously this route only ran during the commute hours, but the addition of the schedule during the non commute hours last year was not necessary. Maybe this rout could return to one way service during the commute hours only. Routes: 25 Subject: Diridon VMedCenter I was hoping there was going to be a connector between Diridon and Valley Medical Center. I don't really understand why the transit hub for the county and one of the largest places of employment for county workers don't directly connect during major commute times. It currently takes about 50 minutes in the morning to get from Diridon to VMC through the light rail to route 25. I understand it is a diagonal track but maybe an exception to that should be made to connect these two locations. Thank you. Routes: General Project Question Subject: bycycle share How much bicycle space can be expanded per bus in next network? What relationship does next network have with bicycle share? Routes: General Project Question Subject: shuttles Where do future growth of Santa Clara play into next network? Routes: 71 Subject: 71 One of the reasons that the bus line should go past White Road up to at least Kirk Ave in East San Jose is because the veterans at the home on the corner of Alum Rock and Kirk needs public transportation for its residents. Also there are some senior citizens and students in that area which would make the walk to White Road too long. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: Light Rail Subject: coloring I think it's going to be very confusing in a few years if we change the Lightrail line names to colors that duplicate BART colors. Plus, it's confusing to a significant percentage of the population who lack full color vision. Routes: General Project Question Subject: trip planner It would be helpful to provide a more accessible way to explore the new network. For example, a trip planner for the new network, similar to the trip planner on the VTA homepage. Something that would give possible routes and estimated trip times. And it would be useful to have this tool as soon as possible, long before comments close. Routes: 500 Subject: line 500 I am concerned whether the rapid 500 route will have bike rapids on each departing bus. These racks are the same types on the Highwsy 17 route. Please let me know. Routes: 500 Subject: route 500 Will route 500 to Bart have chip credit card payment and/ or Apple Pay for passengers? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: 85/15 line I learned on Nextdoor about your proposed change to service to reduce the service to areas with less ridership. First, I am skeptical about the amount of public feedback you actually received through your outreach process. In fact, I watched one of your public forums online and it had about a dozen attendees. If this is representative of the other meetings, then how you achieved any meaningful sample from which to base such a drastic change in service? People who are working don't have time to commit to public meetings. If anything I would survey riders who are on the bus; have surveys in front of grocery and other frequented stores, schools, and business. My fear‐‐ once you reduce service to outside areas you cut off people to the main lines, which in the end, will result in LESS RIDERSHIP for VTA in the long run. I have been working with SamTrans for the last 2 years to expand service on old routes that were cut a decade ago for the same reason. What we learned is that we need to better educate the community about the routes and how they can be best utilized to move people through the city, rather than cut the routes and entirety double down on main arteries. I hope you don't make the same mistake as SamTrans with this decision. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: public meetings Will the 1/11's meeting only focus on only the downtown proposed changes or changes in other regions including the Almaden Area? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Service I think the quality of vta is top notch. The light rail, buses and light rail stations and vta transit centers like great mall, tasman station, mountain view station are well maintained and clean. However, what would be helpful are more frequent and faster light rail service. Also, it would help to have more accurate live time arrival estimates of light rail and buses. Also, more availability of vta sevice to connect riders to bart and cal train services would help. For example, it would be helpful to have more light rail services that arrive at diridon station close to the time that cal train trains leave, especially caltrain bullet trains. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: bathrooms The UTMOST PRIORITY of any transportation agency and customer oriented service (yeah, that's how you can improve ridership and still keep costs low!) is to have VTA bathrooms and free toilets for the passengers. Every country in Europe AND most modern countries in Asia provide bathroom facilities for the hygiene and PUBLIC HEALTH of their customers. A first step is to build and plan a small toilet at every third stop along your bus lines. BART and CalTrain could never have existed without appropriate toilets, think about that; and their continued success during hard economic times (for example, bike ridership increase and senior/children riders) showed it. Ad company‐financed toilets, just like the SF ones and the lone Frech style one in Palo Alto Transit Center (even shared by different 4 more agencies!) should give VTA a wake up call. Welcome to the REAL future and Success! Best thoughts, [Name redacted] San Jose, January 11, 2017 Routes: General Project Comment Subject: electric signs All of the changes sound good. Would also help to have electric signs that tell when the next train will arrive. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART There's really no need for the Bart Stations. They have a horrible reputation and are very unreliable. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: South Service Your meetings are all held at places where I can't access because you keep cutting the services to get there. I live in South San Jose, and how do you expect me to get to Milpitas library? So I find it funny that you want us to get involved in something you don't really care to hear our opinions for. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Downtown Campbell Please have Bascom and Hamilton be the main ending point for many lines rather than winchester light rail station, which has limited demand compared to the pruneyard and downtown campbell. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Limited stop lines Please do not cancel these lines, consider increasing frequency or changing routing to serve more riders. Routes: 120 Subject: Keep the 120 Bus! Please keep the 120 bus to fremont. I drive the the park & ride at Central Park. It will be a hardship for me if the bus isn't an option. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 please don't cancel this route I work as an occupational therapist with Veterans who have traumatic brain injury. My patients use the 89 bus a lot and we teach them how to use public transportation. Line 89 is our example route. Please don't cancel it. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Bus Service to Almaden I have seen many signs and emails regarding VTA stopping service to Almaden. I understand that due to ridership cuts are necessary. I am however wondering, what percentage of the property taxes from 95120 go towards VTA services. I realize that roads and transportation are linked, but I would like to know if we are denied VTA services if there will be a tax credit of some sort. 95120 is one of the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan highest property tax revenue levels in the city and if we are paying for the services, I do not believe we should be denied them. Please let me know, if I am misunderstanding the funding for VTA. Thank you. Routes: 330 Subject: Please do not cancel route 330 My son and myself take route 330 to work everyday and it is a perfect end‐to‐end commute solution to both of us. We know the ridership is not that high in general, but this is a commute bus and may not be compared with other regular routes. We really appreciate we have route 330 service for our daily 20 miles commute and cannot imagine to deal with the terrible traffic if we need to drive to work. Please do not cancel this route, we may work with less frequent bus, which may consolidate more riders into them. Thank you very much. [Name redacted] Routes: 330 Subject: nextnetwork comment I'm writing to ask that you keep 330, this is a line that allows Almaden to Santa Clara work hubs. the current next network has no lines at all in Almaden Valley thanks. Routes: 37; 48; 49 Subject: 37 48 49 Line Comment We live in Campbell. Our daughter who is disabled attends West Valley College and works at Lunardi's at the corner of Los Gatos Blvd and Blossom Hill Road. The 37 bus takes her directly to WVC and back home. The 48 and 49 take her to Lunardi's. The current bus routes have worked well for her. The new ones will require that she walk much further to get to both WVC and Lunardi's as she will have to walk down Hacienda to a stop on Winchester that is not currently known. This poses a hardship for her particularly since she has cerebral palsy and comes home after dark from work. Also, she will have to take two buses, not just one, to get to and from WVC which should increase her travel time to West Valley College, not decrease it. It is discouraging that even though West Valley College is the closest community college to our home, the new draft would suggest that it will probably take more time to get there via bus than it would take to get to San Jose City College!!! Routes: 330 Subject: I'll miss the 330 I'm a fresh college grad living at home in South San Jose. I commute from the Almaden terminus of the 330 all the way to Mission College / Great America (there and back). It's an enormous blessing not to have to jockey with the crazy traffic on San Tomas, or, god forbid, 87 / 101 to get to the Santa Clara area. I will miss the 330 dearly when it's gone, but I do understand the rationale of the plan. I'll be sad to join the road‐raging rat race ‐ but the needs of the many outweigh those of the few. Thank you for doing your best. Subject: Questions/suggestions regarding Bus Route 20 Routes: 20 in the Next Network Plan I have some questions and suggestions regarding Bus Route 20 in the Next Network Plan. I will appreciate if you respond back. I currently take Bus Route 321 every weekday to go to and return from work. In the mornings, I board the bus at the intersection of Montague & River Oaks/Plumeria, and I get off at the intersection of Mission College Blvd & Juliette Lane (I work at Intel). I do the reverse in the evenings. I noticed that in the Next Network Plan, VTA would eliminate Bus Route 321. I also noticed that the proposed new Bus Route 20 might work for me as a new alternative. Looking at the proposed Bus Route 20?s map, I saw that when going from Milpitas towards Mountain View (for me in the morning), the bus would make a left turn at the intersection of Montague & Plumeria/River Oaks. I wonder why the plan has Bus Route 20 making that left turn to go on Plumeria, to then join All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Montague again at the intersection with North First Street. That contradicts one of the plan?s goals: ?Linearity ‐‐ Transit can operate in paths that feel straight and direct to the customer.? Why not just keep driving on Montague all the way (on the carpool lane!), like Bus 321 does? If the reason is that VTA wants customers to be able to transfer to the train at Orchard Light Rail Station, why not make those people walk half a block to the station, from the intersection of Montague & North First Street? The heck, VTA makes me walk over a mile each way to take the light rail every Saturday and Sunday, since that?s the only public transportation available in the area! In the current planned Bus Route 20, when traveling towards Mountain View (for me in the morning), will there be a bus stop at the intersection of Montague and Plumeria, right after making the left turn? Or where will the nearest stop be located? Along the same lines, when traveling towards Milpitas (for me in the evening), will there be a stop at that intersection, or where will be the nearest stop? Also, in the evenings, how late will the bus travel by that intersection? I hope that the time schedule will be friendly to the people who live in the River Oaks neighborhood, not just to people who will commute to Silicon Valley and will go home travelling on BART. By that I mean that I hope that the bus will drive by that intersection until close to 9pm, so that it will give people a chance to say go for dinner after work and still be able to catch the bus back home to River Oaks. Also, I am kind of disappointed seeing that Bus Route 20 would make a right turn at the intersection of Montague and Agnew. Especially between Lafayette and Mission College, there can be a lot of traffic on Agnew, which in addition gets slowed down by many stop signs and the 25mph speed limit. Why not do what Bus 321 does, i.e. keep driving straight on Montague (on the carpool lane!), and then make a right turn at its intersection with Mission College Blvd itself? In the current planned Bus Route 20, where will be the nearest stop for me to get off in the mornings to go to work at Intel? And similarly, where will be the nearest stop for me to board the bus back home? Remember, when I currently take Bus 321, I get off/on at the intersection of Mission College Blvd and Juliette Lane. Thank you for taking the time to read all this. I look forward to you responses! Routes: 66; 68 Subject: Proposed routes The proposed route for increaseing the amount of time between bus 68 coming and 66 is really going to affect commuters trying to get to work in the morning in a negative manner... I think its a bad idea..if anything those two lines should both come every 15 min or less perhaps. Routes: 120 Subject: VTA 120 I understand that this line will be discontinued due to BART extension. What will be my alternative moving forward? My commute is from Fremont BART to Crossman in Sunnyvale. I am concerned since 120 is my primary mode of transportation to work. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: service to Los Gatos by eliminating routes 48 and 49 you have excluded all services to downtown Los Gatos. Many senior citizens used the Los Gatos service to visit the Senior center and the Live Oak Senior Nutrition Center. These citizens do not drive. They NEED the services provided by the town and the county. How is the VTA going to serve this group? Subject: termination of express bus service to Routes: General Project Comment Fremont/sanjose Please rethink this particular future plan. Granted BART will be available as a crossover to and from the two counties, Santa Clara and Alameda. However, BART stops at Berryessa ‐ nowhere near downtown SJ. Riders will need to arrange for connections that will add to the commuting time. Public All Comments Received on the Draft Plan transportation service' primary function should be to provide access to various destinations. Getting to Berryessa, only to be stranded for those who expect to arrive at downtown SJ is not ideal. Having to take an alternate mode of transportation from Berryessa adds significantly to the total commute time and may be self‐defeating. Driving a car to work will become the more time‐efficient mode, adding to the already very impacted freeway conjestion. Terminating express bus service to Fremont is a far greater disservice to bringing BART to middle‐of‐nowhere San Jose. This will only give VTA bragging rights to claim they were involved in this half‐baked endeavor. Just imagine ‐ currently the 181 route has overload buses running to support the ridership, only to now completely terminate it. Wow ‐ talk about going for broke! Hmmm I wonder: if VTA was run like a business, how long would the wrong‐decision makers last? Routes: 81 Subject: Keep Route 81 Please do not continue route 81. As a student, this is my only means of safe transportation to school, and I know many other students and faculty rely on this route as well. I have a disability that makes it hard for me to get to school as it is, and I don't have access to a car or the money to purchase one. Route 81 is really important in getting me and man others to school safely and on time. Thank you for your time and consideration. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Logo Which Kindergarten provided the idea? Current logo is just FINE Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Decals NO NO NO. One, decals cause eyestrain. Two, decals MINIMIZE the ENJOYMENT of watching others suffer through commute traffic. Increasing revenue via advertising via deliberately annoying paying customers is a bad business proposition. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: school trippers Please create a lot of new school trippers, they have predictable and relatively high ridership, and they serve areas that otherwise would not have transit service. Routes: 27; 63; 64; 65; 82 Subject: proposals for 82,64,27,65,63 I am one of many riders who would no longer be a rider based on the 80/20 and 90/10 proposals. One of the blog posts used an analogy of a gate on a driveway that only opened once an hour, and the argument that opening it more often was need to attract people who otherwise drive or bike. Many of your regular riders in what you call coverage zones do not have the drive or bike alternative, and ALREADY deal with schedules that are one hour gates. These proposals are the equivalent of building a cement wall for these people in exchange for maybe converting a few people used to much more convenience to maybe ride sometimes. If the corridors can attract more riders, the increased income from them should pay for it, not the tax money from an entire valley for a VALLEY transportation system. The lines that affect me most happen to be 82, 64, 27, 65, and 63, and i already spend 2 to 3 hours daily on my commute including time waiting on transfers. Your proposal would send me to a car or bike as I'd be adding 2 hours of walking daily just to get to and from the few options left to me. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Likes plan Overall, I think the next network plan is great! Thanks a lot for your work. Feedback based on the plan + DTSJ live stream (great to be on Youtube!): Fares: ‐ Free transfers are critical, ideally not only within All Comments Received on the Draft Plan VTA but also with other agencies! (Caltrain, BART in particular) ‐ Increasing fares is OK, but note that fractional amounts will make boarding slower as people struggle with change Routes: ‐ New route DTSJ/Diridon/BART directly to the airport (what happened to 11?). Coverage/Frequency: ‐ Even higher coverage, with some on‐demand shuttles for coverage in each neighborhood (feeder shuttles) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Service Cut I can't make your meetings because I am working during your meeting time. And I am busy taking buses that actually go somewhere. How do I go to your meetings when you don't even provide buses for me to get to your meetings to tell you not to cut my buses? You are doing everything that's not helping your regular riders who are in need of transit the most. Routes: 57; 60 Subject: Comments about the plan, specifically outreach I ride Caltrain daily, and often use VTA to get to and from work and Caltrain. I work at Mission College in Santa Clara, Ca. We are served by the 57 and 60 lines. I have not seen a single thing alerting me to these changes. When I saw someone complaining to Mr. Roadshow was when I was first aware of those changes. Now "CK" from VTA assures me that there is a lot of information and outreach out there, and that I'm the problem because I don't "consume media or try to stay informed & engaged" (I take huge offense at CK implying I am not informed because I'm not watching VTA adverts on television. Honestly. Welcome to 2017.) Why aren't there ambassadors, outreach, and signage at the local Caltrain stations (Especially Santa Clara Station, which serves many buses) Why aren't there signs at the Mission College bus stop shelter? I took photos today: there isn't a single shred of information there. What outreach is being done BY VTA at the colleges? I stress VTA here, I think VTA sitting back and hoping Mission College's Marketing Team will magically do everything necessary is a very dangerous place to be. Depending on the College to do a retweet is not enough. Unlike CK, some of us don't spend our lives on social media. What outreach is being done for persons with limited English? Where are these so called ambassadors? Street teams? For someone that uses public transit daily, I don't believe these people are out there. I get that I am not popular with VTA. Routes: 27 Subject: Route 27 Changes Love this proposed change! Never understood why 27 ended at Good Samriatian Hospital, it should go all the way to Winchester Blvd, and on to the Winchester Light Rail Station. Easy connection to 60 and Mt. View Line... Great Proposal Routes: Blue Line Subject: 901 Blue Line This should run every 10 minutes during commute hour. Trains are currently packed, Standing room only during the commute. I don't know of any other city this size that has trains running every 15 minutes during the commute hour. Subject: Next Network Effort Comment ‐ Bus Line Routes: 328; 330 328/330 I wish there was some way to keep Bus Line 328/330 in the Almaden area. I use this line to get to school and work and I would have no way to even get to light rail, except my bike if there is no bus service. Maybe considered cutting the number to stops in the area but don't cut entirely. Routes: 13; 64 Subject: Next Network Effort Comment ‐ Bus Line 64 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I would okay with extending Bus Line 64, if Line 13 is cut. Then Almaden would have 7 days/week coverage. Routes: Yellow Line (Commuter Express) Subject: Yellow Line ‐ Express Line The express train should stop at Tamien, This is one of the busiest light rail stations, lots of people transfer to Caltrain here. Often during the afternoon commute you will see a 1/2 empty train zoom by, while the Tamien station is packed with commuters who want to go home. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Traffic flow on El Camino in Palo Alto At one point there were proposals to change the lanes on El Camino in Palo Alto to provide for a dedicated bus lane and or an island. What has happened to those plans, have they been abandoned? Subject: How can we test route planning with VTA Routes: General Project Comment NextNetwork? It does not appear that VTA GIS or other VTA sites provide ability to perform route planning with the NextNetwork. This makes it very hard to properly evaluate effect of the proposed changes, especially when you need to chain more than one route for the trip. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: I want to see the Time Tables Are time tables for the new network available? Some routes have significantly changed and I want to use the time tables to assess the change in connectivity. Routes: 26; 54; 55 Subject: Save the vta 54 Please save the 55 and 26 and the 54 buses so we can go to work and that care of business. Please we can not afford a car and we love where we live. Routes: 22; 25; 37; 48; 61; 62; 82 Subject: (See description) I NEED #37, 48, 82 & Lt Rail & 61/62, 25 & 22, 81 upon occasion. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Reducing service on little‐used lines If even ten total disabled people and/or college students use a route, there should be no plan to completely remove that service. Reduce the frequency, I can understand. Use smaller vehicles (is that an option?) perhaps. But it's unfair to deny those people access to the entire system (which is effectively what this does), just because they are not living along a popular route. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: Please keep Route 37 & 48 Please help keep Route 37 & 48. Thanks very much! Routes: 10 Subject: VTA #10 I volunteer to work at the Information booths at the San Jose Airport. During each 3 hour shift I work, AT LEAST 10 people ask how to get to the Caltrain or Light Rail stations. This FREE bus route MUST be kept in the new schedule! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: meetings All Comments Received on the Draft Plan all of these meetings are during the week and during times many of us transit users are not able to attend. nothing on weekends. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I ride the 330 bus from San Tomas and Williams to Mission College. I just want to know if my bus will come today. In your draft plan, I can take another bus that goes to Mission College. I worry about when the 330 is going to come, and I wonder if I miss the last one at 8:40am. Sometimes the bus is late. A more frequent bus would probably be better. Routes: 55 Subject: Comment on Plan Design Changes & Locations Stations with less ridership in Gilroy have a lot to do with limited hours, infrequent service, long wait times in between trips (ie. 1.5‐2.0 hours to get from Gilroy to East San Jose) and less amenities to feel safe waiting for a but ‐ no shade structures, no protection from the elements and no interactive updates like other stations. Neglected poles. Please do not mistake low ridership for low interest or no need, there is a growing population in South County with a resource not tapped into. Subject: Proposed route 59 stops service before evening Routes: 59 classes depart I'm concerned about the proposed route 59 ending service to Mission College at 10pm. Our evening classes finish at 10:10pm. How can faculty, students, and staff get from their class to the bus stop by 10pm? Could you please consider running until at least 10:30pm to accommodate the schedule at the campus you are serving? [Name redacted] Routes: 59; 60 Subject: Route 60/59 changes I am a staff member at Mission College and work with many students who take classes here that depend on VTA to get to and from classes. The proposed changes will make it significantly more difficult for some of our students to attend classes and limit their options in expanding their education. Please consider extending the routes that service Mission College and extend the last pick up past 10pm. Thank you. Routes: 23 Subject: Bus 23 ‐ O'Connor Hospital bus stop Route 23 currently stops at O'Connor Hospital providing transportation to the hospital and many medical buildings in the area. The new plan eliminates the O'Connor Hospital stop and riders will have to walk from Stevens Creek or Bascom. Eliminating the O'Connor Hospital stop will be a hardship for those whose only transportation is VTA. Please reconsider eliminating the O'Connor Hospital stop. Thank you. Routes: 47; 48 Subject: eliminating service in Los Gatos It does not seem to make sense to eliminate bus service in Los Gatos. I am sure there are plenty of LGHS students and the elderly who rely on the bus. Subject: 55 continue along Remington Ave. to Fair Oaks Routes: 55 Ave Summary: Request that Route 55 continues to go along Remington Ave. ‐> Fair Oaks Ave. I looked at http://nextnetwork.vta.org I appreciate the time you put into seeking feedback and I see some of the reasoning behind changing routes to "follow the money" however, as far as I'm concerned the change All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to Route 55 to take it West to Bernardo instead of the current Remington Drive‐> Fair Oaks Ave., is not good. 1. The proposed change would leave me with only route 26 in order to travel North and intersect with the Mountain View ‐ Winchester light rail. To avoid 25min. or longer delays going the opposite way ‐‐South from Fair Oaks Ave./Tasman light rail to El Camino, I sometimes take Route 55 from Old Ironsides. This will no longer get me to my El Camino/Fair Oaks intersection destination, effectively halving the number of times I use light rail/bus to get to work (in Milpitas). 2. Also I note the 55 at Remington goes past the Sunnyvale Community Center/Senior Center, so anyone reliant on getting the bus there is going to have to find another transport option. 3. On the Sunnyvale transport plan, Fair Oaks/El Camino is marked as a major transit hub. This could no longer be the case if Route 55 would not travel North up Fair Oaks Ave. ** For the above reasons, I request that Route 55 is not re‐routed West of Remington/Fair Oaks. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 don't cancel this bus Route 13 is barley the only public transportation we have in Almaden Valley. We have it weekdays shortly and NO WEEKENDS. We also have a lot of neighborhood people especially seniors who rely this route. WE RELY on it more than the people of Los Gatos, who don't use it, but have it and complain all the time ...so please keep Route 13 going!!!! I am grateful to catch the 7pm Route 13 home along with several other people tonight. School kids during the day depend on the bus.... adults and seniors depend on it all the time. If need be, bring us a smaller bus, but don't forget about us in the 13 Route area please!!!! Routes: 88 Subject: 88 I am a student at Gunn High School, and I strongly oppose the Next Network plan. Should this plan be implemented, it would negatively affect my community in a number of ways. Firstly, I am deeply concerned by the elimination of the 88L and 88M lines. By conserving only the current 88 line (new 288 line), you are neglecting a number of Palo Alto students, especially those living along East Meadow Drive. I am also disappointed by the reduced hours that this line will operate under. Students with extracurricular activities and jobs often to not adhere to "school bell" hours only. The diminished times will complicate life for these students. I understand that the 88 lines represent a high operational cost to your agency. Nevertheless, I urge you to consider the well‐being of many of my friends and peers. We are not the only ones who take the 88 lines ‐‐ veterans and other members of our community use these buses to travel to locations such as the VA hospital and facilities along Charleston/Arastradero Road. Finally, the environmental implications of your actions are not to be underestimated. Reduction in bus service will doubtlessly lead to increased traffic and carbon emissions when students select cars as the next most convenient means or transportation to school. I urge the SC Valley Transportation Authority to search for a better alternative to the current Next Network plan. Your agency's impact on students, the community, and the environment is too important to ignore. You say on your Network Design page that you give "special consideration to vulnerable populations like students, seniors, the low‐come and the disabled". Now, the students of Gunn High would like to see these promises delivered on. I can appreciate the VTA's need to cut costs and improve ridership, but it would be shameful to betray the students who rely upon your services. Routes: 328 Subject: 328 don't eliminate I've been a dedicated 328 rider, in both directions, almost every day for past 14 1/2 years. I use the 328 to get to work at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, and it reduces my 16 mile (each way) commute down to 2 miles each way. There is always a large number of people on the 328 as well, and we all use it for commuting. Many of these riders don't have access to a car, making the 328 the only way for All Comments Received on the Draft Plan them to get to work. Congestion is already very bad on Lawrence Expressway, and running the 328 on that route helps relieve that congestion. Terminating the 328 would be devastating for anyone who commutes along Lawrence Expressway, as the 328 is the only bus that runs along any portion of Lawrence, except for a short portion north of Highway 101. Without the 328, many of us would have no viable way to get to work using public transportation. The 328 runs twice a day in each direction (North and South). If VTA is looking to reduce costs, it could reduce the 328 to once a day in each direction. That was the arrangement for many years, and it is acceptable to almost everyone who currently rides the 328. Thanks for your consideration. Save the 328! Routes: 330 Subject: VTA 330 discontinuance I am a rider of the VTA 330 bus line to and from work starting and ending in Almaden Valley. I was disappointed to hear that this route will no longer be available and will force me to drive to work on a daily basis. The bus tends to be full further down the line and not as many towards Almaden, I am hoping that you will reconsider discontinuing this route completely and maybe offer fewer times so that I still have the option to ride the bus to work and reduce congestion on the roads. Routes: 88; 89 Subject: 88, 89 don't eliminate The Veterans Hospital, on Miranda Avenue in Palo Alto, is currently serviced by two VTA routes, the 88 and the 89. The 89 route is the only one that provides service to the California Avenue CalTrain station, on El Camino Real, in Palo Alto. I understand VTA?s ridership/usage concerns and the economic viablility of continuing an under utilized transit route. However, the 89 Route does serve an important need within the community. I cannot speak to the usage along the entire route, only to access to the VA Hospital. The VA Hospital serves, not only Bay Area Veterans, but Veterans from around the country. Patients, either individually or with family members, will temporarily stay in the Defenders? Lodge (short stay hotel). The Fisher House supports longer term, out of area patients and their families. Many of these patients and family members arrive through our local airports and are without ground transportation. The remoteness of the VA Hospital and the convenience of VTA 89 route is their only connection to the El Camino and CalTrain transit corridors. Access to restaurants, shopping and the outside world is important to those spending several days, or longer at the VA Hospital. The 89 Route provides a valuable service to the Veterans and their families. It would be a disservice to discontinue this route. Extension of the 88 route farther north to serve the Palo Alto CalTrain station would be an alternative. Thank You. Routes: 181 Subject: Keep the 181!!! Please don't take away the 181, it will make commute to SJSU harder and the parking lots on campus even more crowded thus causing more traffic in the city Routes: 10 Subject: 10 please keep it, keep it free I have been a Volunteer at the Airport for the last 5‐6 years. I am an individual with disabilities and I do not drive. I have been taking the light Rail and Bus#10 to get to the Airport to volunteer. At the Airport, I refer a lots of passengers to Bus #10 which is free as well. They use it to go to Santa Clara Station to catch the Caltrain to SF or get to the Metro Light Rail to travel to Downtown San Jose. They also use Bus 10 to get to restaurant and then come back to the Airport to catch their next Flight. Please do not change Bus 10 and if do, please make it free. If Bus 10 is taken away, I do not know how to get to the Airport to Volunteer, Also, If I do not get the free ECO Pass, I will not be able to continue to volunteer at the Airport. Please allow us to help the passengers. Keep Bus 10 for free and grant the volunteers Eco Pass. Thank you! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I am an airport volunteer and for 30 yrs have worked at the information desk welcoming passengers & helping them find their way around San Jose Now I hear another roadblock is proposed I already have to either pack my own lunch or go without Next week I will spend extra hours completing my badge renewal test which means I leave home at 9:30 to start my 11 a.m. shift Yes, I take public transportation on Lt Rail and a bus It seems as if too many roadblocks are being erected which sadly diminish the number of people willing to sacrifice their spare time for the public good If I were a paid employee I would probably be treated with more concern! Routes: 10 Subject: 10 please keep it, keep it free I have been a HOST volunteer for almost 7 years now. While I really enjoy being a HOST volunteer I am deeply saddened that VTA will soon start charging to ride the FREE #10 (#60) bus. I personally use the FREE #10 bus and very often refer it to our passengers who are taking light rail or cal train. It is a very utilized bus. When passengers have some extra time between flights I tell them they can take the FREE #10 (#60) bus to go get food nearby and come back because we have no pre‐security food options for them. The FREE #10 (#60) bus is very important and should remain a FREE bus as part of good customer service at the airport. If you want more people to take public transportation VTA should keep this bus a FREE bus. I am sure VTA makes enough money and should not start nickel and diming passengers. Routes: 330 Subject: Route 330 I take the 330 almost every day. Please do not discontinue. Routes: 55 Subject: VTA Route 55 How do I comment on the cancellation of route 55? Are comments sincerely considered, or has a decision been made on the cancellation of this route? Subject: RETAIN 63, STOP TRYING TO MAKE ANY Routes: 63 CHANGES ON THIS ROUTE Solution that move me? Well, your solution is going to stop me at Camden and I have to walk all the way to Blossom Hill to catch 63 if you do move forward with your proposal. Shorter trip time? Really? Not only will I waste an hour just to get to Blossom Hill, then it takes another 40 minutes to get to San Jose State. How is that shorter? Faster services? Whom exactly are you providing this laughable services to? People who don't ride buses? Can all the board directors come ride the buses with us for once? Come walk 3 miles with us to the bus stop, then ride for another hour, and another hour to transfer and see if the solutions they so eagerly propose has moved them. Your proposals clearly show that none of you ride buses, and none of you really understand how important buses are to us who have no other options. The traffic is just going to get worst and worst, and your ''solution'' that move people is just going to move more people away from taking the buses. 63 is my lifeline; my only option to go to work and come back home at night, since you don't have any other duplicate routes that is better. For years, you have been trying to discontinue the services on this route, which I don't get. There were 10 people on the bus just from Camden Ave. There are always people on the bus, me for one, have been taking ti for decades. Why are you making my life difficult? Routes: 20; 21; 22; 522; 523 Subject: Route 20, 21, 22, 522, 523 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Thank you for the informative webinar. I have three suggestions based on discussion there. A sketched them on the attached map. Route 20, 21: provide a straight route down Middlefield through Mountain View via route 21. Extend route 20 from Mountain View to serve San Antonio station and California Ave residents. This improves service and branding on Middlefield, and provides 20 a direct connection between Caltrain stations and onward to BART. Brand‐wise, at least West of Sunnyvale, customers understand parallel peninsula routes: 22, 20, 21. East of Sunnyvale, the two Northern routes flip: 22, 21, 20. Aside: (not sketched) would it make any sense to not flip at Sunnyvale, and have 3 incremented route numbers in parallel? 20 ‐ Middlefield ‐ Arques ‐ Mission College ‐ Agnew ‐ Montague ... BART 21 ‐ California ‐ Evelyn ‐ Reed / Monroe (Hit all the Caltrain stations, a "local" alternative to Caltrain from San Antonio to Santa Clara) 22 ‐ ECR This would be intuitive for riders to understand, easy for VTA to market ... Route 523: per feedback in the Webinar, folks want to get close to the library, but the connection at Mathilda / ECR is bad somehow ... route up Sunnyvale‐Saratoga, then along El Camino Real briefly, hopefully share the same rapid bus stop as 22/522 (labeled "TC" in my sketch) then up Mathilda with a stop for Library / City Hall / Target. Routes: 523 Subject: 523 I just finished watching the West Valley webinar and have a few questions: Currently there is no bus route that leaves the De Anza College transit center area in Cupertino in the early morning on Saturdays and Sundays. This makes it almost impossible to get from Cupertino to Palo Alto or to northern Sunnyvale (or other northern destinations) by 8:00am on the weekends. Will the new 523 route start earlier on Saturday and Sunday? For the new 523 route, instead of ending its northern route at the Lockheed Transit Center, could it run a little farther east to serve the Moffett Park area, e.g., along Java to Crossman to Caribbean? Can route 55 start earlier on Saturday and Sunday? Thank you. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I was made aware today that VTA has plans to remove Route 89 this coming year. As a daily rider between California Caltrain station and HP (as part of SRP) I and my co‐workers will be impacted. I am mostly concerned that this change is leaving the California Caltrain station disconnected from any other public transportation. That does not seem to me the right direction for public transportation plans, not just for me personally, but other traveling in my same direction to other SPR companies and the VA. I am asking/hoping VTA reconsider removal of route 89 and possibly just lower number of scheduled trips? or as both VTA and Stanford?s Marguerite service this general area, can you guys work together to come up with alternatives or even consider Stanford?s Marguerite service to modify its current RP routes to include a California station stop? Thanks for the time to hear me out, much appreciate all your work and service you provide the community?keep up the good work! Routes: 89 Subject: 89 please don't cancel this route Please do not discontinue the 89 bus route that stops at the Palo Alto VA Hospital. I am a volunteer at the Palo Alto VA Information Desk. I see that veterans with very few transportation options often rely on the 89 bus. The 89 bus offers them the help they need to get to Caltrain, other bus routes, and connections not offered by other transit options. While statistics may show that the 89 bus is not as popular as others, it is very important to low income and disabled veterans. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 10; 60 Subject: 60, free airport shuttles All Comments Received on the Draft Plan As a 27 year volunteer at the San Jose airport and I have helped many people with transportation. Anything complementary we can offer Travellers puts the airport in a position to have travelers spend money on lots of local items. Requests to go to Santana Row have increase as well as transportation to Bart. I strongly urge that we offer this service free to our travelers. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 I heard about possible plans by VTA to discontinue bus service to the Almaden Valley. In particular, bus route 13 passes by my house and serves a lot of members in the community. Elderly, like my parents, and teenage kids depend on the bus service as the only way of transportation. Please reconsider. Routes: 27; 37; 48; 49 Subject: 27, 37, 48, 49 I have taken a look at the "Proposed Service Changes Fall 2017" brochure. I have 2 concerns with the new 27 line, and the dropped 37, 48 & 49 lines. 1) I will be able to take the 27 from the Winchester Light Rail Station to my job, close to Knowles & Winchester, with the new plan. However, there is no return route. I will have to take the 27 all the way around the Los Gatos loop, and pick up the 61, and then take the Light Rail, to get from Knowles & Winchester to the Winchester Light Rail Station. Alternately, I will have to walk a mile from Dell Ave., along the Los Gatos Creek trail, to Bascom Ave., pick up the 61, and take the Light Rail home. 2) Also, I don't see a way to get from the Winchester Light Rail Station to the corner of Bascom Ave. & Camden Ave. Right now, there are two busses which make this route, the 37 East & the 49 South. Both of these busses are going to be discontinued. I hope you will be able to address these concerns with your new routing plan for Fall 2017, as I use the 37, 48 & 49 on a daily basis for work. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 please don't cancel I am a first year student at San Jose State. I have read about the news that VTA is planning to discontinue the Express Bus 181 route from Fremont BART to Downtown San Jose. Riding the Express Bus 181 route is extremely convenient since it is just one bus ride straight to school. Though taking BART to Milpitas then a bus or light rail to downtown San Jose might be quicker, it would also be prone to too many possible schedule conflicts. For example, if BART is late, then I could easily miss my bus. Another reason why the Express Bus 181 route should not be discontinued is because it is covered by the Eco Pass Clipper Card provided by SJSU. The amount I would have to spend on BART would add up quickly and I'm already tight on money as it is. I would struggle to get to school everyday if my only route was through BART and a bus or light rail. One of the main reasons why I decided to go to SJSU was because I knew there would be a bus route that would take me straight there with no need to get off and on another bus or anything of the like. I urge you to reconsider discontinuing the Express Bus 181 route. It would negatively affect many students currently attending San Jose State ‐ especially those like me, who have just started attending the school. Thanks for your time. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Are there plans to have a direct bus from the intersection of Schooldale Drive and Curtner Ave to Page Mill road and vice versa? If at least there is a Bus service in the morning and towards the evening it will reduce the work commute traffic and help many residents in the Willow Glenn area. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Changes in light rail service All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am disappointed that there has been no consideration of expanding light rail service further into eastside San Jose. Traffic in east San Jose is overly congested and ridiculous. Much of the area gets very low scores on the commute. Connecting a line along Tully or Capital Expy. to the main central Light Rail artery would provide service to a lot of people. I can't help but think that more consideration is given to higher socioeconomic areas. Since the eastside is clearly not a priority (although arguable the most in need), I would strongly agree with the need for express service on the orange line and/or even more frequent stops on the blue line so that the ride into downtown does not take an entire hour (after getting to the Alum Rock station). Routes: 22; 522 Subject: 22, 522 On frequent service corridors, buses should just keep running, not wait to meet artificial schedules. Plz make that change for 22/522. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: thoughts on bus frequency in general I live in Sunnyvale and I would really like to see more red lines on our side of the county. But how do you come up with the resources for that? I began thinking in terms of expense: 60m frequency == 1 bus per hour 30m frequency == 2 buses per hour 15m frequency == 4 buses per hour ... 20m frequency == 3 buses per hour My thought on "branding" would be: 60m == "scheduled" (green) ‐‐ "you'll need to check the schedule" 30m == "regular" (blue) ‐‐ "you'll need to know the schedule" 20m == "convenient" (orange) ‐‐ "you don't need to check the schedule" 15m == "frequent" (red) ‐‐ "starting to feel like Chicago" This would give you greater flexibility: if I had a choice between one red and one blue line: maybe two orange lines would be better? "But the rapid service is a thick orange line!" Well, stop that. It is honestly a bit confusing. Draw it like a light rail line and put circles where the stops are. (We need to know where these things stop ..) Then when you try to sell us on BRT it comes off less as a boondoggle and more of an effort to enhance existing services: move people faster along the rapid service network and more people will get out of their cars and on the transit network. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 please don't cancel I am a student at San Jose State University and I take the Express 181 almost daily for commuting to my university. Most of the times, the bus is completely full because of the students that use this bus. I think there is no reason to discontinue the bus especially since a lot of people are using it daily. It would have made sense to discontinue if there were fewer people using it. Discontinuing will drastically affect the students. If at all you want to make some changes, you should think about extending the bus hours, not discontinuing it. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 please don't cancel I have sent this comment through the VTA website, but felt the need to repeat it through email. Looking at this new plan, I firmly believe that the discontinuation of this route (181) is an extremely terrible decision. I have been going to San Jose State for 3 years and counting, and this bus route provides effective transportation between Fremont and San Jose. Given the increasing amount of traffic in the past 5 years, it is next to impossible to reasonably make it to work/school in San Jose on time. This plan claims that the reason for discontinuing route 181 is the extension of BART to Santa Clara/San Jose. However, this is a ridiculous statement since BART does not/will not extend to San Jose in the time frame from which this VTA plan will be implemented. Additionally, the Warm Springs BART Station was supposed to be finished and running in 2016, but it was delayed/pushed back to 2017. Even then, there is no guaranteed date when the Warm Springs station will be completed. Since this is the case, when are all the other stations up to and including San Jose supposed to be running? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Have they even started building? Are there going to be more false promises of when construction is finished? How long are people supposed to wait until BART reaches that far? It just goes to show that BART's track record is unreliable and that commuters cannot be kept waiting. Many San Jose State students, including myself, who live in Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, or even San Ramon, use this bus route to get to San Jose with ease. It is difficult enough to pay tuition for college, and if this route is discontinued, the only viable bus route to San Jose would involve AC Transit 217. The problem with this though is it involves an additional fee of $2.10 AND it only stops in Milpitas, so an additional transfer would be required. Thankfully, route 181 is covered under SJSU's Eco Pass program, and it provides direct transportation to San Jose with no fee, transfer, or other hassle required. Thousands of people use this bus during heavy traffic hours to get to San Jose efficiently and on time every single day. VTA 181 has always been frequent, reliable, and relaxing so I kindly implore you to retain this bus route for future years. If you fail to do so, many people will be significantly furious and have to resort to other tedious transportation options. Routes: 37 Subject: Bus Route 37 She is a VTA Bus Operator. For 6 years. She thinks information from transfer from paper passes to Clipper is when the rider count got messed up/wrong. She thinks Route 37 is very well ridden. She can't understand how West Valley students. From her experience daily, a lot of revenue was lost because the fare boxes weren't working. Routes: 23; 89 Subject: Bus Route 23 and 89 He thinks route 23 should continue to serve O'Connor Hospital with the stop on Forest Avenue. He also thinks line 89 should stop at the Palo Alto VA Hospital. Originally it was a good community bus route that was doing so well here. So how can we say it is cancelled because of low ridership Routes: 81 Subject: Route 81 Please dont cancel the 81 route. This route is really helpful to the students living in nearby communities travel to San Jose State University and reach NASA AMES. I live near the stop Newhall & Tulip and Newhall & Sunnyvista Routes: General Project Comment Subject: El Camino changes I did watch the webinar live and then tried to respond, but apparently that message did not go through. At one point VTA was planning to either make one lane of ECR a bus lane or do a bus island. Is this no longer in the plans? Routes: 40 Subject: Route 40 changes I live at Santiago Villa Mobile Home Park...am 70 years old and have the last 5 months been "car‐less" as my car has finally died. I use Route 40 bus to get to San Antonio area to shop at Trader Joe's and Sprouts...am happy with that opinion, but am now ecstatic that you are planning to extend it to Castro/Mt. View downtown as I had no way to get down there...we have 358 homes here and I am sure with us and the tech corps here that route will be used. Thank You!!! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: ridership I read some of the comments people posted and i agreed with this person who suggested that you VTA should do an hour by hour density study of each route they want to cut and provide some realist peak time service on these routes. I completely, totally agree. You can't just decide to discontinue a All Comments Received on the Draft Plan route because there is no rider on the bus at the hour you check. That is hurting your regular riders and being insensitive to our needs. You are basically discriminating riders because you are putting more focus on high‐density area. That is just not right. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: changing routes I know you have limited budget, but I pay for my rides and I pay the taxes to support your system, and yet I am not getting the services I need everyday to take me to work and home. How is this fair? You are focusing on your rapid, your bart and turning your back to riders who are having their bus services cut. How is this a good approach? Why don't you cut the salary? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: route changes Here are some random thoughts. Generally, I agree with the general concept that, in low‐density areas like Santa Clara Co., it is better to widen route spacing so as to increase service frequency, than to have a diluted service, as has long been the case. There seems also to be some emphasis on keeping bus routes straight, without unnecessary route weaving, though there are probably a few more places where that concept could be implemented more fully. Where, however, I think there are some failures is where VTA has gone beyond widen route spacing and has completely eliminated service so as to make some areas completely inaccessible by public transportation. The most glaring example is where the city of Saratoga joins Monte Sereno in being effectively without any service. Yes, a corner of the city, where West Valley College is located, retains service, but neither downtown, nor virtually any of its residential districts retain service. Moreover, VTA is disingenuous in brochure, explaining only that only service to West Valley College will be effected, and completely ignoring the fact that the city of Saratoga will lose all of its public transportation service into its city center (which, 40 years ago, saw three SCCTD routes: 27, 54, and 57). Elsewhere, look at places like Almaden Valley. Viewing at the map as a whole, it become quite clear that the plan definitely has the effect, and possibly the intent, of reallocating resources from the affluent area that pay the bulk of the taxes (e.g., south San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Los Altos, Palo Alto) to those areas that pay the least taxes (e.g., east San Jose). It seems to me that VTA keeps going after the affluent areas, wanting to tax their residents, but not wanting to give any meaningful services in return. This is completely unfair to the affluent, and to the people who travel to and from affluent areas. As to some specifics, rather than referencing "new" routes 20 and 56, I would characterize the change as "restoring" routes 20 and 56, albeit reconfigured. It is not new, but I fail to understand why routes 23 and 523 operate through downtown San Jose, instead of terminating there. Are there really that many connected origins and destinations between west San Jose and east San Jose? I would prefer to have better service reliability with shorter routes. Route 27 has a rather roundabout way of getting to the Winchester station. It seems to me that operating along San Tomas Expressway would provide a much better trip for those people from south San Jose seeking to access the light rail service. I would probably instead extend routes 60 and 61 into Los Gatos. There appears to be an error on the map where route 52 was not renumbered to route 41. I still don't understand why route 53‐‐where it assumes old route 81‐‐takes a detour off of Homestead Road. To address the Saratoga issue, it seems logical that route 55 should continue south along Saratoga‐Sunnyvale Road (De Anza Blvd.) from Stevens Creek Blvd. into Saratoga . . . a nice continuous corridor with few route deviations. Route 500 should probably operate more frequently than planned. It may not need to have a well‐coordinated schedule with‐‐or even match the headways of‐‐the connecting BART trains, given that the amount of time required to traverse the station (ticket purchase, ascend to/descend from platform, information retrieval, etc.) will very from passenger‐to‐passenger. It is the type of service for which a schedule should be dispensable . . . 5 minutes peak, 10 minutes base and Saturdays, 12 minutes nights and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Sunday. Run at lower scheduled passenger loadings, if need be, simply to maintain reliable service that need not be thought about by passengers. What is missing from the plan is Highway 17 service. This should be extended to the BART station. Travel between Sta. Cruz and the East Bay is an important and well‐established market (the mainstay of Peerless Stages for many years). Routes: 88 Subject: route 88 My 12 year old daughter is attending Terman middle school. She rides VTA bus 88 after school to go to Cubbeley center and Michelle park library frequently. The bus service after 3pm to 6pm is essential to her dally routines. For me as her mother, this is the only acceptable safe way for her to get to her after school activities beside me driving her. But I am in school myself and my class schedules require me in campus in San Francisco at the time when Terman dismisses its students. We rely on the VTA 88 service for our daily life. The current schedule is very essential for our routine. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Measure B Do those board of directors drive? Or do they take buses? They are in their Benz, BMW, Porsche, contributing to traffic congesting and they are the ones deciding how much funds should be allotted to the users? Have they ever tried waiting in the rain for a bus that might never show up? Have they waited for an hour for a bus because they ''just missed it?'' Have they ever had to walk hours to get to the next bus stop because it's been decided the services will be discontinued on certain bus stops? You are letting clueless rich directors making decision on bus issues that are affecting the real people. Tell these board of directors to go ride 2 buses every day before they have any say in this matter. Routes: 54 Subject: route 54 can you pleaseee continue route 54 'cause its convenient for me plus there's alot of people riding it also. Routes: 65 Subject: Bus Route 65 She wants more information about the proposed changes to bus route 65 because she saw a mention of it being cancelled while waiting at the bus stop. She would undoubtedly be concerned about it being discontinued. Routes: 54 Subject: route 54 Please continue line 54 It is important for students living near Sunnyvale City Hall and Library to Homestead High School. Line 523 and 55 overlap a lot. Why not let 523 runs on Mathilda instead of Sunnuvale Ave ? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: East Ridge connections Why no connection to east ridge ? Also Deanza college? Routes: 330 Subject: VTA bus route 330 discontinuance I am a rider of the VTA 330 bus line to and from work starting and ending in Almaden Valley and I was very disappointed to hear that this route will no longer be available based on the new network plan and will force me to drive to work on a daily basis. I understand that the VTA is trying to provide faster service and more buses where the majority of riders are but it is taking away the service from others that use the VTA to get to work. I will admit that the numbers of riders in Almaden is lower with only 4‐5 people riding it all the way into Almaden but this bus is very full further down line. I am hoping All Comments Received on the Draft Plan that the VTA will reconsider discontinuing this route altogether and maybe offer fewer times that will help increase the riders per bus statistic and so that I still have the option to ride the bus to work and reduce congestion on the roads. I feel like the problem is that the marketing of this route could be improved. There are a lot of people that live in Almaden and commute to businesses in Santa Clara and Milpitas that would be willing to ride the bus if they knew the bus took the same amount of time as sitting in traffic everyday and have access to Wifi aboard the bus. I ask that you represent those people that ride bus 330 from Almaden to Santa Clara and those trying to do the right thing to reduce the traffic congestion and ask the VTA to continue to provide service even at a reduced capacity. Routes: 121; 168 Subject: Express from gilroy It would be great if there was a 5 am bus/ train to Lalo alto or San Jose to accommodate early starting employees Routes: 10 Subject: VTA Bus #10 As a volunteer at the info desk at the airport for a number of years I have referred many travelers to the #10 Airport Flyer. It would be a great disservice to stop that service, or to incorporate it into another route. I believe that many travelers have come to depend on that bus when arriving at, or departing from SJC. Also, because the airport does not have any 'real' restaurants pre‐security, we refer travelers to eateries on or near the #10 route. Let's keep San Jose and Santa Clara Valley friendly to the traveling public and not allow changes to the #10 Airport Flyer. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Buses in Almaden Valley I am very concerned about the VTA proposal to eliminate ALL bus service to Almaden Valley. My kids used the bus a lot when they were younger. Now I am retired and can see that I may not be able to drive indefinitely. Retirees, youth, those who don't drive...it is unconscionable to leave us without ANYTHING. Small buses, maybe, as the ridership is not huge. But this valley NEEDS transportation. In a time that we are all being encouraged to use public transportation, and the buses connect to Almaden light rail, how are we supposed to get to Almaden light rail? Connections, connections. It's about the "last mile". How do we get home from light rail? Please...save the Almaden routes! Routes: 13; 63 Subject: VTA in Almaden We need continued VTA service in Almaden!! Please ensure it's continuity! Routes: 13; 63 Subject: route 13, 63 : I have been transit dependent all my life. I can't and I don't drive because of vision issue. Line 63 and 13 have been my lifeline to get to school, stores, work, doctors, dentist, optometrist, retinal specialist...you name it. All I have had to do is walk a few minutes to the bus stop. For years, I have had to put up with your service cut on those lines and make adjustments while traffic congestion worsens. Now with proposal to discontinue these lines, you are basically sending a transit‐dependent who has no viable option to walk along the danger of streets for hours to get to the next available stop. Is this your smart answer, as a government agency, to relieve traffic congestion and increase ridership? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: changing routes Do you really not know why people don't want to take public transit? The buses and light rails are slow as snails. They don't go anywhere people want to go. You have to make several transfers and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan spend hours to get to your destination while car takes you there quicker. You should have made several attempts to make a lot of buses run frequently along Almaden Expy to get people to the parks, schools, jobs. People find it hard to get anywhere so they drive. Only people who can't drive for all personal reasons stick with transits, and you are not doing them any favors by taking any services away. People will still rather be stuck in traffic in their cars than taking buses that go nowhere. People who do need buses will suffer even more when you cut services. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: NN Location I travel every day from Blossom Hill Rd to Lockheed Martin. The changes will make my commute longer with more train hops when using the Express. Routes: 523; 54 Subject: route 523, 54 I live near Hollenbeck and Sunnyvale Saratoga Ave. and have a daughter going to Homestead High school next year. I am wondering if she will be able to take route 523 to Homestead HS if route 54 is eliminated? What other options does she have? Routes: 18 Subject: Gavilan College, 18 Thank you for keeping service to Gavilan College! Routes: 16 Subject: route 16 How will the changes to route 16 in Morgan Hill affect the ability of paratransit users to get to the De Paul Health Center in Morgan Hill? Will paratransit users be limited to certain hours to match the hours of operation of the new Route 216? Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I am one of everyday riders of the route 330 and I?ve received the note saying, ?it is proposed the route 330 will be discontinued in fall 2017?. As a everyday rider, I know that the bus gets full of passengers every time. You may be able to track and verify this. Please reconsider and continue to run this route. Hope this would help to make VTA better for people in the Valley. Thank you always for your service. Routes: 121; 328 Subject: 328, 121 I take bus 328 to work as usual, driver gives passengers handout, regarding proposed routes to be discontinued in fall 2017. I have no idea why VTA wants to discontinue route 328. We have total 19 passengers this morning (1st schedule), that?s about average, most of passengers are taking the same bus to work weekdays. I am off the bus at the last stop (i.e. Lockheed Martin transit), there are 7 passengers off the last stop, totally 11 passengers off the last 4 stops. What?s the decision to discontinue route 328? I sometimes see very few passenger on bus 121, do you plan to discontinue 121? I commute by VTA bus/lightrail since 1997. Discontinue route 328 and 330 will force people in Almaden Valley community to drive to work. Routes: 63 Subject: Bus Route 63 I would like to register my concern regarding proposed changes to route 63 to terminate at Meridian/Blossom Hill. I use the 63 about once a month to commute to meetings in SF (via CalTrain at Diridon). I also have a student planning on going to SJSU in the fall. She was planning on taking the 63 to school. With proposed changes, I will have to use Uber or just commute, also my daughter will be All Comments Received on the Draft Plan yet another car commuter to SJSU. We would find this very inconvenient, expensive and unfair as taxpayers. We live near the Almaden Community Center. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 VTA Route 89 is an essential element in the ability of many to commute by rail. If you discontinue route 89, you will have violated your charter and your slogan of "Solutions that move you" will be hollow. I urge you to reconsider plans to cancel route 89 on behalf of my many fellow passengers. Routes: 51; 81 Subject: Proposed route 51, formerly 81, formerly 51 I have been riding this bus to and from work at NASA/Ames since I moved to my present home, 1651 Fordham Way, Mountain View, in 1979. While I did not ride often in the early years, I have been a pretty regular commuter for 10‐15 years. My preferred ride to work is the first bus. Unfortunately, your proposed start time of 7am is the latest start I can recall, and will not get me to work at my regular start time of 7:30am‐‐unless it starts at El Camino Real, as the first bus did (6:05am, as I recall) for a short while several years ago. El Camino Real is about a 15 minute walk from my house. My office at NASA\Ames is about a 1 hour walk from my house and if I leave home about 15 minutes earlier than my present schedule I can walk to work by 7:30am. Since I work half‐time now, I normally ride the 11:43am bus home from NASA\Ames. Will the new schedule have a comparable time? [Name redacted] Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Cheap goods with people like one to grant visibly all of that numerous populaces would am inflicted with sold for electronic ebook to create selected jumps in favor of their unique terminate, mainly right away ecddgdaedkee Routes: 88; 89 Subject: Interview I am a reporter covering a story on the VTA bus route changes in the Palo Alto area. This story is one that may be published in the Peninsula Press or with KQED news. I would like to schedule a time for an interview with Linh Hoang, the VTA spokeswoman soon. Would sometime Friday or Saturday work? Routes: 65 Subject: No descontinuar Linea 65. Por favor! Yo rento en esta zona y este es el bus en que me movilizo. Qué opciones tendre ahora que leo lo descontiaran? Estoy preocupada. Gracias por su atencion Routes: 20 Subject: line 20 why not extend the 20 service the showers transfer center people can contact catch 22/522 to pa. Routes: 51 Subject: line 51 ridership I was currios what was daily ridership of 51 if take out mvhs (awalt) high school students Routes: 70 Subject: Eastridge to Capitol Lightrail Looking at the new map, it dosnt look like there would be a direct route from Eastridge to Capital Light Rail Station. Is there a way you guys can look at that because a lot of people use that route All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 70 Subject: Bus 70 I really need Bus 70 as this is my only means of transportation. I don't like the change. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Buses Run more frequently. I don't leave earlier than scheduled Routes: 23 Subject: Bus 23 Please don't cut the 23 because that is the bus I need to go to Santa Clara, where I work everyday. Routes: 181 Subject: Bus 181 I take the 181 to and from SJSU. I would like to see the 181 continue. Routes: 66; 72 Subject: Routes 66 & 72 I take routes 66 & 72. I'm happy about the proposed bus changes. Routes: 63 Subject: Bus 63 The 63 change is too far away from Caltrain. I take Caltrain from Camden Ave, and the proposed stop is too far away ‐ Blossom Hill/Meridian Ave. Routes: 55 Subject: Bus 55 Please keep the 55 the way it is. Me and my elderly friends will be greatly affected. (Tasmin) Routes: 181 Subject: Bus 181 I take 181 to Fremont from Customer Service Station. Please don't discontinue. Routes: 81 Subject: Route 81 I ride route 81 to Kaiser Hospital every other week to pick up prescriptions for my 89 year old mother. Please don't discontinue. I propose community bus service. Please call me. Routes: 22; 23 Subject: Bus 22 and 23 I live in a Senior Apartment on 4th & St. James. It's too far to walk 2‐3 blocks to the transit center. I ride the 22 or 23. Please return stop to 4th & St. James. Routes: 54 Subject: Route 54 I ride route 54 to Mathilda. Please don't discontinue. Not sure 523 will replace it sufficiently. Subject: I dont want 140 or 120 to close down from Routes: 120; 140 Fremont I will like to have a continuity of service from Fremont bart of 120 and 140. I take it to work daily. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: reduce salaries not fares VTA salaries should be reduced. they are ridiculously high re what VTA does for community. Routes: 16 Subject: route 16 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Couldn't comment through YouTube. The webinar sounded pretty good. I like the changes. I would have liked more details to changes to Route 16 in Morgan Hill. I'm concerned about the decrease in service hours. Routes: 88 Subject: route 88 Don't change the bus route 88. I rely on that bus to get to work every day. Routes: 68 Subject: Access to our Most Vulnerable Populations I have been asked to inquire on the lines that inner‐connect our clients with the Social Services Agency satellite offices in the South County, North County and in San Jose Areas. We are most concern with County of Santa Clara Social Services Clients being able to access the 379 Tomkins Court location. We worked hard to implement this station and it is critical for clients with small children and elderly to enter the building. There is no sidewalk from the nearest stop some distance away. I would like to look at our SSA buildings and be advised on how they may be impacted by the impeding changes. We worked with Kermit in the past and would like to re‐establish a staff to work with on these critical decisions. We want to voice our concern prior to the February 20th deadline. Routes: 40; 52 Subject: 40,52 Actually, maybe route 40 and 52 should simply be merged into a single bi‐directional looping service. I'm not sure if the service frequencies of north of El Camino and south of El Camino are comparable though. And it might result in too much service to Foothill college. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes I live in Cupertino off of Bubb Road. While I'd like to say that I take the bus or bike to work more than I drive, I tend to drive a bit more. However, when I used to take the bus, I took the 54 from one end of the line to the other. I'm very happy with the 523 change and love the idea of more frequency. One thing that would help for those in my area is a place to park since the line doesn't come all the way to my house. I pick it up at the Whole Foods Market on Stelling an Stevens Creek. I think there are some designated parking spots there (diamond markers in the spaces), but it's not clear. In general, in looking at the parts of the plan that would impact me (mostly what was line 54 and sometimes the light rail) I like the changes. I also like the idea of serving more people and reducing the number of lines. Such a strategy feels like the only opportunity for growth; get more riders, improve service, then expand. Being a public service and having empty buses running around seems to help no one. Thanks for the proposal. I can't wait for it to go into effect. Routes: 12; 62 Subject: 62,12 Since the service to Stop 60072 (VTA Rt 62, 12) is planned to be stopped in fall 2017, I am writing to inform the VTA board that San Jose BART site is also coming online at same time in 2017. Since core connectivity seems to be an issue to the community I don't understand why the VTA is planning to stop service on this route. I hope this letter does my job of persuading you to reconsider this decision. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 FTA Section 5311 Non‐Urbanized Area Grant Program (Board meeting November 3, 2016 #6.9) provides funds to operate Route 68 (formula annual apportionment is $76,355). Does reducing mid‐
day service from 20 to 30 minutes impact the FTA grant? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 58 Subject: VTA Route Changes to 58 Is there any way that you could keep route 58? It is my main way of getting about and has very good connections with other routes. Looking at the proposed plans and new routes to take over... Leaves me worried. It looks like in the long run my trips will take longer to get places and require more transfers. (Which won't be much of a problem if free transfers are put in place... But still a hassle... I'd prefer not to have to resort to using taxi or lyft/uber... as it costs a lot more... But if I want less hassle and more time efficient, I feel I might need to.) Concerned, [Name redacted] Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I live on Taylor Street and commute daily to work with Bus 65 via SJSU Eco Pass Clipper card. PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE BUS 65!!!!!! It will drastically affect my commute and change how I get to work. Bus 65 is conveniently located two blocks (three to five minute walk) from my house. If Bus 65 is continued, the nearest bus stop heading towards SJSU is one mile away (fifteen minute walk) from my house. I will be discourage and feel unsafe walking that far to take public transit. I will most likely stop taking VTA and drive to work instead. Why would I want to walk fifteen minutes to a bus stop when I can easily drive seven minutes to work...? I hope you consider my feedback and do not discontinue bus 65. Thank you. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 I am using VTA to commute to my office, Juniper Networks. I am currently using mission & Mohave stops (id #65558 and #65559). Please don?t changes/cancel these stops as it is very close to my house. I am residing at 47112 warm springs blvd. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 Please don not cancel the bus route 89 to and from VA hospital to California train station. This route is much needed for VA employees and veterans as there's no other way of transportation to and from the VA even the service is provided only during commuters hours. Thank you in advance! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I hope VTA can reconsider of discontinued the bus route 101. Please see below for couple reasons * For the students in Fremont, it will increase their transportation cost because most of them have free bus pass but not the Bart * At the busy hours, people need to stand on the bus on 181. If VTA only have one express or regular bus from Santa Clara County to San Jose State College area, it will become super pack and it will dramatically increase the risk of people injury themselves * For all the people lived in Fremont, bus 181 is definitely benefit for all of them Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Please keep serving the community by keeping the VTA 88 bus line going Routes: 88 Subject: 88 88l 88m I want to express that we need to keep the existing 88 line to serve the Palo Alto community. I understand that the new proposal will call for keeping the Gunn HS service during school hour BUT often the students stay late after school to work on projects so the revised bus schedule will not accommodate those needs even though the current regular 88 line runs hourly. I appreciate if you can reconsider the decision to cancel the 88 service in support the Gunn HS student. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: webinars What do I need to reach a webinar meeting? Thank you Routes: 10 Subject: 10th & Hedding I have recently moved into the Japantown area by 10th and Hedding. I would like to see more connections from the 10th and Hedding area to Diridon station for my commute. Thanks Routes: 288 Subject: 288A B Thank you for soliciting community input on your proposed new plan. The proposal under review includes the situation that "students who board the 88L along Louis, Meadow or Arastradero would take Route 288A or 288B instead. The draft plan proposes to operate three southbound trips between these two routes in the morning and three northbound trips in the evening." Because there are no longer "0 period" classes at Gunn High School, it seems likely that most students take the southbound route at a time that gets them on‐time for 1st period classes. However, many high school students are involved in extra‐curricular activities and do not return home immediately following that last academic period of the day. Further, Thursday classes end with a "Tutorial" that many students need in order to have time to consult with a teacher. I'm writing to request that the 288A and 288B take into account these "staggered" homebound schedules and consider adding 1 or 2 additional northbound trips to accommodate the after‐school activities and "Tutorial". My son has used the later northbound trips consistently throughout most of his 2 years at Gunn, and I anticipate this to continue for him as well as his little brother who will begin in the fall. One way that students can commute is by car ‐ adding additional traffic from student drivers during rush hour is a big concern. A second way that students could come home at 4:30 or 5:00 pm is to get picked up by parents. The adds two parent‐driven trips during high‐traffic commute time, however (once going to the school, then going home with the student). A third option is for students to bike. From our house that is over 3 miles. Even in Palo Alto, biking home may be reasonably safe at 3 or 4 pm, but in winter when it is dark and rainy as it has been this week, biking home at 4:30 to 5:30 pm can be quite dangerous, particularly when combined with rush hour traffic. For the ease of traffic congestion, the support of our students and their safety, please consider 1 or 2 additional northbound trips on 288A and B in your new plan. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general Managers who approve coach purchases would NEVER lower themselves to ride in one except for an occasional photo opt. On most days the driver's workplace is much warmer than the passenger area so, in the interest of public safety, the A/C gets cranked up and passengers get chilled. I will NOT patronize AMC theatres because they are always COLD. Many will choose NOT to ride VTA for the same reason. One solution could be to order coaches with separate climate controls for the passenger and driver areas. Also, place a clause into each purchase order stipulating the financial penalty if a coach develops significant rattles within the first eighteen months of service. New coaches should NOT rattle like OLD used cars but many do. Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 I am a student at SJSU. I commute to SJ everday on 181. This bus is discontinuing. I might drop from school. The change is affecting a lot of students. Routes: Green Line Subject: green line All Comments Received on the Draft Plan When the VTA Next Network website was originally published, the 902/Green Line was going to have increased frequency of every 15 minutes, all day, every day, including weekends. As someone who lives near the green line and takes it frequently, I was very excited. Often on weekends I would go to the farmer's market, brunch, or out for drinks in Campbell or downtown San Jose. With the light rail currently running only every 30 minutes, it's often easier to simply drive or, if I'm drinking, take the light rail out and an Uber back. After having a few drinks, the prospect of waiting 30 minutes to get home is simply not worth it when a cheap Uber is a tap away. So, 15‐minute frequency was very exciting and would have increased my use of the green line. However, now I see that the proposed green line will only have 30‐minute frequency on intervals. When did this change happen? Why did it happen? I'm very upset and will probably take the green line less often as a consequence. It will also be misleading to include the green line on any frequent service map if it's a 30‐minute interval. Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 Please don't discontinue #181. I go to San Jose State University. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a first year college student who lives in Fremont and goes to San Jose State University. I believe that you guys should keep the 181 bus because it is convenient for a lot of people. I see so many people that like to take this bus to work and school everyday that I take it. It helps students especially because it saves us money when we have to pay for college tuitions. Please do not discontinue the 181 bus because it makes life much easier for those who live on this part of Fremont, rather than make everyone go to BART. Thank you Routes: 77 Subject: Line 77 I'm happy about proposed #77 changes. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to you regarding the discontinuation of Express Bus Route 181. As a student of San Jose State University, I am one of the countless who depend on said bus route to commute to school everyday. Removing this bus route would be a taking away the access of many students' education. With that being said, removing this bus route will also cause extreme increase in unwanted traffic congestion and will also affect the sleep schedules of those who commute to schools as students will be forced to wake up even earlier and drive through traffic jams. In addition, the San Jose State University parking garages are already at beyond capacity everyday. Students and professors already struggle to find parking. Taking away this bus route would increase the competition of parking spots. Thank you for your time and I look forward to using Express Bus 181 for the many years ahead. Routes: 57 Subject: Saratoga ... Not really sure if there's anything to say on this that matters. But, as the transit plan stands; the majority of people in Saratoga would need to walk well over two miles in order to get to a bus route; which seems completely backwards to stated intention. Yes, the line has low ridership at most hours; but it does constantly have people on it. In mornings, the hourly bus fills up‐‐ not all the time, but somewhat frequently. It...seems stupid to remove the only line that runs through a place; and extremely dishonest to not clearly state that in the journal. Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I take the 181. Please don't discontinue. Need the bus to go to school, DeAnza College. Routes: 23; 60 Subject: Line 23 I connect to light rail from the 23, Valley Fair. Please don't cut service. #60 changes are OK as long as it goes thru Winchester and Williams. Routes: General Project Question Subject: Fares A $6 all day fare is too high. Do you offer low‐income fares for families and children? Routes: 46 Subject: Route 46 Route 46 could connect to BART. Extend school trip to BART. Make it work Trip as well. Evening trips for people returning work. Routes: General Project Question Subject: Mathilda/101/237 Heading East on Mathilda to turn left on to 237 I have waited about 2 minutes with no traffic otherwise. Why is there not a Smart Traffic flow based, left turn light? Routes: 52; 522; 523 Subject: Library stop; building community The Next Network report considered two purposes of public transit ‐‐ maximize ridership vs. maximize access. I submit that a third purpose deserves consideration: Building community. Social capital has repeatedly been found to be good for economies, and public transit is one institution which helps to build social capital.[*] I believe that that function could be enhanced with more deliberate attention to it. In particular, make sure bus lines provide convenient routes to centers of community, including community centers (of course), libraries, schools, and the Y. The current plan includes many of those, but the Sunnyvale Library/Civic Center is notably missing. I'm sure your evaluation of alternatives to serve the library will be better considered than mine. I merely point out that there are alternatives (e.g., direct the 55 line along Pastoria/Hollenbeck for part of its route, since 523 will already serve Mathilda; at the very least, ensure that the 522 stops near the library), and that it is important to consider them. Mark Isaak Board of Library Trustees, Sunnyvale Routes: 53 Subject: Bus Route 53 As best as I could tell, she doesn't want the bus 53 to be cut to West Valley College. She wondered about using smaller buses. Routes: 13 Subject: Route 13 It is essential to retain the Almaden Valley route 13 bus. I use it to get to the VTA Almaden Light Rail station then to get to San Jose State. Without route 13, I have no way to get to the light rail. Routes: 37; 65 Subject: Bus Route 37 and 65 Medically he needs the bus to go to 24‐hour fitness on Hillsdale, uses both 37 and 65 to get there. Bus 65 drops him off right on the corner of Camden and Leigh Avenue. On his return trip, he takes the 37 to get home. Has a disability, auto‐immune arthritis, he needs to swim in the pool there. Hard for him to walk. He asks that we not discontinue these routes All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Question Subject: Paratransit plan Where can I find the information on paratransit meetings and provide feedback. If it's on this site, I can't find it. Routes: 288; 88 Subject: 88, 288 I am a Palo Alto resident and my son is about to start attending Gunn high school next year. I am counting on his being able to take the bus to school. The current VTA proposal to cut the 88, 88L, and 88M bus lines that serve Gunn as part of the draft regional plan will negatively affect us, since the new 288 school tripper route will not cover 88L. Also, limiting bus service hours to 7:00 AM‐8:00 AM and 2:00‐4:00 PM instead of all day long will affect his ability to get home following after school sporting events and classes.. I urge to not to make the proposed changes, since many students like my son will be negatively affected. Routes: 23; 89 Subject: 23, 89 This bus system has gone thru changes, well is the worst I ever scene it & some routes longer too. I was talking to some of your bus drivers on ElCamino and other lines as well, they feel the same way as I do, right now !. I been here in the late 90' since you at the time you were called 'TA' and now called 'VTA' and u got worst in making people and disabled people as myself more harder to take public transit & Outreach or now called 'Access' worst than before, you want to be like 'RT' and paratransit in Saramento,Ca andI lived there for 4‐5 years and you‐'VTA' are doing to be same as 'RT', and they are pitafull, and thats the state capital,I hope not. you should been back the line 23A, it was going directly to the VA hospital in Palo Alto & more lines as well, also in the past before you made line 89 all you had to do made an complete circle around, one bus #88 one clockwise and one counterclock wise, I told you in the past about the line 88, but you didn't listen and made an #89 and no you are deleting that line. Routes: 181 Subject: Route 181 My commute is 3 hours long. Please do not discontinue Route 181 because I rely on the express for for the transfer to 68. Routes: 181 Subject: Route 181 Do not discontinue 181. I commute to Dirdion Station to Winchester. VTA needs better service to Winchester. This adds money to my commute. Routes: 23 Subject: Bus Route 23 Still doesn't want it moved off Forest Avenue. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I got to SJSU. I don't want route 181 to be discontinued. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Eco pass would it be replaced for the 181 sub bus? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I need 181. I'm a student of SJSU and living night. Besides BART 181 helps me so much. Can't imagine it changing its service. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I find it inconvenient since the 181 makes the trip to SJ easier for me than the new station at SJ. I am more used to the 181 stops and it helps my family financially too, rather than the new station. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I was handed the attached flyer on possible discontinuation of route 330 services. This bus carries a lot of professionals from Almadan all the way to Santa Clara and beyond with employees from nVidia, AMD, IMG, Adesto? This is the only state benefit I get from all the taxes I pay to city , state and federal, a simple bus ride to avoid pollution and improve my productivity time on the highways during the two hour commute . I would like to understand of your next public hearing . I urge you not to stop this service. Routes: 120; 180; 181 Subject: 120,180,181 BART is going to cost more than these 181, 120, 180 lines into San Jose Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a junior at San Jose State University. I don't have car because I can't afford one. I commute from fremont to San Jose State back and forth Monday through Saturday. This bus is very very reliable and the best way to get to my university. PLEASE DO NOT STOP 181 as this is the only option I have. I am speaking on behalf of so many students who take the bus with me everyday. It would be a great great help you can hear me out and oppose the changes. THANK YOU in advance. Routes: 180; 181 Subject: 180,181 Transferring from stations is much too inconvenient than riding 180 & 181 into downtown San Jose Routes: 181 Subject: 181 It's a super convenient line. Myself and many others use it to get to SJSU and De Anza and I've noticed other people use it to get to Cupertino and other areas in the South Bay. Discontinuing it would hurt a lot of us students since parking at downtown san jose is incredibly expensive and hard to find at peak hours. This line saves us the headache, the time, money, and potentially our grades since we won't miss our classes because we have to look around trying to find parking a long with hundreds of other people. With how busy many of us are, taking this line instead of driving allows us to catch up on sleep and study instead of feeling frustration during the terrible 880 commute. They say "don't fix what ain't broke" but in this case, something was broken that didn't need fixing. The new plan is just bad and inconvenient in every way and defeats the purpose of commuting with VTA. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Should keep the line 181 . Tons of us ride it. Not too many ways to get into San Jose from Fremont Routes: 88 Subject: 88 In a Gunn PTSA meeting last week parents expressed concern that the proposed service hours may not meet Gunn students? needs and may result in a further erosion of ridership which VTA will use as a reason to cut the bus. They also questioned whether the current VTA88 service is adequate. We are All Comments Received on the Draft Plan doing a student survey to learn what schedule might work best for students who have morning, afternoon, and evening extracurricular activities which require them to travel outside of bell times. A finer‐grained look at customer needs might help you deliver the service they need. We?d like to work together to accomplish that. Routes: General Project Question Subject: service changes Are many of these routes changing due to the fact that there will be BART stations in Berryessa and Milpitas in the fall, or is that independent of the new Bart stations? Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am contacting you because of the news I received that read that the express 181 route is planning on being cancelled because of the BART extension. I believe that this is a horrible idea, many students, like myself, depend on this route to get to and from school. Parking at SJSU is already impossible. There are never spots and you have to arrive hours early in order to get a spot. I believe that terminating this route would be irresponsible and negatively effect so many people. Please, I urge you to reconsider this decision. My education depends on it. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I consider it ludicrous that the 181 route is being considered to be taken out. I am voicing my concern for fellow commuters and for myself. The convenience of having the school fund students to commute rather than having the hassle of driving and struggling for parking at San Jose State is a God Send. It is a motivating factor to go to school. Without the 181, many students who take the bart and then commute to SJSU will have a harder time to get to school. The 181 is a convenience to a majority of students that attend SJSU as well as for many other commuters in the Bay Area. Discontinuing it would largely affect many lives in the Bay Area and I, for one, am against the plan. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 If they cancel 181 then need to replace it with an express route to BART from downtown San Jose Routes: 181; 66 Subject: 181 I'm happy about 181 discontinue. I will take BART to Milpitas and take route 66 to come downtown Routes: 181; 66 Subject: 181 I'm glad 181 will change. The 66 goes by my house and my commute will be faster going to Milpitas BART. I won't be coming downtown anymore. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I take 181 to Amtrak. Rely on this route. Please email to help me sort out my travel options. Routes: 53 Subject: Please do not change Bus 53 route! Bus 53 is the only bus within reasonable walking distance from our home. Currently, Route 53 is a straight shot to DeAnza College. My husband commutes to DeAnza on bus 53 every day. With this new route proposal, he would have to change buses in order to get there, making it a slower commute for him instead of faster one. My mother is elderly and cannot walk very far. She takes bus 53 every day to get around town, including going to the Cupertino library and neighboring businesses. With this new route proposal, she would have to change buses to get to there. My elderly mother All Comments Received on the Draft Plan gets lost very easily ‐‐ just earlier this week, I fielded a frantic phone call from her when a bus driver gave her misinformation and she got off the wrong bus stop. It took her over two hours to find her way home in the rain. Having to change buses in order to get Cupertino is not a feasible option for my mother. Please do not change the route for bus 53! Routes: 23; 25 Subject: 25,23 I alway go bus 25 to vmc also my ear app ton bus 23 at jose figures ave bec I take electric wheelchair that why Sent from my iPad Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I would like VTA to keep 181 and don't discontinue the bus because I need this bus to go to DeAnza College. Thanks! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Outreacj I'm in an agreement with an majority of the bus drivers‐ don't fix what isn't broke, but you‐(VTA) needs to fix Outreach, now called access with taller lift doors, like you had before these canopy ripping cutaways, they were excellent in all ways, for sure & I like the bus system as it is but, you can add some more bus lines to please everyone especially the disabled people ‐ wheelchair or not who takes your buses here in San Jose, Ca. and don't care what other bus lines do, such as Sam Trans, etc. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I'd like to retain route 181 because I commute to downtown San Jose. I live there. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 It has come to my (and many student?s and faculty?s) attention that VTA plans to cancel route 181 (express from Fremont bart to Diridon) next Fall, once the south bay extension to bart opens. On behalf of myself and many more, I ask that you reconsider that decision. There are many riders in Fremont that originate in Fremont, not just using 181 as a bart extension. To discontinue 181 would force us to use bart and light rail for a route that is much more expensive and time‐consuming. In short, public transportation from Fremont to SJSU would no longer be a viable option. This will result in an increase in traffic on 680 and 880, as well as adversely affecting an already critical parking situation at SJSU. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a San Jose State University student from Fremont and I use Express bus 181 for my college commute . Considering the traffic on 880 and limited college parking , I prefer taking 181 bus than driving.Discontinuation of express bus 181 will really impact my daily commute. Request you to not discontinue the express bus 181 as a lot of people from Fremont use the bus for their daily commute Thanks Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am currently a first year student enrolled in San Jose State University. I plea that you hear me out and keep the 181 VTA route. I had classes Mon‐Thurs for my first semester, and took the 181 bus from Stevenson and Farwell to San Jose State every day for the entire semester. The main reason to do this for not only myself, but anyone is clear; cost. San Jose State has extremely limited parking, most of which is already taken by students who purchased a permit and parked their cars in the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan parking lots while they dorm. My earliest class was at 10:30 am, and some days I would get there at 9 am, and every parking lot would already near full, if not already full. The next best option was to park in ParkSJ garages, which charge $1 per 20 minutes. For a full time student who commutes, I would usually be at school from 10:30 until around 3:30‐4:00 every day, 4 days a week. Doing the math, that is roughly $18‐$20 per day. Plus the gas money I would have to use to pay for the 60 mile round trip to San Jose 4 days a week. The reason I am not dorming is purely because of money. My family needed the money dorming would take in order to get my mother medical treatment and surgery to treat her condition. Instead of using those costly options, however, the 181 VTA bus line has allowed me to get to and from college every single day I need to throughout my first semester, all cost free. I park my car along the street for free, as well as all the other students who I know who take this line from Stevenson and Farwell. The 181 bus line has been a Godsend for me in college thus far, and I was going to depend on it as my main way of transportation to and from college for the rest of my freshman year, as well as years to come if circumstances don't allow me to dorm until later years. I know that this individual story and reasoning of mine is solely not enough to change the minds behind the removal of the 181 line, but consider that countless workers and San Jose State students rely on this bus line to get to and from home and school multiple days a week. The transportation and money challenges for myself as well as other daily 181 riders would become huge problems in our daily lives, and possibly hinder our ability to be on time to classes or jobs in San Jose. Although the expansion of BART would allow people to get to San Jose quickly, the BART station is about 7 miles away from San Jose State, and would take 2 hours of walking or multiple switches of public transportation to get to and from the BART station. With all of that said, I would hope you could see the situation through not only my eyes, but through the eyes of every person that rides the 181 line. The 181 line has been the most efficient way to get to where we need to be every day, and will continue to be. If you choose to keep the line, know you have mine, and most likely every 181 riders' eternal gratitude. I hope you take my plea to keep the 181 route into consideration. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a student at SJSU. I commute using the 181 line everyday and have been using the clipper pass given at school in order to get to and from school. It would be very difficult for me to attend classes without the bus line and it has been extremely helpful in emergencies. It would be a shame to see the bus line closed. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have been taking the 181 bus for over 10 years from Fremont to downtown San Jose where I work. Discontinuing the 181 service line will be a hardship to me and the many others that ride this bus. It is convenient, and affordable, as I get a subsidized rate from SJSU. Discontinuing this line will force me to drive, adding more traffic to already congested freeways. Or if I decide to take BART it will add considerable expense and more time to my commute. I was in disbelief when I heard that the 181 may be discontinued, and honestly I didn't believe it could actually happen, since there are so many students and workers that take this bus. It is always full no matter what time of day you get on it. People need an option to take the bus or BART if they choose. Discontinuing this service is a mistake. I am requesting that you reconsider and keep the 181 line. It will be a huge hardship for me if it is removed. Thank you. [Name redacted] SJSU Employee Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Save 88 bus! Please save the bus for all the needed students and people who have been using the service. Do look after those who needed. Thank you very much for understanding and consideration. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 201 Subject: DASH Replacement Replacement of a free service with a fee based service does not help the Students of San Jose State or the other users of DASH. Very disappointing to hear about this change. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 88l 88m Subject: VTA88 bus, 88L, and 88M bus routes and schedules that serve Gunn. WE NEED THOSE Buses. Thanks. Routes: General Project Question Subject: service changes Please see attached letter from Audrey Gold, President Palo Alto Council of PTA's. Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am currently a student at San Jose State University and I'm expressing my concern about the plan to discontinue bus route Express 181. It is already a struggle to get to school because of my lack of a transportation vehicle, but by catching the bus on Stevenson Blvd., it makes life a little less stressful. In addition, due to my current living situation, it is extremely difficult to make it to the Fremont BART station to catch the bus without having to wake up at 3 or 4am in the morning. Please do not discontinue Express 181 because of only my struggle, but because of all of the other students and employees of San Jose State University that also rely on the Express 181 route. Thank you for your time Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have been used this service last two and half years 181. It's really good service for us. Commute Fremont to San Jose. Thanks Routes: 120; 40 Subject: Route 40 VTA Route 40 ‐ shifting from Rengstorff to San Antonio would increase revenue for VTA, Service the Shoreline Athletic Fields and shift to a lesser impacted gateway into North Bayshore needed in light of 120 BART elimination. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Fremont BART I commute to downtown SJ. This will speed up my commute. I think it's great! Routes: 88 Subject: Line 88 Gunn High School students need it to keep bus 88 schedule intact. Also do not increase fare. Routes: 45 Subject: Bus Route 45 Rides 3x per week. Wants to see it stay. So many young and old people riding this bus. Also rides bus 71 and 23. Routes: 88 Subject: Line 88 Changes for VTA 88 bus service for Gunn High School Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Routes All Comments Received on the Draft Plan It seems VTA is for making money not service. This is cruel hoax of a transport system. The old the poor and infirm are denied routes they need. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Transit Hi. First of all, thank you for working on this. Congestion is one of the largest drawbacks of living in the Bay Area. I'm currently on a work assignment in Boston and have been amazed with how easy it is to get around here using trains, subways and Buses. When will the Bay Area be able to invest in more light rail? I live in Los Gatos, near Cambden Ave and the interactive map indicates that the new plan will be worse than current public transit times from my location. It suggests that Buses will take 60 minutes to get to downtown San Jose. I would never do that when I could bike in there in the same time, or drive my car in 1/3 the time. I would really like to use public transportation without paying a time penalty for it. I think the solution should be more light rail. Why not replace the middle two lanes of Highway 85 and Highway 280 with electric trains? Thanks for listening. Routes: Light Rail; General Project Comment Subject: SantaTeresa ‐ MountainView Light Rail Please provide a direct/transfer‐less service from Santa Teresa to Mountain View. This route will connect residential area in Santa Teresa to commercial areas in Sunnyvale/Santa‐Clara/Mountain‐
View. The current proposal still requires one transfer making the trip cumbersome. Having a transfer‐
less service will help making the transit simple and a person can work in the commute without interruptions. Routes: 101; 102; 103; 104; 182 Subject: express buses in Palo Alto I know perfectly well that the express bus study and potential changes to the express bus system will happen later on, but I still would like to point out my suggestion for terminating lines at the California Avenue Caltrain Station loop after traveling down California Avenue just like the 89 does currently (This bus line is likely to be discontinued, so please don't take out bus stops and infrastructure that might need to be rebuilt for express buses to serve the area). This change may apply to lines 101, 102, 103, 182, and perhaps even line 104. Subject: Retain 522 Stop at El Camino and Routes: 522 Remington/Fair Oaks Riders who live on Remington between Sunnyvale Saratoga and the El Camino currently can walk about six tenths of a mile to this 522 stop. If it gets eliminated, we would have to walk about three tenths of a mile further and cross the dangerous and pedestrian HOSTILE intersection of Mathilda, Sunnyvale and Sunnyvale Saratoga. Vehicles on Sunnyvale Saratoga approach at high speed and usually do NOT signal before turning right onto Sunnyvale. If I have to choose between navigating this intersection and driving, I will drive. Routes: 21 Subject: Route 21 winning ride Examining the new Route 21 to get to medical care (Mt. View Kaiser, SC Kaiser) and to downtown San Jose (day and evening, also weekends, using St. James and Santa Clara stations). The answers are very heartening. As a senior who is somewhat mobility‐impaired the amount of walking to transfer and begin and end the ride is sometimes prohibitive. Will the stop at Middlefield Road and Melville Avenue be maintained in Route 21? Routes: 304; 321; 323; 328; 330 Subject: limited buses in 300's series All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Some areas of the draft plan would have predictably low ridership and productivity. Reallocating some of these resources to try out all day hourly service on expressways could be a possibility. I know there are accessibility problems for expressways, and often that solving these problems requires exiting the expressway and reentering, slowing service down. However, expressways are a valuable asset that have not seriously been used for transit service, despite often traveling through dense areas and having more accessibility relative to a freeway. Perhaps expressways should cease to be arteries for high speed and instead possibly carry local routes that stop at every level crossing or overpass/underpass. These services may lose some of their appeal, but the relatively dense areas along expressways may make them good enough for local service. At least try it out, and make sure this attempt comes with relatively good service levels. It is certainly a risk I see worth it. Routes: 40 Subject: The 40 Looks Good The 40 is the route I ride almost every day, to get from my apartment in the San Antonio area to work in North Bayshore. I am very happy that the route is still in the new design plan. +1 to the extension of the route along Shoreline to Mountain View TC. Since I ride the route almost every day and with different departure times, I have observed the following ridership patterns: 1) There is currently no good all‐day connection between Caltrain and North Bayshore (Google). I frequently see individuals or large groups who board the 40 at the corner of California and Showers (presumably coming from the San Antonio station), which is the only option on VTA (and not a very good one). 2) There is frequently someone running across the street to connect from a westbound 35 (presumably coming from downtown) to a northbound 40 (going to North Bayshore). Both of these problems are solved with the new extension. :‐) Subject: San Antonio TC to downtown Mountain View Routes: 20 and Sunnyvale You should consider extending the new route 20 to double the 21 along California Street from downtown Mountain View to Showers Drive/San Antonio Transit Center, timed such that there is effectively all‐day, 15‐minute service along that corridor. This would improve the connectivity of downtown Mountain View and the light rail to San Antonio, Palo Alto, and Stanford, and it would also directly connect the densely populated San Antonio area to downtown Sunnyvale and eventually, after lots of twists and turns, to BART. If you don't already do so, you should also talk with the people operating the Mountain View Community Shuttle to figure out ways that the two services can work together and improve the system overall. Routes: 42 Subject: Discontinuance of line 42 It is our/your motto of better and more services to at least reach as many routes. Why instead of adding lines you have to continue 42 and some other very far from Bart. Thank you for your services and praying that you reconsider our plea. God bless you. Routes: 82 Subject: Discontinuation of Bus Route 82 I have just learned that VTA has proposed to discontinue route 82 in the fall of 2017. I learned this from the bus driver when I was on my way home from doing several errands which the route allows me to do regularly. I was absolutely outraged by the news. It is obvious to me that those who propose this change do not use public transportation; instead, they depend on their cars to get around. Bus route 82 allows me to go to The Plant shopping mall as well as to Westgate shopping mall. It also enables me to go to several medial appointments covered by the line. Furthermore, this route allows easy access to three very busy intersections in San Jose: Minnesota/Lincoln, Hamilton/Meridian and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Hamilton/Bascom. At this time, there is no BART connection to this entire area of San Jose, where I have lived all of my life. In fact, bus route 82 allows me to depart only one block from my house on my daily trips. I have taken the 82 for over thirty years, and I have relied on its punctuality and efficiency to get me where I need to go. Should the entire route be discontinued with only a "school tripper" 282 route, then the adults who depend on this bus will be completely abandoned. We will have no other means of reaching many important places, including the DMV located at Alma/Monterrey Highway.Those I know will be forced to walk very long distances without route 82 which allows access to many of the main lines serving a large part of San Jose, from Willow Glen to the downtown area. Those connecting lines include the 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, and 68. While I know VTA proclaims it is trying to improve transportation and increase ridership with the upcoming new BART service, no BART service covers this area at this time. Taking away route 82 will only force its loyal riders to find other ways of transportation therefore doing the exact opposite of what VTA desires. Without line 82, there will be fewer riders on VTA, not more. In closing, I beg VTA to reconsider ending this line. As a frequent rider who depends on route 82 for daily survival, I strongly urge VTA to keep it as it is. An old saying fits perfectly to end my email: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." [Name redacted] San Jose, CA Routes: 23 Subject: Propsed Changes to Bus Route 23 I have just learned that the bus stop that allows passengers to get to and from O"Connor Hospital in San Jose is going to be removed in the Fall of 2017. I think this is absurd! I frequent that bus stop, and I often go to the hospital. I was able to get to and from O'Connor Hospital during a very difficult time in my life when I needed to be there while my father was dying in the intensive care unit in October 2015. If not for bus line 23, I would have had to take other means of public transportation. I know VTA is eager to connect riders to the new BART line in San Jose, but there is no BART connection to this hospital. As a frequent rider of line 23, I strongly urge VTA to keep this bus stop in the route. For those who do not have cars, this bus stop is the only way to get to O'Connor Hospital, especially if one needs to be there to comfort a loved one during his last days on earth. Routes: 89 Subject: VTA 89 I'm shocked to see the notice indicating that VTA 89 may be cancelled and may not operate anymore. I take this bus at least 4 days a week from Caltrain Station and back and always seen a good number of passengers. Additionally, almost every day we get a wheelchair commuter as well. What is the logic for the cancellation ‐‐ shouldn't the passenger counts for each route be put in public domain. BART is important and should mean new routes with new buses and not shutting down existing routes ‐ especially where there are no other alternatives. Please reconsider this option and leave the 89 bus as‐is. Routes: 55 Subject: 55 bus route changes I need to take this bus in order to get to school every weekday. If this routes changes I will not have a direct line to De Anza College as there is no other bus routes nearby that does. Please do not make any changes to route Routes: 65 Subject: Please keep 65 My mom (senior ) takes 65 3~4 days a week to San Jose caltrain station. She live at Camden/Ross. Her travel pattern is early morning and late afternoon. Without 65, she has to walk more than 1 mile to meridian which is too much for her at her age. Could you kindly take care of it . Routes: 65 Subject: Bus # 65 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am a student at San Jose City College and live in the Rose/Sartorette neighborhood. I depend solely on this bus to get to school and work. I do not have any other source of transportation so PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS ROUTE. Thank you. Routes: 37 Subject: VTA Bus # 37 I am a student at West Valley College and live in the Rose/Sartorette neighborhood. I depend solely on this bus to get to school and work. I do not have any other source of transportation so PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS ROUTE. Thank you. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 bus route I use this bus daily. There are no other buses that are within reasonable walking distance to use. Taking this bus out is completely unacceptable to me. I see many elderly and handicap riders on this bus daily. Please reconsider this route. We depend and are willing to pay the fair for this important route to continue. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Rate Increase I'm a retried vet. I have a hard time getting around as it is. Will they be increasing rates on transit services? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Cutting Services Why do they cut services in lower income areas before higher income areas, all the time? Routes: 71 Subject: Route 71 I go to Evergreen Valley College. I'm not happy about service reduction on route 71 Routes: 66 Subject: Line 66 Glad to hear the 66 will be increasing services, but, we would mind more routes to Milpitas. Routes: 72; 77 Subject: Lines 72 & 77 I'm happy that the 72 & 77 connect to Berryessa station. I live over there. Routes: 26 Subject: Line 26 I take 26 to Tully & Story Road. I'm happy about increase service. Routes: 26; 71 Subject: Line 71 & 26 I will be OK with changes to 71. I go to McKee & white and 26 to West Valley College Routes: 31; 39 Subject: Lines 39 &31 I take the 39 to my house. I take it to the Mall during commute hours then transfer to 31. Routes: 31 Subject: Line 31 I go to Evergreen Valley College. I take the 31. Please don't discontinue. Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan We need to keep the 181 and other lines. It's harder to get into San Jose than it is to get out of San Jose on public transit. Routes: 181 Subject: Line 181 Please don't disconnect the 181 Fremont Blvd. to San Jose. This a very helped one. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Transportation Options What are the options for transportation during the period where BART is still under construction? When will BART to San Jose be available to people? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Line losses With cost of living sky‐rocketing I was thinking of moving to Fremont for lower rent. But if lose lthese lines I will have less options to get to work. Routes: 71 Subject: Line 71 If they reduce the 71 I'm going to be late to school. Often, I am late enough as it is. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Add more services Why can't they just add more services. The City and VTA don't ever budget correctly. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Proposals Will they bring lines back if things don't work out with the proposals? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Berryessa Station I live close to proposed Berryessa Station so I'm happy with changes. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes Quite a lot of us take the 181 from Fremont. According to the link, this route is to be eliminated in favor of bart. What does this mean for all of us? Will we now have to pay bart fees and then light‐rail fees? Why should we continue to pay (via out tuition) for VTA when they have eliminated a highly used route? How long will the new bart/light‐rail route take? Very unhappy, and will probably drive from now on. Not good. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes The Cupertino Chamber of Commerce is interested in more information on the Next Network program. Please have the appropriate person contact me at their earliest convenience. Thanks in advance for your help. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 Thank you for your prompt reply. I will try to attend the webinar. The 6:15pm Northbound 88 has been important to us to get home after athletic practice. No bus at that time would strand my daughter with a 3 mile walk home when she can't find a ride with teammates. This is in the dark during the winter athletic season. Kind Routes: 181 Subject: 181 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I, as a San Jose State Student, implore you, along with other students and Downtown San Jose workers, to continue the use of Bus Route 181 from Fremont Bart Station to San Jose Diridon Station. I use this connection 4 days a week, sometimes twice a day, and I know of students who use it multiple times a day, everyday. As I have seen on the news, it is unknown when the Warm Springs connection will go live, and that doesn't fix the transportation from that station to the University. [Name redacted], VTA Bus rider & San Jose State student Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes There is certainly some demand on Camden and also in the Almaden Valley, I think a line exclusively on Camden Avenue between Winchester Transit Center in Blossom Hill could (partially) take up the slack for lines 65 and 37. Among examination of a map in the Transit Choices Report, I believe boardings are slightly higher along that part of Camden Avenue. The line could then continue into the Almaden Valley along a route that would serve the most people and have the best connections to lines 27, 64, and 63. It would make up for coverage lost, continue service where the gridded pattern widens, have good connections to light rail and other buses, and potentially have a higher productivity due to the segment on Camden Avenue. Since the area is generally a coverage area, I think a s ingle well planned line could benefit the communities that would lose bus service otherwise. Routes: 35 Subject: 35 I am writing on behalf of my patients and access for my office. I am a psychiatrist on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto and have several patients who do not drive. I purposely chose an office on a bus route so they could continue to see me using public transportation. Please continue this bus line. It is used not only by my patients but many elderly and students in this neighborhood of Palo Alto. Routes: 32 Subject: 32 Please re consider removing this route Route 32 is taken multiple times a day by my family from middlefield to San Antonio or all the way to Santa Clara. It will be horrible if this route is taken away as it is our main bus we can take to the clinics my son goes to for his epilepsy Please reconsider getting rid of this route as it will affect a lot of people including my family Thank you Carrie Castillo‐
Musante Excuse grammar mistake mobile device Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Am i to understand that route 37 is to be discontinued with no service on pollard amd 57 is the closet bus to get there.. u need to rethink 26 27 57 in that area other wise im onhold with outreach and would haveto do double trips with uber and not bus.... s stupid.. if u guys hadn't add night service on 37 u would had rider ship so stupid thanks. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes Hello! I just wanted to send a short note to thank you for the time you spent in Campbell Monday evening to discuss the planned changes coming up. I'm a pretty happy VTA user (I primarily use the light rail to go from Race St. to Downtown Campbell for work). I think overall, the goal of increasing frequency of service on routes that warrant it is a great approach to be taking. It's just not feasible to continuously serve routes that cost >$15 per person. My only comment was to ask about increasing frequency on the weekend Mtn View/Winchester, soon to be Green, light rail line. Right now, it's every 30 minutes. I see on the Next Network website that it's remaining at 30 minutes on weekends. I was told at the meeting by Jason Kim that that was an error (and the printed version I received was correct at every 15 minutes). I hope that this is simply an error, because I really don't want to use the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan light rail when it's every 30 minutes. Every 15 is often enough that I can count on getting to my destination in a reasonable time. Thank you again! (And best of luck‐‐that meeting was a little brutal at times.) Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I have recently found out about the news of the discontinuation of Express Bus 181 and I am deeply saddened by this. This bus is the major key in my commute to and from the university. Without it, I will be at a loss of a vital transportation. In the fall semester of 2016, there were cards passed out by VTA to find out how many people ride this bus. I had hoped that the information they had collected would have shown that there are a lot of students who rely on VTA to take them to and from the university to Fremont. Every day as I would take a seat on the bus I had thought that VTA?s buses were a reliable source of transportation, but to hear such news is disheartening. Furthermore, I would like to know if there are any alternative paths I could take to get to my university using VTA and when will this sudden change occur? I am not sure what I am going to do now, but to only plead to you to hear a fellow VTA user?s concerns and to keep the Express Bus 181 in usage. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please keep the Express Bus 181 route. My daughter who is a student at SJSU will face great hardship commuting from Fremont if this service is discontinued. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please don?t discontinue Express Bus 181. The new BART extension won?t accommodate my commuter needs and it will negatively impact my ability to get to work. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Hi there, I heard through nextdoor about the proposed VTA changes an wanted to give my feedback, for what it?s worth. Please do not cancel the free 10 bus?I use it frequently for trips to the airport and know a variety of people in the neighbourhood (Santa Clara) who use it, also. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART EXTENSION I think its nice that we will have a BART station in San Jose! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Thank you Thank you all for your help. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 don't cut this bus line Please don't cut this bus. I don't have my kidneys and I need to take this bus. It's a life or death matter. I take it from Vine and Alma to downtown. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please do not discontinue the bus route 181! It is my only method of commuting to Sjsu and it would be a huge inconvenience if that bus route is discontinued. Parking at Sjsu is already a huge inconvenience because of the fact that we have to pay for a parking permit for parking lots that are extremely full! It takes about 30+ mins to find parking at Sjsu! It's ridiculous!! There will be no other reliable source of transportation for me, since who knows when BART will finish their extension All Comments Received on the Draft Plan project! Having the option to take 181 to Sjsu saves me gas money, reduces the stress of looking for parking, and overall saves me time. Don't shut it down. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 To whom this may concern, Please keep the express 181. Or else I won't be able to go to SJSU at all. Please keep this bus route! Take Care, [Name redacted](SJSU student) Routes: 328; 330 Subject: 330 328 Last week, I was handed a flyer on possible discontinuation of route 330 and 328 services. These buses carry a lot of professionals from Almadan all the way to Santa Clara and Mountain View. The only connection between Almaden area and other adjacent cities are these two buses, that work effectively and efficiently. Removing these services will only add to the terrible traffics in highways 87 and 85 in the morning and afternoon. I have taken (and am taking) both buses for my commute to work, and removing them will cause me a lot of hardship since I do not have a car. I would like to understand of your next public hearing so I can attend and have my voice heard. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please keep 181 express from Fremont to Diridon because I'm a student at SJSU and the bus is the fastest and most efficient way to go to school. If there is no 181, I would need to park at bart which is a nightmare. And I won't drive to SJSU since traffic on 880 is already so horrible and there is already a shortage of parking spaces at school. VTA can cancel other express busses but not 181! Hundreds of students depend on 181 to get to school. Thank you for your kind attention. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I was recently told that VTA is considering removing the 181 bus line due to recent BART extensions, a line that currently runs from Fremont BART to Downtown San Jose. As an SJSU student who commutes from Fremont, this bus line has helped me get to school on select days of the week since my freshman year in 2014. Removing this line would be a mistake by VTA, and would negatively affect hundreds, if not thousands of students and professionals who use this bus line to make it school or work. Many of my friends and classmates ride this line as well, so I know how widely used it is and how hard life would become with the removal of this line. As an SJSU student, a resident of Fremont and the Bay Area, and as an American tax paying citizen, I would like to express my discontent and disapproval of plans to remove this bus line. I hope the testimonials I and, presumably, many others are making are enough to sway the VTA away from removing the 181 line. Thanks, Routes: 10 Subject: 10 The VTA has set up transportation hubs at all of the Valley's shopping malls, but only one VTA bus services the San Jose airport, THEE major transportation site in the Valley. Would it not make sense for the VTA to service the San Jose airport with more than one bus line? [Name redacted] Routes: 77 Subject: 77 My mom is legally blind. She is working now but will retire soon. Our house is on the 77 route and we use it to go the Great Mall. If the 77 stops at the Milpitas BART station instead of Great Mall, she won't be able to go to Great Mall anymore. I understand that to you it's just a 20 minute walk but to her it's a difficult trek across from the BART station across Montague expressway, down a narrow sidewalk next to a busy street, and across a huge parking lot. She can't drive and would like to be able All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to go places independently especially when she retires. Please don't take away her access to Great Mall. If you do, it's just one more place she can't go. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Please do NOT remove bus Route 13. Many students are using the service to commute between their home and schools. If you remove the route, these students will be forced to walk a long way to and from their schools with added safety concerns and issues. If a bus route is heavily used by students, please ask these students' feedback before you remove the service. Their voices need to be heard. Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Please log the comments below on our YouTube video recording of the South County Webinar, all posted within minutes of each other and with the same basic message. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes Hi Colleen, Thank you to you and Mayor Vaidhyanathan for setting up live video broadcasting of tonight's 6‐8 pm VTA outreach meeting at Quinlan Community Center. For those who are not available to view the meeting live, will the recording be archived on the Cupertino Web site for viewing later? Thank you again. I appreciate the City's interest in ensuring that those who are interested in improved public transit services in the West Valley but not able to attend tonight's meeting in person will be able to view the meeting remotely. [Name redacted] Routes: General Project Comment Subject: service changes Many thanks to EVERYONE included in this message thread for your interest and prompt actions to ensure that West Valley community members would have remote viewing access for the VTA outreach meeting on January 18, 2017 at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino. My own transit plans on Wednesday evening hit a snag, resulting in a 30 minute late arrival for me at the event. Just now, thanks to the archived video recording, I was able to view the portion of the presentation that I missed, including the slideshow and first couple question from community members. Many thanks also to the many VTA and City of Cupertino staff members who were on hand Wednesday night to facilitate the program and answer many questions from the community about the draft plan. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I strongly hope VTA may keep route 181. I imagine that many students and others who ride the 181 VTA bus would greatly appreciate the continuation of this route. This route is highly crucial becuase: 1) It provides many convenient stops that the BART does not. 2) These conveniently located stops provided by route 181, allows commuters to avoid the use of personal cars. 3) The decrease in commuters using personal cars, decreases traffic and parking congestion. Thank you for your time! And thanks for providing and making this outreach system possible! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am currently enrolled in SJSU and the 181 bus route has helped my 4 sisters and I commute to school every day. The 181 is our only means of transportation to the school with our clipper card. We are helping keep our environment more sustainable by taking the bus because of less emission released into the air. We appreciate your Bart expansion project however, bart is not close enough to SJSU and will have an impact on students trying to get to campus in the most cost effective way possible. Please All Comments Received on the Draft Plan do not discontinue the 181 it is helping many students besides ourselves get to school. Please, please do not discontinue this bus route. Keep 181! Routes: 34 Subject: 34 Thank you for giving me the opportunity to voice my concerns on route changes in my community of Mountain View. Please count me as one who thinks Route 34 is a vital part of the area around Rex Manor. We have an elementary school on Montecito and Burgoyne that is along the route. We have the very popular Safeway at Shoreline and Montecito. I am amazed that stops along Montecito are being considered to be closed down. Many seniors live in the Rex Manor area and the bus provides good alternative transportation. Routes: 45 Subject: 45 I need to take this bus #45 to get to my appoinments at Downtown Behavorial Health in order to see my psychiatrist and my councler .I use this bus for go to the work,to get to ESL school every day go to bascome street for other appoinments for to get medication in the pharmacy because I dont have car .please do not stop this rout.thank you and god bless you Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to you to urge you to keep the route 181. I am a student at San Jose state and live in Fremont, and that's the only route that goes from Fremont to San Jose. Thanks Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a student writing from SJSU and heard that the 181 bus route is planning to be discontinued this fall. I am writing to ask VTA not to discontinue the 181 route because I, along with many other teachers and students from SJSU rely on this route as there is no other way for us to get to the campus. I hope you take this in consideration. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to express my opposition regarding on the idea of cancelling the 181 express. I am a student of sjsu living in Fremont and I took 181 four days a week to school during the semester. If I drive or take bus to fremont Bart after the cancellation, it would cost me one more bus ride (both time and money). If I have to drive to Bart, it would on the other hand increase the load of the fremont Bart parking lot which is pretty packed to start with. Or if I have to drive to school, it will definition not be beneficial to the environment and it could cost me more than half an hour per day to find parking in the campus garage, not to mention the expensive parking fee. I can't represent the others on this matter, but I don't think it is wise to cancel it before the Bart going to San Jose even start running. I would suggest vta to propone this idea until Bart starts operating and it is necessary to observe how the population of taking 181 reduce. It should accurately reflect how many 181 riders would rather take Bart instead and how more efficient 181 is for us. Thanks for your time reading my opinion. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am a san jose sate university student who relies heavily on the 181 route to San Jose. Not only is it covenient for me, but convienent to all those on the road. With traffic only increasing each year, with your services I have been able to keep my car off the road decreasing our global carbon footprint by one car. This does not only include me but the many students I see on the bus. VTA is always a name All Comments Received on the Draft Plan that many students know and suggest to others as a dependable transportation route to San Jose. I have sucessfully been able to commute back and fourth for 4 years. When others need a ride I always reccomend your services. It is a direct route, in addition it stops by the mall on weekends, which saves much time for the elderly community. On weekends, instead of being stuck at home without the ability to get around, the elderly take this route to exercise and shop around the mall. Thank you so much for your services and i hope to continue using VTA as my transportation solution. Routes: 10; 181 Subject: VTA Airport Service. Currently I use VTA 181 from Fremont BART to Civic Center station connecting on VTA shuttle to Mineta San Jose International Airport. How will I get to work when the 181 is canceled? Routes: 13 Subject: Please do not take #13 away I live in Almaden Valley, near Almaden Road. I take bus #13 for my social life. I cannot drive, so take bus is the only way. for me. Please do not terminate ALL public transportation in Almaden Valley! I will attend 2/16 meeting. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Bus Many students and staff take the bus all the way to Fremont and they will be disadvantaged. Transfer to BART a hassle. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Fremont BART I'm happy about the proposed change because I commute from SF and this will speed up my commute. It's so much faster to get to SJ via BART/VTA than CalTrain Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART When BART extends to San Jose my commute won't be affected. I'll just stay on the train. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART When BART opens up the new stations it will speed up my commute. I am happy about it. Routes: 70 Subject: Line 70 I'll take the 70 to the Flea Market. I'm happy about the changes. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Adding Lines Shouldn't they be adding more lines, not take them away? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Changing Routes Taking away or changing routes seems like there will be more transfer points slowing down my ride to school. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Increasing Services As long as they keep increasing services during peak hours, us commuters will be happy Routes: 42; 88 Subject: Bus Route 42 and 88 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Sometimes he goes to Kaiser Hospital, sometimes Santa Teresa Library. He's a vet who rides 88 up to VA Hospital. 45 minute walk to Hospital would be really long. Can't always work around Stanford shuttle schedule. He can't afford a car anymore. Routes: 65 Subject: Line 65 I need the 65 because I drop my son off at my dad's house. It's the only bus that goes by his house and he's disabled. Routes: 81 Subject: Line 81 Please do not change line 81 because I have disabilities and it is hard for me to get around. Routes: 60 Subject: Bus 60 The 60 bus restructured. I do not feel you need to change the 60. Routes: 63 Subject: Next Network Feedback I had intended to present more signatures on behalf of the 63 passengers at the March 2 Board of Director's meeting. Recently, someone stated all comment about changes must be received no later than Feb 20, which is also a holiday for some. I would like to send a copy of the signature to the Board of Director's secretary this Fri or Sat, so she will be able to send to all board members and management before they make last minute changes to be presented to the Board in March and then for a vote in April. These massive cuts have given passengers county wide very little time to voice their opinions, basically only one board meeting from the date that the 2017 VTA's Proposed Changes maps were placed on buses in January and at the downtown office. In the past, VTA has discontinued but replaced with something nearby or even cut and paste into several routes, but this is massive and fully focused toward "potential, even projected" BART passengers. If the current board is a reflection of those making over 100K and do not use public transportation, I do not understand how they believe discontinuing bus lines and diverting buses to/fro BART and placing huge gaps in communities without service will be supported by those of their same thinking and economies of scale. The November 2016 vote was to provide money for more service, and passengers' request for more frequency and better connection times did not mean massive cuts in service system wide. Sorry I know you are not the one making change or a person who has the option to contribute by voicing an opinion, but I am so sad to hear what an enormous hardship these discontinued bus routes will be for a huge population. The population that rides four plus buses to get to work, who do not drive for a multitude of reasons, plus those who will not be serviced by MV Transportation. Since the BoD meeting, I have been talking to many of the disabled passengers, who have explained what Paratransit (soon to be contracted by MV Transportation) passengers are defined as, and what Outreach passengers are defined as. Most will not fall into the MV Transportation category, and the rest will not be able to afford Outreach with any regularity. So they will become Shut‐Ins. And to the best of my knowledge no firm contract is being negotiated with Uber/Lyft or taxis, which further leaves passengers hanging, distressed, confused, and at best worried. In June, I will have been riding public transportation as my only source of mobility throughout the bay area for twelve years. Between now and the day changes begin, I will be an owner of a car. Change happens, I have always taken pride in my resilience to it. The majority of riders will have to make change, if by moving closer to their work, if by moving out of the area entirely, etc. So sorry for this enraged email! Might you send me the BOD secretaty email? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 82 Subject: 82 bus Please don't take my 82 bus away please I really need this bus to get to work my only transport to work I love this bus Routes: 89 Subject: The proposed discontinue of VTA 89 The bus line 98 is extremely important means of transportation For a number of working class folks to have transportation to and from their jobs to the California transit station, there are also a strong for our sick and disabled folks that served in our armed forces that use this bus line to the PA Veterans Hospital. If this line is taken out of our it will be a disservice to many individuals that depend on public transportation. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: 37; 65 Subject: Bus Routes 65 or 37 Please don't cancel! Vital to our community! Subject: Suggestions for VTA routes to be discontinue in Routes: 328 new proposal Please advise what is the threshold for low ridership? And if money is the main issue, why not raise the fares for those to be discontinue routes in the new proposal instead of leaving riders with no option but going back to their cars. Another suggestion would be to cut down the trips. In my case, route #328 is my only option besides car to get to work in time. Please reconsider discontinue route #328. Thanks. Routes: 120; 140; 180; 181 Subject: Please keep Route 120/140/180/181 Hi I am concerned that you are proposing to discontinue the express routes from Fremont Bart. I ride route 120 daily from Fremont to my work at Sunnyvale daily. As far as I know a lot of my fellow riders on the bus do not take BART. Discontinuing the service because BART extend to Santa Clara county will force us back to driving cars and increase congestion on the roadway. Please collect some ridership statistics and you will see my point! Please keep these lines! Thanks! Routes: 81 Subject: Comment on proposed cancellation of route 81 I see that the nextnetwork proposal eliminates bus route 81 without providing a replacement to serve the needs of those of us who commute between downtown and the rose garden area. Please reconsider as this is a valuable service. Subject: Access Paratransit Qualifications for Service and Routes: General Project Comment Assistance The Santa Clara Valley Blind Center is looking for a representative to make a presentation on Wednesday morning during our Activity Day when we accumulate approximately 80 clients from San Jose community interested in a series of informational engagements. We look forward to your response and availability. Routes: 63 Subject: RETAIN 63 Please retain line 63. Discontinuing services from Camden Ave to Blossom Hill doesn't make any sense at all. You are going to leave me and a lot of riders stranded at night. So we walk in the morning for an hour to get to Blossom Hill, fine. But then we also have to do that from Blossom Hill back to Camden Ave at night to get home. How is this efficient? Why do you keep cutting 63 when there are plenty of All Comments Received on the Draft Plan riders using the line, me included? I have only this line to rely on because of my vision issue. I have been on this bus for decades and I don't see anyone asking me if we should discontinue the service. You are making us very anxious and frustrated. I can't imagine walking miles everyday in all weather just to catch the bus. Would you do that yourself? Routes: 53 Subject: linearity The June 2016 Transit Alternatives Report talks about "linearity," defined as a direct path of travel without deviations. Your proposed line 53 does not adhere to "linearity" because it has a time‐
consuming zig‐zag from Homestead down to Stevens Creek instead of simply going straight down Homestead to Santa Clara. Routes: 55 Subject: 55 frequency Please do not change the peak frequency from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. I take the 55 from E. Duane to Sunnyvale Transit Center to catch the CalTrain in the morning and reverse in the evening. The northbound CalTrain in the morning is at 7:02, 7:16 and 7:21 am. I catch the 55 at 6:40 am and can get the 7:02 train. If I miss the 6:40 am bus and have to wait another 30 minutes for the bus, I will miss all the trains. I also do not see how the kids going to Fremont High School can get to school on time if the bus only comes only every 30 minutes. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: What stop changes will you make It says decreaseing routes in some areareas like some stops will disappear but how do I know if you won't list name of each stop Routes: 88 Subject: VTA Next Network Plan I am a student at Gunn High School, and I strongly oppose the Next Network plan. Should this plan be implemented, it would negatively affect my community in a number of ways. Firstly, I am deeply concerned by the elimination of the 88L and line. By conserving only the current 88 line (new 288 line) and 88M, you are neglecting a number of Palo Alto students, especially those living along East Meadow Drive. These buses are already at capacity and your planned reduction would thoughtlessly crowd the buses to an intolerable level. I am also disappointed by the reduced hours that this line will operate under. Students with extracurricular activities and jobs often to not adhere to "school bell" hours only. The diminished times will complicate life for these students. I understand that the 88 lines represent a high operational cost to your agency. Nevertheless, I urge you to consider the well‐being of many of my friends and peers. We are not the only ones who take the 88 lines ‐‐ veterans and other members of our community use these buses to travel to locations such as the VA hospital and facilities along Charleston/Arastradero Road. Finally, the environmental implications of your actions are not to be underestimated. Reduction in bus service will doubtlessly lead to increased traffic and carbon emissions when students select cars as the next most convenient means or transportation to school. I urge the SC Valley Transportation Authority to search for a better alternative to the current Next Network plan. Your agency's impact on students, the community, and the environment is too important to ignore. You say on your Network Design page that you give "special consideration to vulnerable populations like students, seniors, the low‐come and the disabled". Now, the students of Gunn High would like to see these promises delivered on. I can appreciate the VTA's need to cut costs and improve ridership, but it would be shameful to betray the students who rely upon your services. Routes: 63 Subject: RETAIN 63 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please keep 63 running all the way back to Camden/Almaden expressway. Public transits are supposed to be convenient. You don't just keep cutting services, leaving people stranded to make other riders happy. How is it customer services? What is exactly the reason to start the service from Blossom Hill? How low is low ridership? How full is the bus supposed to be? Routes: 42 Subject: 42 don't cancel it I take the 42 to the VA clinic on Great Oaks Blvd. Today at 4pm the bus was so full, I have to stand. A lot of school kids take this bus. I can't believe you are going to cancel it. Routes: 500 Subject: Dash 500 route I like this route! Routes: 65 Subject: #65 Meredian Ave. Please do not do away with this line. We are a lot of elderly folks long time residents in this area. We depend on it to get to our groceries Branham and grocery outlet. We have given up driving. I would be really hard on us. Please consider the hardships it will cause . Thank You Routes: 45 Subject: Cancelling of Bus 45 Route to Toyon Avenue I just learned about the change to cancel Bus 45. I am not happy about this at all. My mom relies on a caregiver that relies on Bus 45, particularly the route to Toyon before dark at least 2 weekdays, currently Monday and Tuesday. Are you seriously going to cancel Bus 45 and have no bus running east of White Road? My mom has lived in east foothills for almost 60 years. Elderly folks will need home care and many caregivers are not rich enough to have their own cars. Have these people not paid all their taxes all these years. It seems as if you are abandoning a whole geographic area that has no other access to public transportation. I just don't get it. There has always been bus service down Toyon Avenue as far as I can remember. As I am learning about this very late, I did not have time to attend planning meetings. I know I am up against the clock, but please can you at least provide partial service to Toyon Avenue at least 2 weekdays? As time as short, all I can think of is dropping Sam Liccardo a line and see if he has any ideas or ways to prevent Bus 45 service from stopping all together. Thanks for your consideration of my comments and request. Routes: 63; 65 Subject: Route 65 Yesterday I took the 65 route bus to work as I do every day. I was picked up at 8:00 a.m. and by 8:13 a.m., an additional 10 passengers had boarded the bus. And this is low ridership? This route is important to many people and to cut if off completely, will greatly impact South San Jose. The alternative route 63 is useful only if you are going downtown. If you need access to Hillsdale Avenue businesses, you will no longer have route 37 available to transfer to as you are also discontinuing that route! Who does these things? Please run fewer times but leave the 65 available to all of us to need to get to work! Thank you. Routes: 45 Subject: Line 45 As a frequent rider of Line 45, I would like to voice my opposition to the discontinuance of this bus line. It is really my only link to the rest of the transportation system. If this line is taken out, it will be the first time my particular area has ever been without bus service going back to 1958. If you look at the map, Line 45 serves a rather large section of the city and many parts of it are unduly far from the nearest other bus on White Road. Also many of the riders I?ve noticed are elderly and/or disabled and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan walking to White Road is not an option. This isn?t the wealthiest area either and some people can?t afford a car. One other item is note is the Veterans? Home at the corner of Alum Rock and Kirk. They depend on this bus and use it frequently. Also, some of them have disabilities that make a walk to White Road impossible. Please reconsider this rather brutal approach you seem to be taking and realize there are people in need in these areas. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: New Plan/Our Problems My home is near Minnesota and Lincoln. There are 15 longtime senior residents here. One is carless. Two are thinking of giving up their cars because we live on 3 bus lines. But we looked at the new VTA plan. We can't get to our doctors which are located in Almaden Valley, near Good Sam, near El Camino in Los Gatos. By the way, I quit using Community buses to Good Sam because the stairs are too steep. I hate the transfer policy of paying for every bus. I experimented with going carless for 4 months recently. Then I heard about the upcoming draft plan and I bought a car. When I was without a car, I used the 82 frequently. I can understand why you are discontinuing it. Too bad for me, but I accept it. I stopped taking the 64 to downtown when you started doing layovers at Diridon (i.e. cutting frequency to Willow Glen). Diridon is too scary at night and the waiting area is too unprotected from weather. Also, I hated that I had to pay for the 64 bus twice‐‐from Downtown to DIridon and then Diridon to Willow Glen. If I were a normal‐paced walker (aka younger), it would have been faster to walk home. Routes: 201; 500 Subject: Dash? Would this route still stop at 1st Street? And will it be free? Thank you! Routes: 26; 53 Subject: Changes on route 26, 53 I have a handicapped sister that lives in the Rainbow/Regnart area in Cupertino. Her only form of transportation is via the VTA buses. She used to take #53 and connect to 26 to do volunteer/therapy in East San Jose (Tully and Mclaughlin). With the change a few years back, she had to walked over a mile each way to fetch the bus, and the entire route takes about 2 hours. With the new changes, she would have to walk even farther. This changes is leaving that area of Cupertino totally with no public transportation. I also tried to sign her up with some paratransit such as Outreach, but it was turned down many times since she is able to board the bus. How would you serve people like her, senior and handicapped? Routes: 10 Subject: Airport Free Shuttle As a longtime resident of San Jose, and Airport volunteer, I read with concern the proposed changes to the services provided by VTA. 1) Eliminating the free airport shuttle #10, and combining it with Route 60. This is completely unacceptable. When Light Rail was built with no extension to the Airport, the compromise reached was that the free airport shuttle #10 would bring travelers in and out of the Airport to Light Rail or other public transportation. At a time when the Airport is expanding with many domestic flights and 5 international flights, you are proposing to eliminate a service. As a volunteer at the Airport Information Desk, I direct numerous travelers to the #10 bus, both to get to Light Rail and to Caltrain. It is also used when travelers who have a long wait at the Airport and few options for dining outside Security, they are directed to use #10 to get to First Street for many dining options. While I am on the subject of the Airport, the parking shuttle was also eliminated in Parking Lots #5 & 6. At the same time parking spots were removed for the expansion of the tarmac. Now we have weary travelers trudging a long way with their luggage to get to Terminal B. They may be flying the "friendly skies" but they will not find San Jose Airport very friendly if you remove the free #10 bus shuttle. 2) All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Eliminating the free downtown DASH shuttle and replacing it with #500. Again, another counter‐
productive move which will affect students of San Jose State, senior citizens and our low‐income residents, who rely on this service to get around downtown. As a senior citizen and mother of a disabled son who relies on this transportation and uses it frequently, I strongly object to this proposal. Downtown business will also be affected. We just passed Measure B with wonderful promises of improvements to roads and public transportation. Instead, we are faced with the elimination of many attractive services which make our city a great place to live, work and play. I urge you to reconsider these decisions. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 don't cancel it I live in Senior Housing and I'm on a limited fixed income. My social security is $1500 a month, and my rent is $1000 a month. I use the 65 community bus because I only have $500 to work with each month, and taking the light rail costs more. Also, the 65 bus picks me up and drops me off right next to my building where I live. The light rail and other buses are several blocks away. I can't carry a load of groceries that far. Subject: Line 23 (access to DiSalvo, Forrest and O'Connor Routes: 23 Hospital There are many doctors, labs, imaging "vendors" near‐by O'Connor Hospital, as well as locations on the back side of Valley Fair on Forrest Ave. These are used by many frail elderly. The change to route 23 will severely impact these people. They are not easily able to reach these locations on foot. Routes: 201 Subject: Freedowntown, transfers reinstated. The free shuttle down town. Don't dump it. But run it 5pm to midnight. Thur to Sunday. So we can go to theater, dinner, without Parking and walking. Art events. 1st street, train station, santa clara, san carlos. San pedro sq And transfers. You used to have them. My son can spend $4.00 one way to work for a $10 hour job. You are losing out to UBER. Start earlier. Eastside job start at 4 or 5 am, had to get a ride. And after work last bus home was 8:20. Grocery job. Routes: 27; 48; 49 Subject: Proposed Route 27 / former 48/49 We have three teens who we buy bus passes for. They attend Los Gatos High School and it is essential that the bus stops at the High School/Library. There is also a senior center there. You will lose the value of the bus system in Los Gatos if it does not service to the center of town, where non‐driving students attend school. One of the teens has physical disabilities, so it is not feasible to have her walk to another location. Routes: 26 Subject: This change introduces unnecessary delays I am a blind passenger and routinely use current route 26 to travel from Cambrian area to Sunnyvale. This change ‐ which does not affect BART whatsoever ‐ introduces a transfer between proposed 26 and 56 which will cause delays of 30‐40 minutes, especially if traveling on a weekend, as one waits for the connecting bus. This is unnecessary as West Valley College is already well served by existing routes and shuttle services. Subject: I am blind, Route 65 is my only connection to Routes: 63; 65 CalTrain Cancelling Route 65 would have dire consequences on me. I am a legally blind passenger and use a cane because I am very low vision. I rely on this route daily to travel from my home near Leigh Avenue All Comments Received on the Draft Plan to San Jose CalTrain. Without it, I would have to travel on foot two extra miles to route 63 and Meridian. This introduces delay and additional danger to me. I do not understand how this route is being considered for cancellation for "low ridership". Every day when I board the bus in the morning and evenings there are many passengers. It is a small, community bus, not an a large bus that is going unused here. This route already does not service after 7PM or on weekends which impact my mobility and indepedence enough. Cancelling it would require that I strongly consider moving. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!!! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: This redesign momentum MUST stop. I would love to travel in person and comment. The next event that is close to me is at the Senior Center on Cottle Road. As a blind person, this trip would require 1 hour and 10 minutes via public transit. If your change goes into effect, the route that serves my home, Route 65, would be completely gone. I would NOT even be able to attend this event (ironically enough) unless I then walked two miles to the nearest route, and then traveled an hour plus on two other buses. Route 65 has ZERO impact on BART. Removing this route which is a small community bus that is well‐used in commute hours does not eliminate waste. This is not a large, empty bus. All your plan does is introduce delay and danger into my travel as a disabled person and severely impacts my mobility and independence such that I'd likely have to move as a result of having ZERO local service to my home. PLEASE STOP THIS PLAN. DO NOT CANCEL THIS ROUTE. EVERY ONE OF YOU PEOPLE ON THIS DESIGN COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE TO USE VTA EVERY DAY TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM WOR. YOU'D THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IT IF YOUR LOCAL SERVICE WERE BEING ELIMINATED. I GUARANTEE IT. NOW TRY DOING IT IF YOU WERE BLIND. Subject: This is a public process, why are comments not Routes: General Project Comment transparent? Why are the public's comments on these changes not posted on this web site?? This is supposed to be a process that is open and transparent to the public. I do not feel confident that my concerns, or the concerns of my neighbors, are being heard openly and honestly in this process. I'd like to see what my neighbors are saying. You should be making comments publicly available whether they support your proposal or not. Subject: Cancelling Route 37 leaves no alternative for Routes: 37 travel on Camden I agree with the assessment that route 37 is not used, however part of the reason for this is likely the frequency of it as it runs only hourly during weekdays. I personally use this bus to travel down Hillsdale / Camden between Meridian and Bascom. Without it, this is a 2.5 mile walk with no alternative route. As a blind passenger, I would hope that you restructure routes such that there is some level of service on Hillsdale / Camden as this is a MAJOR corridor. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Which Routes Are Being Canceled? Why does this web site not list the specific routes that are being canceled? Short of clicking on each route link one by one and reviewing to see which, if any, of the particular routes are being eliminated is difficult. BE TRANSPARENT IN THIS PROCESS. Post a simple list of the routes slated to be canceled. Am I angry about this? You bet. This plan is canceling both routes 37 and 65 that service me. I am a blind passenger that relies on public transit. Your agency is failing me. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Comments for proposed chages to Light Rail All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I really appreciate the increased frequency of the weekday Light Rail service on most of the new lines. As a downtown San Jose resident, I would like to see the 15 minute frequency maintained for the weekend service. In the current system, switching between 15 and 30‐minute intervals makes using the system more confusing. I see that your plan partially addresses this issue during the week. Also, a 30 minute schedule makes it unappealing for most trips, so I don't end up using it at all on the weekends. Therefore, a consistent 15 minute standard time every day will make it feel more reliable, predictable, and increase my confidence in using the system. Thank you. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Termination point The actual distance from the area where I live to the proposed termination/start point of 63 is over 5 miles. There are at least 150 people whom ride the 63 to get to school/work in my neighborhood alone not including students for Leland High that travel from Blossom Hill to Leland ( about 1.8 miles from existing stop at almaden/camden) There needs to be at least a peak commute hour shuttle or the lightrail extension if no buses are available. Routes: 14; 17; 18; 19 Subject: Gilroy Bus Service after 7pm The Caltrain arrives very late and there will be no proposed service that will go east / west or north from the Caltrain Station so if someone lives off Monterey in the new development before Santa Teresa there is no bus to take that left onto the street. A Flex / Shuttle is needed for 7pm to 10pm Commuters comeing back Routes: 37 Subject: OPPOSITION For current West Valley College students like myself, the route 37 bus is a vital NECESSITY in order to get to classes on time. The proposed "revised route 26" bus would overall be more complicated and add an extra 30 minutes to my commute time and to many other students. Please DO NOT discontinue route 37! Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Route 13 and route 63 I understand the new VTA plan will completely cut Almaden Valley out of any bus routes. As our neighborhood contains many aging seniors and we're fairly isolated from the rest of San Jose, bus transit service is essential. I myself have hosted several visiting students from other countries who worked as interns at the nearby IBM and they used the bus system extensively to get around town when they weren't working. I also understand many high school students use the VTA system to get to and from school. Please do not cut all of the residents in Almaden Valley out of bus service. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail I ride light rail to work. I need to be on it by 4:30 am. I ride 901 train .Proposed changes would NOT be good. Routes: 89 Subject: VTA Bus #89 Please do not eliminate bus #89. I use the bus to get to work from and to California Ave. Caltrain to Hillview Avenue in Palo Alto. Thank you for your consideration, [Name redacted] Routes: 48; 49 Subject: VTA Service In Los Gatos Please do not discontinue the very valuable bus service in Los Gatos. Our students, seniors and others depend on this service. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 13 Subject: VTA Line 13 I realize there are several areas of the county which are controversial and are not adequately served under the current draft plan. The Almaden Valley is certainly one of those areas, and I would like to propose a service arrangement to boost ridership/productivity in that area without extensive service increases. All you would need to do is have line 13 travel down McAbee Road and Camden Avenue after leaving the Almaden LRT station. Then have the bus continue down Camden until Leland High, and have the bus serve the entirety of Via Valente with two way service. The buses could then turn around at Mckean and Almaden using the triangular shaped roads in that area. There are several reasons I believe this will boost productivity. These are that Almaden Expressway is hostile to pedestrians, my arrangement allows for riders from south of Leland High to get to school in the mornings (current one‐way loop doesn't allow this), and the bus would also serve the Library/Community Center as well as a Middle School at Camden and McAbee. My arrangement serves existing density much better than any current line, and points of interest that are not directly served are all within a reasonable walking distance of the line. Riders would be forced to have a trip that lasts longer, but look at it this way: A single community (small) bus that serves density and points of interest better would fit all the transit riders out of the tens of thousands who live in the Almaden Valley. I also think it could make sense to reroute the northern segment along Coleman and Santa Teresa to avoid duplication of the Light rail line and also to serve density currently not served by any transit. The line could terminate at the loop that the 102 currently uses. Please do consider my idea, and evaluate it against current alignments so as to judge whether it truly would serve more people and be more beneficial. Routes: 53 Subject: Route 53 Very worried about this change. Our disabled daughter uses this route to West Valley from our home in Saratoga. What's the substitute plan? Routes: 65 Subject: Line 65 This is quite a controversial line. I believe replacing the northern part of the line with a new one that travels from Valley Fair past San Jose City College and terminates in Downtown San Jose would be good (Like network 90), and replacing the southern part with a line along Camden from winchester to Blossom Hill could be good enough to replace the entire line. People in between already and are planned to have abundant access to transit within a half‐mile walk. Routes: 51; 53 Subject: Line 53 I really like what you have done with line 53 and everything else above (with the exception of the 51, that should just be a school tripper), but I must remind you that De Anza Boulevard between the Railroad tracks and Stevens Creek Boulevard is quite dense and could support high‐
ridership/productive service (the 53 is already quite productive). It is imperative that this part of De Anza Boulevard be served by something, and I find that having a line like in Network 90 is quite favorable. Miller has a couple schools and all, but De Anza Boulevard could support good all day service. Routes: 201 Subject: Keep DASH in DTSJ, it works. I am shocked that you are considering removing DASH. It works for many reasons. It is free and not another payment to deal with for last mile after Caltrain (fix the transfer situation). It is also not a traditional bus, but instead a special purpose one filled with short haul customers headed to work or All Comments Received on the Draft Plan school downtown. Your proposed replacement ignores the reality of what your riders want. I am a big supporter of VTA (not a lot of us unfortunately) but getting rid of DASH is just a bad idea. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: Los Gatos VTA Please do not take away this vital service for our seniors. Los Gatos is a vibrant and lovely destination for spending the day shopping and meeting friends for lunch at one of the many fine restaurants. In addition, the Los Gatos Recreation Department offers many classes and services for the seniors as well as the entire community. The transportation that VTA provides to our seniors who no longer drive is a major factor in enabling and maintaining an active social life. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: VTA Meeting ‐ 2/16/17 I attended last nights meeting at the Southside Senior Center and was quite disappointed because this meeting did not address transportation issues In the South Bay ‐ Los Paseos and the new development on Cottle Rd. It was quite apparent that this meeting was for Almaden residences therefore they should have held the meeting at the Senior Center in Almaden. There are concerns and needs of people who live in the Los Paseos neighb orhood (Bernal and San Ignatio) that were not addressed at the meeting. I left the meeting feeling that the study the VTA is proposing does not meet the needs of the community. With all of the new apartments on Cottle Rd and Great Oaks I would hope that there would be some sort of bus schedule in the planning stages especially since Costco will be open later this year. I think a more comprehensive study needs to be done to meet the needs of the community and increase ridership. Routes: 17 Subject: Comments on proposed VTA Route Changes I am a resident of Gilroy & attended your public hearing at the Gilroy a Library on Feb. 15th. Please do not cut service within our Community, especially Route 17. Route 17 takes people to many Social Services & is vital to our residents. We have some of the most needy residents in the County, we/they need public transportation. Do not hurt the South County to give better services to the North, it is not fair! Thank you, Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I take 181 to Milpitas. Not happy with proposal. I want express service. I go to school in Milpitas. Routes: 72 Subject: 72 I take route 72 to downtown. I'm happy about increase in service. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I come from Hayward to SJSU. I'm not thrilled about 181 being cancelled like express service. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: New Proposal It's not fair that service in and out lying ares is compromised in the new proposal. Strive for better service for all. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I'm not happy the 10 bus is going away. That was a free bus. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 23; 39; 60; 76 Subject: 23, 60, 39, 76 I'm happy with new changes, 23,60,39 & 76. Seems intelligent. Routes: 66 Subject: 66 I'm happy route 66 will increase in frequency. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Proposed changes I take the light rail. I'm happy the service will improve with the proposed changes. Routes: 73 Subject: 73 I'm happy with the proposed route changes to 73. More weekend service is good. Routes: 81 Subject: 81 I take the 81 to school to SJSU, also to grocery shop at Safeway. Routes: 323; 60 Subject: 68 & 323 68 & 323 changes sound like a good idea. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 89 cancelled but currently taking other lines. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Benefits I like the security and fare inspection for safety. I would like to see more discounts & options for disability. Any benefits. Routes: 63; 65 Subject: 63 & 65 Happy to adjust to changes that VTA has. I do not have a car, and need VTA service. I ride the 63 and sometimes 65 Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Happy I'm happy with VTA Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Freeway 85 Freeway 85 was originally supposed to have a light rail line running through it, but it never got built. It would greatly improve my life if it was actually built one day. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: PLEASE LEAVE 63 AND 13 ALONE You are cutting 13 and part of 63, and yet you have never held a meeting at the Almaden Valley community center. Why is that? How do you expect people to go to other community center to talk about the buses you are going to discontinue when they won't have any buses to take them back home? How absurd is this? I have brought up this issue before and you still have not thought of holding a meeting at A V center? I think you are intentionally doing this so no one can show up for the meting then you can say no one shows any interest in this line and you can go ahead and discontinue. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: Light Rail Subject: Increase Don't change the increase of the number of trains for Alum Rock Routes: 14; 17; 18; 19 Subject: Changes in Gilroy Area Please do not cut services in Gilroy, especially Route 17 on Murray Ave. Expand services throughout my city so I can use public transportation more. I would also like VTA Service to the San Jose airport & Bart. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Some comments on Option B for 2/16 meeting I attended 2.16 meeting in cottle road. Thank you very much for providing several options. I discussed with several folks there and none of us want any of these three options. If VTA can enhance option B a little bit, I am sure most of the folks can take it. For option B, it takes care of the middle school kids, but does not take seniors into considerations at all! About 30 ‐50 seniors go to Almaden community center for senior events and lunches. The lunch is served at 12pm. The reason we go there is to find a minimal social life, and to eat ONE proper meal. We either have eyesight issues, or cannot walk more than 30 minutes a day. We are 70‐90 years old, and most of us live in southern area from Bret Harte middle school. Without 10am‐2 pm buses, we will be barely stuck in community center for the entire day. Most of us also take #13 to go to Kaiser, Santa Clara Valley Health Center. Can you extend #64 or #63 to cover the current #13 route? With that, I am sure your rider ship will be increased significantly! Routes: 17 Subject: Route 17 Gilroy I think dropping this route would create a burden on the residents that live on the east side of Gilroy. This route is their means to Saint Louise hospital and to the outlets where many of them work. Is their an alternative to dropping this route? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: LEAVE 63 AND 13 ALONE I don't know how to improve your plan and I don't have any suggestion as to how to increase ridership‐‐that's your job to figure out. All I know is that if you do discontinue 13, you will leave a lot of riders basically walking miles to get to the next available bus stop. If you cut off services for 63, I will have to walk miles to get to Blossom Hill every day to catch 63 to work in down town, and then get off from Blossom Hill, walk another hour in the dark to get back to Camden Ave. How is this efficient? How is this convenient? For whom is this plan exactly? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: THIS MEASURE SUCKS You think Measure B will move us forward. WELL VTA BUCKLE THE [EXPLETIVE] UP AND BE READY TO HEAR MY [EXPLETIVE]LOAD OF RAGE I HAVE AFTER YOU [EXPLETIVE] VOTED YES ON MEASURE B. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR SOLUTIONS WILL MOVE SILICON VALLEY. AS THE HOME OF MANY TECH COMPANIES, WE DESERVE TO HAVE A WORD CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH TRAFFIC AS LIGHT AS IN GERMANY, SWEDEN, AND EVEN THE NETHERLANDS. FIRST OF ALL, IN 2000‐2001, YOU ASK KINKI [EXPLETIVE]ING SHARYO TO MAKE 100 LOW FLOOR LRVs for SAN JOSE. WHAT DO WE GET, 99 [EXPLETIVE]TY CARS THAT DONT EVEN GO AS FAST AS OTHER MORE EFFICIENT LIGHT RAIL VHEHICLES. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE A LIGHT RAIL IN DOWNTOWN, MAKE IT 1/2 METRO AND 1/2 TRAM. AT THIS POINT, WE DESERVE BETTER LIGHT RAIL CARS FROM COMPANIES LIKE SIEMENS AND THE TRAINS SHOUD GO AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED AS CALTRAIN AND EVEN BART. SPEAKING OF BART, WHY CANT YOU JUST STOP THE LINE AT DIRDON AND USE $1 BILLION DOLLARS TO FIX OUR [EXPLETIVE]ING LIGHT RAIL, BUS LINES, and FIX 85 TO MAKE IT LOOK LOKE THE 91 in CORONA OR RIVERSIDE AND All Comments Received on the Draft Plan EXTEND THAT FREEWAY TO HIGHWAY 880 OR EVEN HIGHWAY 4 FOR ALL I [EXPLETIVE]ING CARE. IN LOS ANGELES THERE IS CURRENTLY MORE TRAFFIC AND THE LIGHT RAIL IS SOMEWHAT INEFFICIENT BUT AT LEAST THE COUNCIL IS FINALLY LISTENING AND EXPANDING THEIR LIGHT RAIL AND FIXING SEVERAL FREEWAYS LIKE 5, 91, 60, 405, and even the 215 and 15 ANYWAYS ENOUGH TALK IN MEASURE A U PROMISED A RAIL CONNECTION TO SAN JOSE AIRPORT FROM LIGHT RAIL AND IT NEVER [EXPLETIVE]ING CAME. HOW RETARDED IS THIS DISTRICT. ARE U JUST MANIPULATING US TO TAKE YOUR TAX MONEY. YEEZUS STUPID POLITICIANS. ANYWAYS [EXPLETIVE] MEASURE B AND [EXPLETIVE] U IF I GOES INTO EFFECT Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Uses the 181 and doesn't want it discontinued. BART would be less convenient. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 Caller has a special need child, plus works with a program for other such individuals. She is concerned that they teach their students how to use public transit and now students would lose that connection if the dogleg portion of 53 is eliminated. Routes: 63; 81 Subject: 81, 63 Caller wants service on 81 and 63 continued. Says Willow (25) is too far to walk. Routes: 82 Subject: 82 Caller wants to preserve 82 Routes: 65 Subject: 65 Mother uses 65 from Japantown to go to MLK library Routes: 330 Subject: Request to retain limited line 330 Good day! I am writing to request if you can retain the Limited service Bus 330 line. I find it very useful for my daily commute to and from work (I live near Hamilton Avenue in Campbell and work near Samsung office in North First and Tasman). I learned that the line was planned to be discontinued this fall. This will mean that my commute time will double, plus an increase in transportation spending. I hope you will reconsider this plan. Thank you. Routes: 37 Subject: Route 37 closure Hello. It is discouraging to have two routes closed in our nearby grid. I had looked forward to perhaps more bus service, not less, during the retirement years. Your report certainly covers all the issues, but it just seems like a downward spiral: reduced service, more time between connections, less ridership, reduced service... Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 don't cut service to Almaden Valley My mother is elderly and relies on the bus. Please don't cut bus service to Almaden Valley. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Comments I attended the public meeting on February 16 at the Southside Community Center and left a few comments on the draft bus routes on the large maps. i will recap a few of those comments here as All Comments Received on the Draft Plan well as add a few new comments that I was not able to add to the maps last night. NEW COMMENTS ‐ Consider extending routes 72 and 73 to Diridon Station rather than ending at the downtown transit mall. This would increase the overall connectivity of the transit system and they would still serve most of the transit mall. ‐ Consider re‐routing line 68 NB from Cottle onto Great Oaks parkway & Endicott (rather than straight through on Cottle to Blossom Hill) to increase connectivity with the Blossom Hill Caltrain Station. Similarly, the southbound routing should use Endicott & Great Oaks and then back onto Cottle for the same reason. ‐ I appreciate that both directions of route 26 use Lawrence Expressway to better serve the high school and the commercial area. Plus, this routing facilitates better transfers with line 56. EDITED COMMENTS FROM THE MEETING ‐ Consider extending the 68, 72, 73, or 500 bus from Diridon onto Autumn St using the new extension to be completed in the next few months, then Coleman Ave past the San Jose MarketCenter (considered to be part of downtown by the City of San Jose), then onto Airport Parkway (bus stops near here would serve the Newhall commercial center with Lowes as well as Avaya Stadium), and finally loop around the airport by the terminals. ‐ Consider re‐routing the 59 bus onto Tasman, Old Ironsides, and Old Glory to better serve the Old Ironsides light rail station and have the bus stops for lines 55, 57, and 59 be as close as possible to each other, if not sharing the same stops. This would facilitate transfers and increase the connectivity of the system. ‐ Consider re‐routing Line 61 in the Berryessa area to better connect with the Berryessa light rail station. The proposed routing in both directions is as follows: from 680, Berryessa, Capitol, Sierra, Piedmont, Berryessa, and turn around using the Berryessa Community Center parking lot (layover point). This would better connect different bus lines and the light rail leading to better system connectivity. RECAP OF PREVIOUS COMMENTS LEFT AT THE MEETING ‐ The map is incorrect on line 61 at Coleman Ave. The map shows line 61 on Stockton Ave between Taylor and Hedding, rather than on Coleman. ‐ I appreciate the re‐routing of line 63 onto San Carlos St, rather than Saddle Rack St so that there is easier transfers and better connectivity with other bus lines. ‐ Consider re‐routing line 64 from Lincoln onto Coe then onto Bird. The re‐route would use Lincoln, San Carlos, and Bird instead. This would serve an area that is rapidly redeveloping with high density transit oriented uses. ROUTE QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION ‐ Lines 51 and 55 both make loops to serve the nearby schools. Would this be only during school hours or all day? The map isn't very clear about that. If it's only during school hours, I'm not sure how to show that on the map. PARTING THOUGHTS Thank you for this new map. I really like the proposed bus routes a lot. I like that they frequency and areas served match well with the ridership, land use activity centers, and land use densities. Please keep the focus on 85% ridership services and 15% coverage services as much as possible. Thanks again! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network Public Input I am writing on behalf of the Moffett Park Business Group (MPBG). We applaud VTA?s efforts to improve public transit service for VTA customers with the Next Network programming. We want to take this occasion to thank you for the opportunity to provide input into this process and for the time staff took to present to our organization. By way of reference, the MPBG is a membership‐driven organization that supports the environmental, social and economic health of our members through advocacy and cooperation. Located in Sunnyvale, the Moffett Park is a densely populated, class A industrial park. Our members consist of major employers, such as NetApp, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Yahoo!, Jay Paul Company, Juniper Networks, Detati, Labcyte, Rambus, JSR Micro, Microsoft, Foothill College, Google, Amazon Lab 126, and lnfinera: over 20,000 employees represented. Many of our member companies have good working relationships with VTA, encourage their employees to take public transit, provide sales tax to Santa Clara County, and supported the effort to pass Measure B. With review of the Next Network, we see the extensive work done by VTA to improve services and to meet the changing needs of the region. As VTA redesigns its public transit system, we feel it is All Comments Received on the Draft Plan important for MPBG members to offer the following input. ? Bus Route 120 is an active line with 6 AM and 6 PM runs. It is extensively used by many Moffett Park based commuters. These riders have expressed great concern losing this route, which they have consistently used over the years. They have taken the initiative to survey over 91 riders to help inform VTA who this customer is. Some highlights include: o Average rider takes this route 3.73 days a week, with half of respondents using it 5 days a week o Over 90% are Eco Pass users o Less than 9% would use BART to Light Rail as a new form of transit since it would be an increase in cost, a change from a direct, one seat ride to a two seat commute, and a question of increased travel time. Though we would prefer to save all runs of Route 120, we would be supportive of exploring options with VTA. Some ideas would include, but not be limited to, a decrease in the number of runs, express service on the Orange light rail line, or express bus service that operates between BART and the business parks in north Sunnyvale and Mountain View. ? Route 328 provides 2 AM and 2 PM runs that operate through Santa Clara, Campbell and San Jose. This line utilizes a carpool lane on one of the busiest expressways in the county, with the travel time directly competing with a single occupant vehicle trip. While ridership is not as high as we would like, we believe there is still great potential in this route as it connects the job rich north Santa Clara County with the housing rich area of south Santa Clara County. We would offer any help we could provide in promoting and growing this line. Therefore, we ask VTA to reconsider this route. ? Lastly, we like the increased frequency of light rail and increased bus service that serves the north/south corridor of Sunnyvale. We see this improvement in service as a good opportunity to encourage more employees onto public transit. Therefore, we understand key components in moving commuters out of their single occupant vehicles include improved transportation infrastructure, transportation demand management support, and strong public transit services. With the Next Network, we see more opportunities to move commuters to public transit in certain corridors of Santa Clara County. An exception to this would be the cancellation of Routes 120 and 328. We ask VTA to reconsider the discontinuation of these lines and off to work with staff to look for win‐win results. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kerry Haywood Executive Director Routes: 45 Subject: 45 route I'm 58year's old and I have bad back. And I had a stroke the the 45 gets me to the store and my doctors. There is other people that is in the same boat. Please don't take the bus away from us. Routes: 21; 22; 34; 522 Subject: Routes 34 vs. 522 Route 34 serves a big apartment complex at 90 Sierra Vista in Mountain View (on Montebello and Hackett avenues), where about 300 seniors live. New 21 route skips it. Meanwhile, VTA operates two long routes that duplicate each other ‐ 22 and 522. 522 makes it from Palo Alto to San Jose just half‐
hour faster than 22. An average rider travels about a half of the route; that means he/she saves just about 15 minutes ‐ and then have to walk for about those 15 minutes, because 522 has rare stops. 522 is a fake express; it just makes impression of express. It sure makes sense to concentrate resources on routes with bigger ridership, but that does not mean that some people must have whatever luxury, and other people have nothing. 522 must be canceled, at least 12 buses freed. and the route 34 (already miserable, cut many times after 2000) must be spared. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 22; 288; 34; 522 Subject: Cancel 522, spare other routes VTA wants to cut some routes and even eliminate some routes, like 34 ‐ which means some areas will lose bus service, including areas where many seniors live. Meanwhile, VTA operates two long routes that duplicate each other ‐ 22 and 522. 522 makes it from Palo Alto to San Jose just half‐hour faster than 22. An average rider travels about a half of the route; that means he/she saves just about 15 minutes ‐ and then have to walk for about those 15 minutes, because 522 has rare stops. 522 is a fake express; it just makes impression of express. It sure makes sense to concentrate resources on routes with bigger ridership, but that does not mean that some people must have whatever luxury, and other people have nothing. 522 must be canceled, at least 12 buses freed. and the route 34 (already miserable, cut many times after 2000) must be spared. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: Routes ‐ Downtown Los Gatos I think the 48/49 would have gotten more ridership for the school kids if the timing of the route matched the school schedule instead of getting there 30 minutes in advance of class. She'd have to wait almost a hour to get back home. I know my daughter would have been riding it if the schedule matched. I realize this may be too late for the line now but please consider coordinating with school schedules on your other lines. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Transit Fares I have been somewhat following your work and progress on the Next Network and I have a couple of comments. First, I am very happy that you have restored Line 70 via Morrill. I was shocked by earlier plans that had no service east of the BART line and I was not happy with those plans. This latest one is much better. Second, I would like to suggest that VTA find a way to change the fare basis from a per‐
trip‐on‐a‐bus‐or‐light‐rail to a per‐trip‐destination basis. By that, I mean a customer would buy a ticket from Point A to Point B and it would be priced on that basis rather than on how many different buses or light rail rides it takes to reach the destination. This would be akin to how airlines charge for tickets. The customer could buy a transit ticket from their local bus stop to another local bus or light rail stop elsewhere in the network and the price would just be a calculated price that is not based on how many connections are involved. This would be much like buying an airline ticket from San Jose to Minneapolis. There might be anywhere from 0‐2 stops/connections along the way, but the fare is based on the route. Thanks. Routes: 63 Subject: please retain 63 the whole route 63 is my lifeline. Cutting it anywhere is going to disrupt and impact my commute drastically. I have been taking this bus for decades, literally, since I was a kid. This is the bus that allows me to be partially independent. Right now I take 7:39am from Camden to SJSU, then I take 5:46pm at night and 5:59pm on Saturday to get home. Walking or biking for the miles you are proposing to cut is just not feasible. How can you tell people to just walk for an hour or bike for three miles so you could save some money for other riders? Are the riders taking Bart more important than we who have no other options? How could you tell me to bike in this stormy weather? I certainly didn't see anyone riding bike to work in the rain. Please have compassion and imagine if you have to be the one walking every day and every night just to get to the bus stop and back home? Would you still want to implement that? Routes: 53 Subject: Route 53 to West Valley College I have a few comments on the proposed changes to the VTA routes. I am a student at West Valley College, and I take the 53 route to West Valley College for school every day, and I know many other All Comments Received on the Draft Plan people who ride this route daily. For my 8:30 class I have to get on the bus at 7am, which gets me to school around 7:45am. I arrive 45 minutes before class because on this route the busses run once an hour. If you eliminate this route, for me to take an alternate route would cost me an extra 50 minutes. That is, if you haven't rerouted that one as well. As an 18 year old girl it would not be safe for me to walk around outside at 6:30am. Many young adults who attend the community colleges are from families who cannot afford an alternate mode of transportation. For me and many other students, we can't afford to take 4 hours every day to commute to school. This would drastically reduce the time I would have for work, studying, and classes, and in turn reducing the amount I could spend supporting my family. This problem is not just about me. There are many others in the same position I am in. To take a bus route away from a junior college would greatly reduce opportunities. 4 junior colleges in the area have clipper cards available to encourage and make accessible their school for students. Why would we take a route away from the schools? Not only will the route changes be catastrophic in student's transportation plans, but the system by which the changes were proposed was handled poorly. I take many busses throughout the week and am signed up for VTA update emails, but have not received any communication about the changes. There were no signs at my bus stops. I was told that the bus driver would have a pamphlet. But this is only if I knew of the changes and had asked! Finally, I want to ask that you continue the 53 to West Valley. If anything, I would ask that you increase the frequency and extend the hours of the route. Thank you. Routes: 120 Subject: Express 120 ‐‐ Please continue the service Hi , The direct service is very important and useful for the Office goers from Fremont to Sunnyvale, saving a lot of time,money and effort. With the proposed discontinuation of the service, it adds up additional time,money for the employees and discomfort for the change over. At least couple of last trips would help us get going,saving a lot of time and traffic woes. Please do consider in continuing the service. Routes: 26 Subject: Route 26 My son and I ride the Bus 26 every day. I like the fact that it is very reliable, and on‐time. My family of 3 goes from Sunnyvale to Eastridge shopping center on the bus, because Vallco Shopping center is closed. We also go to Pruneyard Shopping center, Grocery Outlet, Fair Oaks Light Rail, and Sunnyvale Post Office near Lockheed Martin. So, please DO NOT break up Line 26 that has been very successful and reliable for many, many years! Subject: VTA's Next Network Draft Plan ‐ eliminating Routes: 48; 49 Routes 48 and 49. Please do not eliminate Routes 48 and 49. The proposal to discontinue Routes 48 & 49 is very disturbing and disappointing. I have used these routes regularly for 12 years. I am a preschool teacher in downtown Los Gatos. I do not drive and therefore I rely on these buses to commute daily from South Bascom Avenue to the Los Gatos Civic Center. In the Draft Plan, it is indicated that Routes 48 & 49 will be discontinued and replaced with revised Route 27. However, Route 27 does not pass through the downtown area in Los Gatos, and it does not go to South Bascom Avenue. This means that for 5 days in a week, every morning, I will have to take Route 61 from South Bascom Avenue to Good Samaritan Hospital and then switch buses and take Route 27 to Highway 9/Winchester Blvd and after that walk to the Los Gatos Civic Center to get to my place of work and do the same for my return journey home. This will entail a considerable amount of extra travel time, wait time, and a lot of walking, in addition to extra travel cost due to the change of buses. This is a very big burden for me. I have been using Routes 48/49 for the past 12 years. My job is very important to me and I cannot All Comments Received on the Draft Plan afford to lose it. I may mention here that there are a number of Los Gatos High School students and many Seniors too who depend on these routes and they too would be affected if the Draft Plan is implemented. I strongly oppose this proposal to discontinue Routes 48 and 49 and earnestly request you to please reconsider and continue service of Routes 48 and 49 from Winchester Light Rail Station to Los Gatos Civic Center. Routes: 63 Subject: Route 63 I'm concerned about the plan on cutting the line to blossom hill. My mom relies on this bus to take her to work at Lucky's Supermarket because she doesn't drive. If this part of the line is cut the walk up the hill will be troubling for her. Her knees aren't the same anymore; and i am not sure if she is qualified for the para transit. Thank you for the notice at the bus stop and i hope this will be resolved soon. Routes: 168 Subject: Express service in Morgan Hill I have seen express buses going through M Hill but don't see the route and stops on the diagram you posted...just wondering if you stop at all...? Thanks in advance for the info Routes: 32 Subject: changes to Rte 32 Please do not cut the section between Moffett Blvd and San Antonio Rd. There are many people who use this route. Having to walk to San Antonio Rd or Rengstorff Ave to take a bus is very inconvenient and difficult for older and/or disabled people. The 32 already stops within a couple of blocks of the Castro St Caltrain Station, and goes right by the other Caltrain Station in Mtn View. There is no need to re‐route to accommodate Caltrain riders, especially since Caltrain ridership is down. There is a need in this area for that bus. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Wi‐Fi I need Wi‐Fi Routes: 14; 17; 18; 19 Subject: Bus line reduction so county gilroy Please do no cut any routes in south county There are thousands of people without cars or cab fare who will lose jobs and access to health care Shopping for food etc. Add smaller shuttle busses for lower volume days. Do the right thing Please!! Routes: 81 Subject: Neighborhood I'm concerned to see that our neighborhood near Valley Fair will be losing our Route 81 service. I've always wanted to use VTA to commute to Apple in Cupertino, but the enroute time of over 1.5 hours hasn't been competitive. I know several Apple employees just within a couple of blocks. It's too bad we won't be able to use VTA to reach Apple Campus 2 when it opens. Routes: 13; 63; 64; 65 Subject: Almaden bus lines I take the 330 two or three times a week between its terminus in Almaden Valley to the Great America area ‐ 19 miles each way. The traffic in Santa Clara is so awful, I feel like at least by taking this route I accomplish two things ‐ preserve my sanity and remove one car from the San Thomas / Camden commute route. Perhaps the VTA could consider rather than eliminating this line (along with the 328) they could drop the morning/evening runs from 4 to, say, 2 runs. Just a thought. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Facts favoring 'coverage' goal 1. "Leaders" know better than RIDERS what's needed from transit? So the community meetings were just window dressing for a preordained decision? 2. Limited‐stop service works AGAINST both frequency AND coverage! Even in your dream corridor [a continuous string of varied destinations] it doesn't take me just where I need to go, AND the travel time walking to/from the scarce boarding points more than cancels the time saved by making fewer stops. (Except on very long trips, which aren't typical for a densely developed street.) In any case, if the weather is at all challenging, I simply REFUSE to walk a half‐mile extra ‐‐ I'll just sit and wait for a "local" bus (22, 23 etc.) 3. A use‐case I'd really like to have covered is direct (no transfer) service between Mountain View and Valley Fair [missing since the 23 line was beheaded at De Anza]. You're going to tell me to transfer to the 60 at S.Clara train station, and my answer is that if the 32 (new 21) continued for that last mile or so, it would likely attract enough additional riders to pay for the duplication. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Blossom Hill to Lockheed Martin I commute every day to work from Blossom Hill to Lockheed Martin. The proposed VTA lightrail changes will make my commute longer. currently I take the 8:27 am Express Train to San Jose andbrhen take the Mountain View train. With the changes I am forced to take the regular service train or make two transfers . in Both cases my commute will be looking her (I estimate between 15min and 25 min longer). again , please consider riders that go from Blossom Hills area to Sunnyvale/Mountain View . you are making our commutes longer , less appealing to be our preferred transportation method. Routes: 53 Subject: Comments on Changes to Route 53 I rely on route 53 to get to and from work several times a week. The stops I get on and off at are at the intersection of Saratoga‐Sunnyvale Road and Thelma Avenue (in both directions) and the Sunnyvale Transit Center. This line is crucial for me because it's the only route that will take me directly to Sunnyvale Transit Center at 7 in the morning in order for me to get to work. As someone who doesn't drive and therefore relies only on public transportation to get around, not stopping at the intersection where I wait to get on the bus means I won't be able to get to work. I believe stopping service on Saratoga‐Sunnyvale Road and part of S. De Anza Boulevard will also impact elderly people and De Anza College students living along those affected stops. From my observation of riding line 53, the stops that these riders get on and off at the most are along S. De Anza and Saratoga‐
Sunnyvale. If service at those stops is to be eliminated, what other alternatives will they have to get around? I hope you take these comments and concerns into consideration. Thank you. Routes: 58 Subject: Comments on Changes to Route 58 To go to and from work, I take route 58 three times a week. Eliminating this line will prevent me from being able to continue my job. I hope you take this concern into consideration. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Praise and questions First, I _love_ the new plan, and think it has a real chance of increasing ridership on VTA buses across Santa Clara county in future years. I'm particularly happy about all the increases in service at the Sunnyvale transit hub. I do have two questions, though: ‐ Originally, the next network concepts included rapid service from the Sunnyvale TC to Mountain View TC, which has been changed from Sunnyvale to Lockheed Martin TC (via route 354). I'm fine with this change, but I think it's odd that the replacement on that route ‐‐ route 20 ‐‐ doesn't run at all on weekends (admittedly, route 21 does, but will probably be substantially longer). I assume this decision was based at least partially on the All Comments Received on the Draft Plan idea of more frequent service on an electrified Caltrain line. Given the recent uncertainty given federal funding decisions on that, would there be room for a revisit of service on this corridor? ‐ I know several Sunnyvale groups were pressing for more direct service along the city hall/library/court area along Olive Av. The proposal I heard about rerouting 354 along this route is obvious nonsense given how rapid routes should operate. However, I wonder if there is a reason for the existing routing of route 53 along Washington, especially given parallel service of route 20 there. Would a routing of 53 down Olive solve these requests at little cost? Thanks again, and I'm excited about our bus future with VTA Routes: General Project Comment Subject: routes Still no route on the 85 corridor from Los Gatos to Mountain View even though I have been following a fleet of Google buses on this route every day for the past 5 years. Routes are fair too reliant on a very inflexible light rail system that SLOWLY takes everyone to San Jose before taking them to there actual destination. Maybe at least one or two express buses during peak rush hour? Routes: 181 Subject: Consider Keeping 181 Express Route [I am] a senior at San Jose State University. I've been commuting from Fremont to San Jose for the past 4‐5 years. Thanks to my university's transportation solutions program, I've been able to rely on your public transportation services to attend university. I have been very fortunate that my university provides this program for students. Taking the VTA instead of driving to school has saved me hundreds of dollars over the last few years. I have been a loyal VTA rider and have encouraged my friends and peers to use your services. Upon hearing about VTA's Next Network plan and the proposed change to discontinue the 181 Express Route, I have to speak up. Hundreds of people‐‐
students, working adults, the elderly, and families‐rely on the 181 Express bus. I've noticed an increase of ridership on this route over the past few years. The 181 is heavily saturated during the morning rush and evening commute. Many people from Fremont and the greater East Bay Area come to San Jose to work or go to school. SJSU's transportation solutions program with VTA is an excellent benefit for students. Not only does it help students relieve the cost of transportation to attend university, the use of public transportation is more environmentally‐friendly. Discontinuing the 181 Express would add hundreds more vehicles to the road, increasing air pollution and further contributing to the heavy traffic that already saturates the I‐880 Northbound and Southbound highways. The use of public transportation helps to relieve traffic. Discontinuing this route would create the opposite effect. In addition, many students struggle enough with paying for tuition. If the 181 Express were discontinued, these students may have no other choice but to pay hundreds for a parking permit per semester. May I remind you that despite purchasing a parking permit, there is no guarantee of an actual parking spot. Please consider the students, families, and hardworking adults that rely on the 181 Express Route everyday. Discontinuing the 181 Express Route would be a severe disservice to the communities you intend to serve. If possible, I would like to have a meeting or phone call with someone from the VTA Outreach Team to discuss this further. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you. Routes: 65 Subject: Bus 65 I've attended 2 meetings with my son, who is dependent on Bus 65 and has used public transportation since his teens. It's not fair that you would cut Bus 65 when it is a popular route to SJCC, SJSU, Diridon station, and downtown. We both pay taxes and want better public transportation, not worse. My son already endures long rides and walks as it is. And he is keeping a vehicle off the road. Please keep 65! All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 181 Subject: Discontinuation of VTA 181 route I'm concerned with the discontinuation of 181 because although BART will extend in SJ, that does not make commute any easier for the many SJSU students from the Fremont area. As students, we are able to ride VTA for free (as it is included in our high tuition rates) but if we were forced to take BART instead, we'd most likely have to pay for that transportation. BART is crowded as is and it makes the commute even longer since we'd have to transfer onto a bus after getting off BART to make it to campus. Not to mention the overcrowded BART parking lots (another cost to college students). Please reconsider before discontinuing this route. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Express As a student who has been commuting daily from Fremont to San Jose for school for the past four years, I sincerely hope that VTA can reconsider the discontinuation of the 181 Express route. As many other students are also commuting from Fremont, discontinuing this bus route would bring too much of an inconvenience and many students will be deeply affected by this decision. The 181 Express route helps students commute from home to school in a much safer, faster, and more convenient way. This eases the strain on having many students travel by car, only to be driving for hours just to find parking! By retaining the 181 Express route, we will not have to deal with these difficult changes. Please consider it carefully. Thank you! Routes: 23 Subject: Hopitals, Hospitals, Hospitals! Please increase bus lines and trips to hospitals. Please don't just swap one line for another. Just for myself, I have doctors near three different hospitals and I am just one disabled person. There are a lot of disabled people. O'Connor may be out of the way but please don't eliminate the 23 to O'Connor just to replace it with another line. Route another line as well as the 23. Thanks for listening. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Express Route I was informed the 181 Express route would be discontinued. For myself this is a vital way of myself being able to attend school at SJSU. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Trip Planner Your trip planner is terrible. Routes: 53 Subject: Route 53 Could the VTA reconsider restoring Route 53 or at have coverage that loops from saratoga Sunnyvale road and Cox to big basin way then saratoga avenue back to Cox? Thanks Routes: 65 Subject: Route 65 I take bus 65 to school. If disclose the 65, it will be ver inconvenient Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Changes The changes are good but could be better. Transfers for free should be standard. More routes to get to and from Caltrain more often. Having routes that get people where they are going similar to speed by car would help. I can go on Caltrain where it takes 20 minutes to go from San Jose to mountain view. Light rail take almost two hours. Public transit needs to take priority over cars. VTA light rail All Comments Received on the Draft Plan should have priority at intersections at all times. If public transit is as fast or close to car speed it would boost ridership. Bus taking 45 minutes when a car takes 15 will never succeed. Routes: 201; 23 Subject: Discontinuing Free Dash, Forest Avenue Bus 23 I beg you not to discontinue our Downtown Free Dash Shuttle which connects so many SJSU students and SJ business workers coming from all over the bay to Caltrain. It will also severely inconvenience many disabled and Senior users. Also discontinuing the Forest Ave segment of Bus #23 will be disastrous for those needing O'Connor Hospital and all the Medical Buildings around it. Again this will definitely impact Disabled and Senior users! VTA will push more and more consumers to use the ridesharing Uber and Lyft companies. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: plan No transit service in walking distance to thousands of new housing units on and near River Oaks Parkway. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Concern regarding 30‐minute bus schedule I live in West San Jose and work at Valley Medical Center. The decrease in bus frequencies will severely affect me, especially since some bus drivers do not honor the time stops, so that I have missed the bus several times going back home. If you want more people to use the bus, time stops need to be taken seriously. It is bad service, if the bus comes and leaves too early! BTW, I really don't like the system of time stops. In Europe, every stop has its own time, that is so much more reliable. Routes: 25 Subject: New 25 bus schedule Please make sure that I can be at Valley Medical Center before 8 am in the morning, traveling East‐
bound (coming from West San Jose/Cupertino). Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Bus App One of the most frustrating things about writing the bus is not knowing when the next one is coming. Anapp like next bus would allow you to look for all buses on your cell phone. San Francisco and Alameda already use this to great success. The VTA says it's going to develop its own app, this seems counterintuitive if we can use the same when that other regional transit agencies are already using. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Transfers and Youth bus passes One of the reasons people don't ride the bus here in Santa Clara County is because we are not trained to be transit riders at a young age. Please provide transfers for everyone but in particular for youth. Free ridership for anyone under 18 would be even better. Routes: 201 Subject: DASH Please reconsider canceling the DASH shuttle service in Downtown San Jose. This is an important asset to the SJSU and other large companies that operate in Downtown. Instead of canceling please ask SJSU and the large companies to help cover some of the costs. I am certain they would be happy to contribute if costs for VTA are an issue. Once BART construction begins DASH will be even more critical with San Fernando Street being the only street that will be open to traffic since Santa Clara Street will be a construction zone for 5 years. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 201; 500 Subject: Replacement of DASH with 500 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I recently moved to San Jose, specifically to Paseo Plaza between 3rd and 4th St and San Fernando and San Carlos. An important reason for choosing that location was that I could commute to work on Caltrain using DASH to get between home and the San Jose Diridon station. It seems that the route that replaces DASH runs entirely along Santa Clara. This moves the bus stop that is virtually at my doorstep to a couple of blocks away. I am glad to see that you are offering an alternative to DASH but I hope your plans took into account that some of the riders of DASH will now have to walk a couple of blocks at the very least to hop on the 500 to the station? If not, please consider routing the 500 via San Fernando or San Carlos. Routes: 282; 82 Subject: Route 82 ‐ Route 282 I THINK I agree with these changes. The map for the 282 is not detailed enough for me. May I have a more detailed map? Too many old and very large buses have been used on Route 82 with very few people in them on narrow streets with housing on both sides. I live on Newport Ave. which has a little bit of a wider street but the bus noise has been awful. Routes: 65 Subject: Bus 65 I ride the 65 everyday from Camden & 85 to Diridon Station. Please don't cancel the route, it is very important to me and many other riders. It would be harder for me to have to walk to Meridian to get downtown. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Feedback I would like to thank you for using recorded webinars to explain VTA's transit redesign plans. It was a convenient and efficient way to disseminate information about the proposed plan. The presenter was also very good. That said, there was no discussion about how the survey was conducted, who actually responded, or the methodology used to ensure the feedback was reliable. I also wondered why there was apparently no effort to contact other more successful cites (e.g. San Diego) to understand how they have achieved so much more than VTA. It is, needless to say, concerning to see the chart showing that VTA occupies the worst position in terms of performance. Perhaps these questions can be addressed in a future presentation. I was also very concerned that VTA is getting more money. Throwing more money at the problems is not the way to fix it and doesn't follow the "think like a business" model. I hope this feedback is helpful. Thank you. Routes: 37; 65 Subject: Cut lines Please do not eliminate the 65 and the 37. These provide critical alternatives to driving in any already congested suburban area (camden especially) and feed into other routes not served by the remaining lines. Routes: 330 Subject: VTA route 330 Hello! I would like to propose a compromise solution to help keep minimal service on route 330, from Almaden Valley (Almaden Expressway&Via Valiente) to Tasman Drive in Santa Clara. Today, there are 4 northbound buses in the morning (6:45, 7:06, 7:31 and 7:57PM) and 4 southbound buses (4:17, 5:14, 5:44 and 6:15PM). While I agree that the overall ridership taken across all 4 buses is low today, I would suggest that a reduced schedule will significantly improve the utilization factor. A reduced schedule to just two buses in the AM and PM will improve efficiency, reduce fuel waste, reduce operating costs as well as continue to provide a critical commuting facility for those residents whose offices are located along the long corridor from San Tomas Expressway to Tasman Drive. I take the bus a few times each month and I can confirm that there are several commuters who board the bus at All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Stevens Creek and also at El Camino Real in Santa Clara. There are large companies in Santa Clara and San Jose whose employees benefit from this VTA bus service, and the fact that these companies offer a monthly fare subsidy to their employees makes this facility even more attractive to commuters. I would greatly appreciate it if VTA would re‐consider the decision to permanently halt service on route 330. Instead, if a reduced schedule were to be offered, it would continue to serve a critical need while improving operating efficiencies and costs. May I remind VTA officials that there is continuing population growth in the Almaden Valley and that the taxes residents pay to the city of San Jose should be allocated to the equal benefit of all residents, not just those who live along very busy commute corridors. Thank you. [Name redacted] San Jose Routes: 37 Subject: Vta bus line 37 Please don't cancel community bus line 37, it's used by a majority of West Valley college students who otherwise have no other transportation to learn. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Vote for the three plans VTA provided We think Plan B works for us. We can't accept Plan C. Routes: 46 Subject: 46 Route Comment I am a daily rider on route 46 on my commute to San Jose State University. My suggestion for this route is instead of eliminating this route and turn it into a school days only route, why not turn it into a community bus route. I know a lot of people who rely on this route to get to work and school. Many elderly people also use this route to get to where they're going. By suggesting to use route 47, many riders will be required to walk at least 20 minutes, further increasing their commute time. I sincerely suggest turning this route into a community bus route. Thank you! Routes: 65 Subject: bus 65 Please reconsider keeping busy routes 65 & route 37. Many of us people depend on these routes. Routes: 46 Subject: Don't axe route 46 The elimination of route 46 is a really bad idea especially for those who live between Landless and Calaveras Blvds. Do you think is a good idea to walk close to 1.5 miles twice a day to reach the closest bus station? Routes: 201 Subject: DASH shuttle service I am currently a student at San Jose state university and I frequently take the DASH shuttle to get to the caltrain station from campus. It is extremely important in my commute and I need this shuttle service so that I may get to campus in a timely manner. Keep the route exactly the way it is and do not make any changes to this service! Routes: 14; 17; 18; 19 Subject: Lack of service in West Gilroy Service stops short of Santa Teresa (There apparently is a stop a few blocks to the east on Third Street.) I am relatively able‐bodied but find it difficult to walk long distance, especially with purchases. I have no drivers license and believe there are many others in similar situations. Your plan leaves growing area west of Santa Teresa and south of First Street/152 unserved. New houses are going up every day in several large subdivisions and there is a large assisted living facility off Santa Teresa. With All Comments Received on the Draft Plan new traffic circle at Santa Teresa and Third, it would be simple to cross Santa Teresa and provide an additional stop or two in the area to the west Routes: 201 Subject: VTA CANCELS DASH IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE BUSINESSES AND FOR THE SJSU CAMPUS STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FREE DASH SHUTTLE ROUTE. NO REPLACEMENT VIA SANTA CLARA ST. (ALSO NOT FREE) WILL TAKE IT'S PLACE. IT IS ESPECIALLY VITAL FOR OUR DISABLED AND SENIOR USERS. DO NOT DO AWAY WITH THIS JEWEL! THANK YOU. Routes: 82 Subject: Route 82 through Newport Ave Please re‐route #82 to avoid Newport Ave and travel through Lincoln Ave from Pine to Minnesota. Newport Ave is suffering from potholes caused by the heavy buses, which result in our house shaking when a bus goes by. If the bus is re‐routed, then traffic calming measures can be installed on Newport Ave. Routes: 63 Subject: Can you keep the 63 running Routes: Light Rail Subject: VTA Light Rail extension to the San Jose Airport VTA, Please extend an express train that by‐passes downtown San Jose to the San Jose Airport. This will increase ridership and get cars off the street. Routes: 13; 62; 65 Subject: Almaden Valley Bus Routes SHould not be Cut This is an objection to cutting back public bus routes coming to Almaden Valley due to what is being touted as low ridership however the students, elderly and people without cars rely on these bus routes and they should not be eliminated. Taxes are paid by EVERYONE and should not cause these critical bus routes to be eliminated. We urge you to keep VTA service in our area for the following reasons : 1.To some of our neighbors, this is the ONLY way they commute. ‐Without bus service, our non‐driving seniors won't be able to stay socially active. This will negatively affect their health, both physically and physiologically. ‐Without buses, some of our middle school, high school, and college students can't travel between home and schools independently. Driving is not an option for many of them. VTA service is the only affordable option for these families. 2. Some of us purchased our homes in Almaden Valley because of its public transit accessibility. 3. Discontinuing all bus routes will cut our area off from the whole public transportation network. 4. We should not evaluate public transportation only as a profit making business. It is a NEEDED SERVICE for a healthy, growing city. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: BART(Fremont‐ Berryessa extension) I don't think BART extension to Berryessa and operation from fall 2017 would be a good idea because i see the passengers daily suffer standing to commute daily lacking sufficient seating availability in BART to Fremont and extension to Berryessa would be a really bad idea as it could add more rush to the passengers and fore them to use their own vehicles to commute. I strongly recommend not to start this until or unless there is increase in BART coaches and Frequency Routes: 25 Subject: Route 25 Service Decrease I think it is very detrimental to West San Jose to be moving service to only twice per hour on Route 25 west of Valley Medical Center. This route is relied upon by many people and as traffic is set to All Comments Received on the Draft Plan increase with the nearby Apple Campus II opening, there will be more demand for alternative travel and decreasing service is not productive nor beneficial to anyone at all and harms a community that has growing numbers of seniors and high school‐aged children who are increasingly not getting driver's licenses. I implore you to at least keep service at every 20 minutes minimum if it must be cut back at all. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Poor VTA service needs addressing! It's amazing to me that VTA is considering cutting even MORE service than it already has. The service already in‐place is unreliable and I'm certain that the amount of discontent people have with VTA is why your ridership continues to decline. I ride to‐and‐from work five days a week, including weekends, having to connect from line 63/64 and line 26/82. The 26 line is completely inconsistent. The westbound lines are usually either right on time or at least 25 minutes late. (Last Tuesday, it was 35 minutes late, which is impressive considering the bus runs every 30 minutes...) The eastbound lines are even worse, ranging between leaving 5 minutes early(!), 20 minutes late, and not showing up at all ‐‐ which happened SEVEN times between October and January! This bus line takes 2 hours from start to finish and there are way too many variables on this high‐traffic path to justify why the 26 runs so infrequently. As I said, I have to connect, so having the bus system be THIS unstable in NOT ACCEPTABLE. *I don't pay for a VTA monthly pass in order to use Lyft or Uber to get where I need to.* I should not have to spend extra money on a third‐party service to get to where I need to just because the system in place is so inexplicably flawed. Looking over the past 15 years, why does all of the East‐
West service continually get slashed? The 38 is long gone. The 27 has gone from 15 minutes to what, 45? The 25 has gone from 10 minutes to 30 on weekend mornings. Now you're cutting the 37 and 82 as well? People shouldn't have to go all the way to downtown San Jose just to catch a bus that takes them East‐West! Having such a lopsidedly‐linear system south of downtown San Jose is why people don't use VTA! Of course, then there is the 26, which as I already said, deserves no faith whatsoever. That line should be running every 15 minutes MAX during the morning and evening commute. Please fix these significant flaws. The problem isn't that certain lines have low ridership. The problem is that the system does not meet the demands of the riders, so other more reliable outlets are used instead. If a bus is running early, it shouldn't be leaving 5 minutes early from a posted stop. If a bus has long trips, their service should not be cut. If a bus isn't going to show up at all, it needs to be noted on the real‐time map. There are plenty of things to help VTA grow but killing your own ridership is not the way to do it. Routes: 523; 54 Subject: Planned elimination of Route 54 It's very difficult to assess the impact of the route changes without knowing where the new 523 will stop. I live just west of the Sunnyvale library. The 54 bus line is the lifeline for my two teenagers to get home from Homestead High, for my son to go to the Northwest YMCA, and for my daughter to get to work at TJ Maxx on Stevens Creek. In the near future I expected them to be taking the 54 to DeAnza College. If 523 stops near Sunnyvale City Hall and near Hollenbeck/Homestead road, it might be a good alternative for my family. But if it doesn't, it's not going to be very helpful. Maybe we'll use bikes instead. I like the added Sunday service, since my daughter works on Sundays. Bus service absolutely has to be reliable, and VTA is not. A friend of mine was dependent on the bus to get home from work at 10:00 pm. One night the bus simply did not come. Fortunately he was able to find a friend with a car to help him, or he would have spent the night outside. My own kids can't take the 54 to Homestead High because it's too unreliable on timing. I have to drive them to school before I go to work. I would not want to have to depend on VTA to get to work on time! And that's too bad, because VTA is a lifeline for many people in the Valley. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 60 Subject: New line 60 Hi there, Would you consider expanding the time of line 60 service past midnight as BART ends at midnight and there could be customers who need the 60 that are on the last train. In addition there are several employees of the airport who use the bus and would be forced to call a taxi after the last plane arrives as one typically lands around midnight and bags aren't out until 12:15. I ask you to improve it for the consideration of others. Thanks Routes: 53 Subject: VTA bus changes, bus 53 I am writing out of concern for the announced bus route changes. My concern is specifically regarding the 53 bus which currently goes to De Anza College and terminates at West Valley College. It also serves Homestead High School and Sunnyvale Middle School. It is of great unease to our family to hear of this bus being eliminated. Although bus 53 is not a speedy way to get to West Valley College, it has been very dependable for my daughter to get there. My daughter tells me that on her daily ride there and back she sees many different groups of people. These include, but are not limited to, people going to work, other students like her who do not drive or who do not have the resources to have a car, seniors who may not be able to drive anymore, and groups of disabled young adults who ride the bus together after attending a class or gaining real world experience. While I realize that the bus may not be able to cover the costs with ridership fares and this route may not be beneficial to the overall budget ‐ we must value highly the benefits to society of enabling people to further their education, get to work, or experience independence. How will these various groups adjust to the bus elimination? I can only speak for my daughter, but at this time there is an alternate route which will take her nearly 2 hours each direction to get to West Valley College. That will mean that is 4 hours a day in transportation time ‐ assuming the two busses she would take in that case will still exist if the 53 bus is eliminated. What will become of the others? Those who cannot take an alternate route? The grocery worker she sees? The disabled groups? The problem I have is not just with the changes being made, but how they have not been communicated. There is no notification on the busses, at the bus stops, or via the VTA email lists. Three days ago there was an article in the Sunnyvale Sun newspaper, however the article stated that the fares would increase soon, and there was no mention of the route changes. I find this to be unacceptable and downright wrong. In making the proposed changes without notifying constituents you will not receive the feedback from others who will also be affected. I need you to be more transparent and forthcoming when it comes to making significant changes to your riders? lives. I urge you to reconsider your plans for eliminating the 53 bus? transit to West Valley and De Anza Colleges. Routes: 46 Subject: Nextnetwork prosposed changes to route 46 As a rider that uses route 46, I strongly dislike the idea of scaling back this route. Its not just K‐12 students that use this route and this proposal would further inconvenience those that live in an area near the Milpitas and San Jose border where only the current line 46 is the most convenient. Reducing Line 46 to school oriented service would only put school kids first and it will come at the expense of the public, which just seems very counter‐productive to VTA's new motto "Solutions that move you." VTA needs to seriously rethink this new proposal for Line 46 and don't just look at it from the school service perspective only. Routes: 53; General Project Comment Subject: Saratoga‐Sunnyvale road route All Comments Received on the Draft Plan If you eliminate this route my homeless house cleaner cannot get to work at my home on Leonard Road in Saratoga. This would be very difficult for him and at least 3 other customers that that I know of on this route. Please reconsider. Subject: Need bus service to continue covering the Routes: 13; 63 Almaden Valley Thank you for hosting the public meeting on 2/16. Your team, especially the host, has done a wonderful job. None of the 3 options work for bus riders in the Almaden Valley. We really need Route 13 and Route 63 to serve us at least to the extent of what we have right now, and NOT LESS. Our seniors, and students need it. My 90 year old mom need it. My son used to take bus 330, 37, 63, 13 for West Valley College and he will need bus service to go to SJSU in Fall. We live around Harry. Since the VTA has cut the weekend service of route 13 while back, I can't go too far away for too long on weekends as I can't let my elderly mom wait too long outside to get a ride from me home. It really restricts my time on weekend. One weekdays, My work hours are irregular and I can't provide rides for her. Also, if you cut 63 short (end on Blossom Hill Rd) , the closest station my mom can get will be the Almaden light ride station. There is no shelter for her on hot sunny days and windy rainy days and there is no restroom she can use either. Remember, seniors need restroom access and can't deal with extreme weather very well. The present last stop of 63 has a strip mall that my mom can at least feel safe and has access to restrooms and stores or restaurant that she can rest while waiting for ride from me. The service of bus 13 needs much improvement. Occasionally it leaves earlier then scheduled. There were times when my mom arrives on the Chynoweth on light rail and because the bus driver left a few minutes early. That caused my mom missed the bus and had to wait for an hour. Restroom access is very inconvenient at Chynoweth Station. It is really important for the bus drivers not to leave early or even stay for a couple minutes more before leaving if the light rail is arriving around Bus 13's start time. It is very important because a couple minutes of the bus leaving early mean 1 hr+ waiting for the bus riders. Sometime, bus 13 moves on the route too fast and arrives too early and bus riders miss the ride they need to get on. Please tell all your drivers to be extra considerate as it is an hourly bus. This is one of the reason, the ridership is low. When my mom miss a bus because it comes too early, sometime I will need to drive her out but I am not always able to do that. Thanks again for listening. Our present bus service is at its minimum and we can't have any more cut. The residents in the Almaden Valley has been paying our share to fund the VTA through paying taxes. Routes: 65 Subject: Cancellation of #65 Leigh Avenue I first learned of this action from a brochure I found on the Lite Rail train, which I am forced to use because the #65 runs so few hours. It is no wonder that that route has little use when it does not run at the time it would be used! Removal of 65 and 81 connections at Hamilton and Leigh is unacceptable. Routes: 13; 63; 64; 65 Subject: Almaden Valley to Blossom Hill Almaden Valley needs more and different services, not less. Specifically, from Crown next to Safeway, to Blossom Hill and Almaden Expressway, either via a right turn from Meridian to Blossom Hill, or straight up the Expressway. Routes: 201 Subject: DASH 201 Please try to keep the DASH 201 bus. For such a small circular route, it provides critical support to SJSU students, workers, tourists, and access to Diridon TC. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail VTA The express routes either in the morning or evening just get in the way of regular route trains causing daily delays. The time savings is only a few minutes at best. This is also true of the Shark Shuttle. That is the consesus of nearly every light rail operator. The proposal to terminate the Winchester train at Old Ironsides will hold up the southbound track from Mt View as the train crosses over at Great America. The alternative of taking it offline to the storage track requires security to deboard sleepers and more time to go offline and then back online again. The switches are also problematic. Baypointe center track would be ideal as passengers could transfer to Mt. View or Alum Rock trains at one location by routing it to the center track and opening all the doors. [Name redacted] Routes: 13; 330 Subject: Bus 13, and Bus 330 WE NEED BUS 13 IN ALMADEN: 1. There are 40,000 Almaden Residents ‐ if you argument is that the bus is mostly empty, then USE A 8 PASSANGER VAN, BUT DON'T CANCEL THE SERVICE FOR OLD RETIRED PEOPLE AND STUDENTS Routes: 13 Subject: Elimination of Bus 13 This plan is absolutely absurd. You are leaving an entire area of Almaden Valley without service. Including several schools. This inconceivable and irresponsible and leaves many people without any alternate means of transportation. Reduce service, use smaller buses but please don't eliminate! Routes: 181 Subject: VTA I'm a student at sjsu. I commute from Hayward California and I rely on VTA 181 to get me to school. I do not drive yet so I rely on that bus stop to get me to school. Routes: 10 Subject: VTA #10 Bus I am a Host Volunteer at San Jose Airport. We refer many passengers to the #10 bus to get to Cal Train and Light Rail. Without this dedicated bus it will be difficult for passengers to use public transportation. Many passengers arrive at SJC and need to get to Cal Train quickly in order to get to SFO to catch connecting flights. Please keep a dedicated bus going to Cal Train and Light Rail, even if you have to charge for it. Incorporating this bus into other bus routes will cause major problems for our passengers. Thanks‐ [Name redacted] Subject: Keep southern terminus of Rt. 63 at Almaden & Routes: 63 Camden We live near that terminus, and are getting close to having to use VTA (to Kaiser San Jose weekly). We currently drive to Kaiser, but may not be able to in near future. Middle of Almaden Valley needs a connection to the grid. If you move Rt. 63 terminus to Blossom Hill and Meridian, is much too far for most Almaden residents to reach, as is the Almaden terminus of the light rail spur (near Coleman). So, PLEASE keep southern terminus of Rt. 63 at Almaden & Camden. Running every 30‐60 minutes might be ok, if that helps. Subject: Concern about planned discontinuation of BOTH Routes: 37; 48 37 and 48 in the draft plan I live in the San Tomas Aquino neighborhood of Campbell. (Specifically, near the junction of San Tomas Aquino Road and Westmont Avenue). This is reasonably dense suburbia (by Silicon Valley All Comments Received on the Draft Plan standards). Currently it is sparsely served by Routes 37 and 48. I am concerned that BOTH these routes are scheduled to be discontinued in the draft plan, and there is no replacement. I've reviewed an image of the isochrones for this area from your website. The roughly circular shape of the 30‐
minute contour shows that there will be essentially no bus service within walking distance after the planned changes. Both these routes serve as a vital connection to the Winchester Light Rail Station. I understand the need to consolidate low‐ridership and / or low‐frequency routes, but urge you to keep at least one of these services, possibly at an increased frequency. Routes: 13 Subject: Don't close the VTA13 bus line ! The bus 13 is the only bus that comes into Almaden. So many students, workers, people of all ages ride this bus. Many elderly. How will they be able to leave this side of town? The nearest bus from the end of almaden and Harry road is at least 2 miles away. I see them everyday waiting for the bus. That's the only way they get around and they probably feel a sense of independence from not having to ask for rides. I've been riding that bus since I was 13 years old. I'm 26 now. That bus line has saved me a lot of stress and money and time. Please don't shut it off. We need that line! It's our only way out of this side of town. Routes: 328 Subject: Almaden route 328 I realized that VTA is closing route 328 which is a only connectivity from almaden to lockheed sunnyvale business district. Instead of closing this, VTA should upgrade this to line of 122, 120 as a express service which will enable more people to ride the bus. If public transport is available and fast for business needs, people would take it instead driving in messy south bay traffic. Low ridership in 328 is mainly due to time it takes to go from camden to sunnyvale, that should not be a reason to stop the service, instead if VTA wants to improve ridershilp, it should make it express and you will see a difference in short time. I would like to go in public transport if better and faster option available. Routes: 37 Subject: Bus 37 There are not many buses that run,in campbell. I rely on bus 37 to get me to bus 70 so that i can get to work. Please dont cancel this bus. Thank you Routes: 523 Subject: Route 523 Hollenbeck/Homestead We might be interested in taking this bus to the Sunnyvale CalTrain station. However, I am wondering where we would park? It's too far/time consuming to walk from our home. Has any thought been put into how to accommodate parking? Thanks. Routes: 13; Light Rail Subject: feedback Eliminate the sacred cow‐‐move the Chynoweth/Almaden spur line to extend the Winchester line to Vasona. It is duplicaated by the Bus 13 line. Also make a Santa Teresa to Winchester in the same fashion you intend to interconnect Santa Winchester to Alum Rock line. Why not parity? Bring back the availability to purchase a day pass with cash The Clipper Senior cards don't work (I have tried several). Keep all your present routes with reasonable accomodations for employees with night or graveyard shifts. But in no case run token busses at least once an hour. Eliminate Bus Rapid Transit especially on El Camino Real. Social Justice already killed off commerce on Alum Rock. Stop the discrimination by de facto means, since these same individuals make up your ridership base. During the LRT enviornmantal studies an additional station was added to improve ridership by 50%. After funds were received, it was immediately cut. Look to the past studies to reinitiate this station for the fictionalized 50% gain in ridership. Cut no bus lines or you will be cutting your own throat. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 10; 60 Subject: San Jose Airport Service VTA recently ranked #1 in the "Best & Worst Airport‐to‐City Trains" study at http://travelskills.com/2017/02/07/best‐worst‐trains‐to‐planes/ Perhaps a select number of Route 500 Rapid trips could be extended from Diridon Station to San Jose Airport via SR‐87. This would also solve the problem with Caltrain Baby Bullet trains which can't connect to Route 10 at the Santa Clara Station. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Proposed route changes I have used VTA for 30 plus years. the reason ridership is down on the 48 and 49 routes is because since you started running the community buses in Los Gatos, you have gradually decreased service throughout the last 10 years. You had more riders before you cut service on weekends from 30 minutes to 1 hour, and stopped running the buses earlier on weekends and during the week. Your decision to eliminate the 48 and 49 routes into downtown Los Gatos shows a total disregard for the customers who will be impacted the most. there are senior citizens and disabled people who rely on VTA as their only source of transportation getting to and leaving downtown Los Gatos. A lot of high school students rely on the 48 and 49 to get to school and to get home from school. Another example of how your cutbacks in service over the years has impacted people is when you made the decision to stop running the first 48 trip northbound at 5:59 A.M. from downtown Los Gatos several years ago, it forced one of your customers, who is a 66 year old woman, to have to walk from her apartment in Los Gatos to the Winchester Transit Center so she can get to work on time. It takes her 1 and a half hours to get to the transit center. Please realize when you make these decisions, that not everybody has other alternatives for transportation. Not everybody can afford UBER. If you don't want to run the buses all the way through Santa Cruz and Main, maybe you should consider having the buses run through University in both directions Los Gatos‐Saratoga Rd. I hope you give this decision some serious consideration. Routes: 14; 17; 18; 19 Subject: Proposed Gilroy Changes As a long‐term resident in Gilroy, I do not support the reduction of Gilroy's bus services and establishing one new loop route. My proposal is to redesign the existing four routes into four new routes as follows: Route "A" traverses school district north Gilroy area (north of and including 1st St), swings by Christopher High School and swings by transit hub, 2) Route "B" traverses school district south Gilroy area (south of and including 1st St), swings by Gilroy High School and swings by transit hub, 3) Route "C" traverses the three major employment areas along Monterey St, 1st St, Camino Arroyo, Arroyo Cir, San Ysideo Ave including stops at St Louise Hospital and Kaiser Permanente and swings by the transit hub, and Route "D" traverses the perimeter of the Gilroy area along Santa Teresa Blvd, Day Rd, Monterey Rd and Luchessa/Thomas Rd and swings by Gavilan College. Email me a map and I will redline it with the proposed route alignments. Thank you for your considerations. [Name redacted] Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Cost of VTA When I first moved to SJ, I thought I would take VTA to go shopping. I have a car, but prefer not to drive when I can avoid it. Well, for myself and my daughter to do that, the cost was a ridiculous $11 (as I recall‐‐it's been 6 years but I believe that was the cost of 2 day passes, which were still cheaper than the cost of 4 individual payments for the 4 bus trips needed to get there and back (a less than 5 mile round trip, but one that required a transfer). I couldn't believe it, coming as I was from SF, where one fare gets you 2 hours of rides in any direction and where children's fares are significantly cheaper. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan After that we stuck with the car, even though we live near some major bus lines and light rail and would have loved to have been able to use them a few times a week. It also didn't make sense for us to buy monthly passes for this type of casual use‐‐again, too expensive. Frankly, I think bus and rail should be heavily subsidized with taxpayer dollars. It lightens traffic, means less wear and tear on the roads and fewer roads needing to be expanded or constructed, and leaves the air cleaner for all of us. Instead, it's expensive and at times cumbersome to use. (and then there are those horrible ads covering the buses, which make it difficult for passengers see out of the windows, especially in wet weather.) Routes: 53 Subject: Rt. 53 Sunnyvale I am very please to see that I will be able to take route 53 to Kaiser hospital in the future if the the new routes are adopted.[Name redacted] Routes: 53 Subject: route 53 our kids' nanny uses route 53 to get to El Camino from Sunnyvale‐Saratoga Avenue (Pierce Rd intersection in Saratoga). I have also used it to get to the Sunnyvale Caltrain station. Discontinuing this service without any other alternatives to commute to and from Saratoga will be a great hardship to us. Please ensure residents of Saratoga have a public transit option. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network changes VTA has too much time built into its timetables. We always end up waiting minutes at timepoints. Over a long route like the 22 and 23, you might actually be able to save a bus by tightening up the schedule. This bus could be used to save service on some of the routes you are proposing to discontinue. Also, Santa Clara County voters approved Measure B for more transportation options, not less. They want to see service preserved, not eliminated. Route 13 ? Please do not discontinue this route. I live at the southern end of the route and it would be 6 miles, or 2 hours, to walk to the remaining VTA service. As my neighbors testified in the February 16 public meeting, this route is vital to the Almaden Valley. The current service is minimal; reducing it to a school only service or eliminating entirely is not acceptable. As others have mentioned, if you want to boost ridership, you should (1) route the bus to the shopping center at Almaden & Blossom Hill, instead of looping into the Almaden Light Rail Station, (2) time the bus to coincide with the light rail and 64 bus arrivals, and (3) add one more trip at 8 pm so people can get home. Routes 26/57/82 ? While Route 26 is long, breaking it up in Saratoga is not a good solution. West Valley College has very little transit demand outside of students and is quiet during many times. Riders on Route 26 don?t have any reason to go there; you will see a huge dropoff in ridership if you force people to transfer at Westgate. You should keep Route 26. Route 82 is also a major east‐west corridor. If you need to save resources, perhaps terminate the eastern end of Route 82 at the Tamien Light Rail station. Route 57 can split south of Westgate (half of trips via Saratoga, half via Quito and Allendale). A 30‐minute service on each of these branches would provide reasonable service. Route 27 ? The bus should serve Main and Santa Cruz in Downtown Los Gatos, rather than taking Highway 9. For only a couple of minutes more, you could serve destinations like Los Gatos High School and downtown shopping, rather than bypassing them and losing ridership. Route 37 ? Please preserve Route 37. Otherwise, there is a 3+ mile east/west gap (separated by a freeway) between routes 26 and 27. Route 53 ? As the Saratoga City Council told VTA representatives, preserving service to Saratoga Village is a core value. This is a walkable downtown with parking issues. With the aging population, it is imperative that you provide some lifeline bus service there. An extension of Route 55 would preserve a valuable (and more direct) connection to Caltrain. Route 55/523 ‐ Can one of these routes operate on Saratoga/Sunnyvale Rd All Comments Received on the Draft Plan and the other on Hollenbeck? Even though they are only 1/2 mile apart, they are not interchangeable. Consider a person living near Mary that would ordinarily take route 53. But when route 53 isn't running (during the evenings or on Sundays), it is a very long walk to Saratoga‐Sunnyvale Rd to catch the 55/523. How much time is the 523 going to save over the 55 between Cupertino and Downtown Sunnyvale? If it's only a couple of minutes, it's better to have a regular route with more frequent stops running so that people can actually walk to transit. Route 63 ? Please continue this route into the Almaden Valley. Otherwise, people will literally be stranded in their homes because there are no other public transportation options. Route 65 ? As numerous riders have testified, eliminating Route 65 would create a huge gap where the grid widens south of Curtner. It would ideal to keep it its current form between Downtown San Jose and Princeton Plaza. Route 523 ? Is that route really necessary between Downtown San Jose and Berryessa BART? You already have Route 500, which will operate very frequently, as well as routes 22, 23 and 522 on Santa Clara Street. Those buses are already extremely frequent, and they are not busy enough to warrant yet more service. The resources saved could be used to preserve lifeline bus service in other parts of the county. Light Rail ? Does the Blue Line have to continue all the way to Alum Rock? No one is traveling from Alum Rock to Downtown San Jose via that indirect route. Perhaps the Blue Line can terminate at Milpitas/Great Mall or even Baypointe. The resources you save could be used to retain service on routes 45 and 46, so that people can actually get to light rail. It does no good to have trains coming every 7.5 minutes if it takes you an hour to walk to the station. Routes: 81 Subject: Bus 81 route Please do not cancel bus 81 service. This is a really valuable line for traveling downtown, especially to SJSU students. My kids ride this line all the time and they wouldn't ride 51 at all if you replaced 81 with 51. Please keep 81! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Next Network changes General ? VTA has way too much time built into its timetables. We always end up waiting minutes at timepoints. Over a long route like the 22 and 23, you might actually be able to save a bus by tightening up the schedule. This bus could be used to save service on some of the routes you are proposing to discontinue. Also, Santa Clara County voters approved Measure B for more transportation options, not less. They want to see service preserved, not eliminated. Route 13 ? Please do not discontinue this route. I live at the southern end of the route and it would be 6 miles, or 2 hours, to walk to the remaining VTA service. As my neighbors testified in the February 16 public meeting, this route is vital to the Almaden Valley. The current service is minimal; reducing it to a school only service or eliminating entirely is not acceptable. As others have mentioned, if you want to boost ridership, you should (1) route the bus to the shopping center at Almaden & Blossom Hill, instead of looping into the Almaden Light Rail Station, (2) time the bus to coincide with the light rail and 64 bus arrivals, and (3) add one more trip at 8 pm so people can get home. Routes 26/57/82 ? While Route 26 is long, breaking it up in Saratoga is not a good solution. West Valley College has very little transit demand outside of students and is quiet during many times. Riders on Route 26 don?t have any reason to go there; you will see a huge dropoff in ridership if you force people to transfer at Westgate. You should keep Route 26. Route 82 is also a major east‐west corridor. If you need to save resources, perhaps terminate the eastern end of Route 82 at the Tamien Light Rail station. Route 57 can split south of Westgate (half of trips via Saratoga, half via Quito and Allendale). A 30‐minute service on each of these branches would provide reasonable service. Route 27 ? The bus should serve Main and Santa Cruz in Downtown Los Gatos, rather than taking Highway 9. For only a couple of minutes more, you could serve destinations like Los Gatos High School and downtown shopping, All Comments Received on the Draft Plan rather than bypassing them and losing ridership. Route 37 ? Please preserve Route 37. Otherwise, there is a 3+ mile east/west gap (separated by a freeway) between routes 26 and 27. Route 53 ? As the Saratoga City Council told VTA representatives, preserving service to Saratoga Village is a core value. This is a walkable downtown with parking issues. With the aging population, it is imperative that you provide some lifeline bus service there. An extension of Route 55 would preserve a valuable (and more direct) connection to Caltrain. Route 55/523 ‐ Can one of these routes operate on Saratoga/Sunnyvale Rd and the other on Hollenbeck? Even though they are only 1/2 mile apart, they are not interchangeable. Consider a person living near Mary that would ordinarily take route 53. But when route 53 isn't running (during the evenings or on Sundays), it is a very long walk to Saratoga‐
Sunnyvale Rd to catch the 55/523. How much time is the 523 going to save over the 55 between Cupertino and Downtown Sunnyvale? If it's only a couple of minutes, it's better to have a regular route with more frequent stops running so that people can actually walk to transit. Route 63 ? Please continue this route into the Almaden Valley. Otherwise, people will literally be stranded in their homes because there are no other public transportation options. Route 65 ? As numerous riders have testified, eliminating Route 65 would create a huge gap where the grid widens south of Curtner. It would ideal to keep it its current form between Downtown San Jose and Princeton Plaza. Route 523 ? Is that route really necessary between Downtown San Jose and Berryessa BART? You already have Route 500, which will operate very frequently, as well as routes 22, 23 and 522 on Santa Clara Street. Those buses are already extremely frequent, and they are not busy enough to warrant yet more service. The resources saved could be used to preserve lifeline bus service in other parts of the county. Light Rail ? Does the Blue Line have to continue all the way to Alum Rock? No one is traveling from Alum Rock to Downtown San Jose via that indirect route. Perhaps the Blue Line can terminate at Milpitas/Great Mall or even Baypointe. The resources you save could be used to retain service on routes 45 and 46, so that people can actually get to light rail. It does no good to have trains coming every 7.5 minutes if it takes you an hour to walk to the station. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Almaden Valley service I live near the intersection of the 330/328 and 63 routes. I've been relying on those buses for the past 12 years to get to work (Mountain View, Sunnyvale). To hear that we will lose these routes is disheartening. I realize that most of my neighbors do not make much use of it, and that it is expensive to provide, but to take away access to this part of the valley discourages its use even more! There are young adults and seniors who have lived here for years that may not be able to drive who will be cut off from groceries, and medical appointments. In addition, this puts more commuter cars back on the road, as there is no good alternative (light rail is slow, and the parking lots fill up fast). From this valley, pretty much everybody is going up either the congested 85, the congested 87, or the congested 17. I have looked at the new proposal, and the nearest stop would be 1.5 miles away, (which would add 30 minutes), I'd have to catch the 63 (instead of the 328/330), and since the east‐
west service I'd need does not exist, I'd have to go west on light rail or El Camino or Stevens Creek, and transfer a 2nd time. 30 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 minutes, assuming perfect 0‐minute connections. Light rail would be a 15 minute drive to an already full parking lot, a 60 minute 1‐transfer ride, plus another 20 minute bus ride, again assuming perfect 0‐minute connections. (I've done transfers here, from the 330 and light rail, and typically it has "just" missed it and turns into a 20‐25 minute wait). This is going to drive me into my car, or force me to move.... Routes: 330 Subject: Not to discontinue 330 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I take VTA 330 2‐4 times weekly to work. If it is discontinued, it will take me much longer to work by driving alone. When I take the first bus in the morning, it is usually crowded. If cost is too high, please consider to reduce the frequency, not to completely eliminate it. Routes: 40; 52 Subject: Another idea about 40/52 Transit in Mountain View is segmented because there are two transit centers, San Antonio and Downtown Mountain View, that seem to compete with each other. Neither now nor in the new plan are the two TCs connected via a frequent route. In a different message, I suggested one way to fix the problem, which was extending the 20 to mirror the 21 up California. However, I thought of another possible way to do it by manipulating the 40 and 52 instead. Suppose you replaced the 40 and 52 with two new routes, the "X" and the "Y". Route X starts at Foothill College, follows the current route 40 through Los Altos to San Antonio TC, and then mirrors the new 21 (current 35) down California to Mountain View TC. Route Y starts at San Antonio TC and follows the draft 40 up Rengstorff, through North Bayshore, and down Shoreline to its terminus at Mountain View TC. If the Y and the 21 are timed to a 15‐minute interval, this would provide the frequent connection between San Antonio TC and Mountain View TC. The biggest downside of this option is that it would remove the segment down El Monte; I don't have data to know how many people board in that segment. However, it would keep the direct connection between Foothill and downtown Mountain View, albeit a few minutes longer. The other downside is that it would disconnect Los Altos from North Bayshore, though this could possibly be remedied with a timed transfer between the X and the Y. I don't know how many people currently make that connection. This option could also enable an additional frequent connection between the 22/522 and downtown: simply extend the X and the Y (or the 20 and the Y) from Mountain View TC to El Camino and Castro. Routes: 39; 93 Subject: 39/93 Residents living in the far eastern portion of East San Jose must walk a mile or more to White Rd. to catch a bus. Numerous requests have been made to SJ City Councilmembers and Count Supervisors to extend this line only to hear the claim that it would not produce sufficient ridership. Residents disagree. Routes: 500 Subject: Rapid 500 It's good to go from Diridon to Berryessa BART, but travel to SJSU via San Fernando to better access University and other down town center locations, then north to Santa Clara St. on 6th or 10th. Subject: Retain Public Bus Transportation to Almaden Routes: 13; 63; 65 Valley I recommend continuation of existing bus service to Almaden Valley to people with less economic means who depend on bus service, seniors, people who may have physical challenges and students. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bus Hello. Can there be a bus that goes directly down Ocala Avenue towards white road? It will benefit students and community. Routes: 13; 65 Subject: Routes 13, 65 Gentleman is an officer in the Almaden Valley Neighborhood Association. He has developed a series of slides he wants included in the South San Jose Public Meeting Presentation. I assume that the Next All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Network information meetings are part of your domain. I would like very much to present the attached five slides after the VTA presentation at Southside Community Center on Thursday evening, February 16. The Almaden Valley Community Association is concerned that eliminating all public transit is a drastic and unnecessary measure. This small packet would take about five minutes. Thank you very much, [Name redacted], Board Member Almaden Valley Community Association Routes: 12; 201 Subject: Dash Michael is a stransit coordinator for Adobe and called wanting an update. I emailed him, providing my phone number and we spoke. He was okay wioth the situation after we talked Routes: 65 Subject: next network keep the 65 line. I think the 65 should start at Valley Fair and go down Forest to NAGLEE TO PARK TO MERIDAN TO SAN CARLOS TO BIRD TO SAN JOSE TRANSIT CENTER TO SAN FERNANDO TO SAN JOSE STATE U TO 17TH TO SAN ANTONIO TO CAPITOL TO THE ALUM ROCK TRANSIT TC GOING SOUTH BOUND DIRECTION REVERSE FROM SAN JOSE T.C BIRD TO SAN CARLOS TO LINCOLN TO PARKMOOR TO LIEGH TO CAMDEN TO ALMADEN. WEEKDAYS ONLY Routes: 23; 25; 323; 45; 61; 62; 64 Subject: 45, 64, 62, 61 , 23, 323, 25 I do not want you to take a way the 45 or 64 62 61 or the 23 and 323 25 Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I'm writing in regards to removal of BUS #65. I actively use this bus and would like to vote AGAINST removal of #65. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail My perspective on the VTA light rail system is it needs to Go to the airport and does NOT need to any further south on the Winchester line. [Name redacted] Campbell Routes: 22; 522; 88; 89 Subject: 22, 522, 89, 88 My name is [Name redacted]. I am a reporter covering a story on the VTA bus route changes in the Palo Alto area. This story is one that may be published in the Peninsula Press or with KQED news. I would like to schedule a time for an interview with Linh Hoang, the VTA spokeswoman soon. Would sometime Friday or Saturday work? Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 13, 63 The high tech companies have express buses from transit centers to campuses. I have many coworkers that find that if they could get on those buses‐ it would shorten their commute, reduce congestion on Freeways. They drive everyday because there are not any alternatives as they reside in Los Gatos (not enough parking at LRT stations), East Side ( (early start times 6:00 am) or in Blossom Valley. Consider partnering with the companies or replicate their express commute routes. For example, as a transit commuter from Blossom Valley, it is faster for me to drive to the Tamien Station board Caltrain to Mountain View and take LRT back to my Whisman stop. I agree that bus service to Almaden be retained. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: 48, 49 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please ensure that VTA continues to provide transportation for residents of Los Gatos. Services such as VTA help reduce road traffic congestion and pollution and provide essential transport for many people including students, seniors and working people. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I recently found out about the proposed plans to discontinue the express bus 181. This is very unfortunate to hear as I take this route to get to SJSU everyday. Not only will this effect me, but many other students and employees of the university as well. Taking the 181 is the most convenient form of transportation for myself and many others who use it. If discontinued, this would mean figuring out another way of making the trip to and from school. Not all students have the resources to another reliable source of transportation. This would also increase the need for driving which would add to the already heavy traffic in the mornings and evenings and make it even tougher to find parking. Parking at SJSU is already high in demand and short in supply and the discontinuation of 181 would only progress this issue further. I highly encourage you to reconsider this plan as it would impact numerous people who rely on the 181 for their everyday commute, and hope for you not to change it. Thank you! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Paratransit LIVING IN A SENIOR COMMUNITY, MANY DO NOT DRIVE CARS. IT IS INCONVENIENT TO HAVE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN THE VILLAGES, WHICH INVOLVES TRANSPORTATION, TO GET INTO A VEHICLE SUPPLIED BY OUTREACH. PICKING YOU UP AT YOUR RESIDENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES MORE THE COST THEN HAVING TO GO TO A SPECIFIED AREA IN THE VILLAGES. WHILE I ENJOYED THE SERVICE, I HAVE HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AT TIMES IN THE COLD TO GET THE RIDE. I AM UNWILLING TO PAY 3X MORE IF THEY PICKED ME UP AT MY RESIDENCE. SENIORS SHOULD HAVE EXEMPTIONS TO PAY EXTRA. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: 87 Could you please tell me the next Public meeting is scheduled? I like to express my concern on the announcemnt that you may discontinue Bus #87? How will I get to work and home? I take Caltrain and use bus 87 to HillView in Palo Alto. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Please do not discontinue the 181 express from the Fremont Bart to San Jose Diridon Station. I am a San Jose State University Student, and I use this bus line at least 10 times a week. The 181 express is my main mode of transportation to get to school, and it's very cost efficient for me as well as other SJSU students. I understand the reason behind possibly discontinuing this line, because the Bart will come to San Jose by fall 2017. However, I believe that SJSU students will still continue to ride the 181 express, because we receive clipper cards from our university which allows us to ride on any VTA bus. I doubt that our administration will allow us to use our clipper cards on the Bart, so taking the 181 express would be the best option for students commuting from Fremont. VTA could also reduce the availability of the 181 express instead of completely getting rid of it. VTA could increase the time between buses, or have buses run in only in the mornings and in the evenings instead of the whole day. Also, it would be a good idea for VTA to possibly survey SJSU students to see what times most of them will go. Again, please do not discontinue the 181 express. Thank you. Routes: 323; 68 Subject: 68, 323 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am a frequent commuter and have found a few things confusing to proposed changes. I am currently using route 68 and 323. I am aware the 323 will be replaced to 523. As for the 68 I am confused on the time changes, Will it be every 30 minutes a certain time or 25 minutes? I find it easier with commuting, for it allows me to relax and avoid traffic. I hope these changes won?t be too bad because it may come to a point to drive to school. If I could get a better explanation about the routes, that would be great! Thank you Routes: 55 Subject: 55 I am writing to you today because I ride the 55 bus from Cupertino to Sunnyvale to get to school. I catch the 55 bus on De Anza Blvd at Pacifica. In January 2017, I attended the community outreach meeting at Quinlan Center in Cupertino where I saw an updated map that removed my favorite De Anza at Pacifica stop for the 55 bus. Please keep the Northbound route for the 55 bus as it is today. Please keep my favorite bus stop at De Anza and Pacifica as part of the Fall 2017 transit redesign. Also, when I am not at school, I often ride the 23 bus. Would be so helpful if I could catch bus 23 on De Anza and Pacifica. Would it be possible to have the Eastbound 23 bus travel from Stelling to McClellan to De Anza Blvd and be sure to include stops on McClellan and De Anza Blvd/Pacifica and De Anza Blvd/Rodrigues ? Thank you! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Measure B Next Network ‐ add ‐ don't take away Note that Title VI communities are bearing the brunt of the Next Network cuts ‐ not just with the coverage service they are losing in Communities of Concern but also due to coverage loss impacting their educational and employment opportunities. When the FTA finds out about this ‐ it will put the $20M funding they provide to VTA at risk. Here are some stats that have bearing: AC Go ‐ 14% increase in bus service over 2 years started last year in June at a cost of $25M as stated on their website The good news was that the most recent VTA budget is now restoring service levels lost since BART was approved and by the end of 2017 we were on track to get back to where we were in 2000. With the Next Network bus eliminations, bus riders are going to be mad at VTA ‐ especially given that VTA just got a 3rd 1/2 cent tax from the voters which is supposed to increase bus service. Santa Clara County pays three 1/2 cent sales taxes to support bus service ‐ the most of any county in the Bay Area. The Superbowl sparked an emergency build of $20M Pocket Tracks using BART money out of Measure A ‐ the startup of BART service in Santa Clara County should be an even more significant event. Please don't gut our bus service coverage but make sure that what is added to serve BART here is an adder to what we have because Bus service was on the mend. Concentrate instead of making transit affordable (especially for youth and College Students) and better serve our education and employment destinations. Remember that if we can get our youth onto buses then it will contribute to lifelong transit affinity and improve traffic conditions overall. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: 37, 48 I urge VTA to keep Bus Route 37 as it currently is. In addition, I request that Bus Route 48 continue with its current loop around Knowles & Pollard (serving El Camino Hospital/Los Gatos), Burrows, and Hacienda. These two bus lines are the only transit service in this area. My address is on Gwen Drive (Campbell), and I currently walk to the Burrows/Hacienda bus stop (0.7 mile) to take EITHER Route 37 or 48 to & from the Winchester light rail station. I then take light rail to downtown San Jose to & from my work at San Jose State University. If Route 37 is eliminated, coupled with Route 48 running on Winchester Blvd. without the loop, I will have no bus connection at all to get to light rail. There is no Plan B for that scenario. While these bus routes may have lower ridership numbers when viewed throughout the day, I can attest that there always several people on the bus during the morning and All Comments Received on the Draft Plan evening commute times. I offer that maintaining transit options in an area that is otherwise not served at all should weigh heavily against just numbers of riders. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: General comment VTA is a joke at the best. So much of our tax money goes into the system it has been my experience that the bus and train run without riders every time I see a bus. The goal is mass transit of people not moving the buses from point A to point B, wasting taxes on material and labor. And yes congesting the traffic in process. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Free fares for 30 days I have two suggestions to add to the Next Network community outreach: 1. Since Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail are targeted to similar customer bases, the BRT and LR network maps should be overlaid. Displaying both networks together can be done in a way that would not be confusing and would be helpful to the consumer. 2. When the Next Network system is inaugurated, have the entire system offer free fares for the first 30 days. This should entice potential riders who may be ?on the fence? about using transit to try it. The goal would be to keep these new riders as fare paying customers after the introductory period. Routes: 70; 73 Subject: 70, 73 I am trying to understand your proposed changes for routes near Capitol and Snell. Route 73 not only appears to be extended south to Monterey and Branham but also no longer going over to Capitol and Snell, which is my stop. Additionally, my alternate route, Route 70, is no longer going to go from Capitol and Snell to Capitol Light Rail. Will this leave me with only Route 72 as a viable option to get to SJSU? This route change has the potential to affect a lot of people, including the residents at The Woods. Thank you for reading. Routes: 21; 216; 330; 53; 57; 81 Subject: 21, 57, 330, 53, 81 22, First and foremost, I think the overall direction of changes for the Next Network is good. I do hope that all coverage cuts will be carefully scrutinized, and that Measure B funds and additional revenue from additional ridership will be used to restore coverage and to add frequency to lower‐frequency routes. I hope that buses which will run "every 30 minutes" will do just that. That is, it will reach my stop at say :21 and :51 and not :21 and :57 or a different number of minutes past the next hour. It will make it far easier to know schedules by memory. How changes affect my own commute I live near Homestead and Scott. I work off Great America Parkway, a mile north of Tasman. I mostly ride bus 330 to get to and from work, on days when it rains. On days when it is dry, I ride my bicycle, because it takes about half as much time as the bus trip, and because I can come and go as I please. I see various other bicyclists on 330 on days when it rains. Although 330 is being cancelled due to low ridership, I wonder how low is low. On earlier buses, both north‐ and south‐bound, I often see 20 riders. To look at either San Tomas or Lawrence, there is clearly no shortage of people moving along these corridors. Our culture just doesn't want to get out of its cars. Comments on other route changes I look forward to having the new 53 bus. I hope it will bring stops closer to both of the Santa Clara library branches it passes, as well as the Kaiser hospital, among other places. I rode the 81 bus exactly once, rather than taking 22 to downtown San Jose. I would have ridden it more often had it been available a little later into the evening. Even 9:30pm would have made it more useful. On occasions when my work keeps me late, and sometimes if I am attending a Santa Clara council meeting, I ride bus 60 home from Old Ironsides. While I support the 10‐to‐Bart connection in the new 60 line, it does mean I have fewer options for getting home from work. I can take 57 home, too, but it adds to my All Comments Received on the Draft Plan walk at the home end of my trip, which is already over the half‐mile threshold. Measuring the right things Riders boarding per hour is not the only metric. Reduction in vehicle miles traveled counts, too. I also wonder, for low‐ridership buses, how much a "coverage" route becomes a self‐fulfilling prophecy. That is, fewer people ride when fewer buses are available. In the case of 330, I wonder how many of the hundreds of thousands of drivers on San Tomas even know the bus exists. Regarding fares The VTA board heard from students who rely on VTA to get to and from public schools. Many come from low‐income households. I hope the board will give high priority to creating an affordable student or youth pass. I haven't seen it this year, but a year or so ago, I started a surprising number of bus rides by being waved past a non‐working Clipper device in the front of the bus. It seems to me that one way to improve fare‐box recovery would simply be to ensure that the fare box works reliably. What is a large employer, as far as eco‐passes are concerned? Is anything being done to reach out to more of the medium‐sized employers? Do we know how widely the new transit benefits are being used, and whether they are resulting in increased ridership? I'd like to see Clipper vending machines which dispense Clipper cards. They should accept at least moderate amounts of cash. They should not assume everyone has a smartphone which works in this country. Transit benefits are now available in our area. Do we have any data on how many are using them, or on how they may have changed ridership? Is there any outreach to medium‐sized companies which may not be participating in Eco‐Pass? WageWorks provides transit benefits where I work. The website has among the worst user interfaces I have ever seen. I can pay a surcharge to load fare directly onto my Clipper card, or I can get a prepaid credit card with the value, and haul it to a light rail ticket machine. It also takes forever between requesting the funds and delivering them (up to a month and a half, depending on timing). Thank you very much to anyone who has read this far. Best Routes: General Project Comment Subject: spinal cord injury I write to comment on proposed changes with VTA routes and to ask questions as to how these changes might have impacts on me and on others similarly situated. I am a 72 year‐old retired YMCA director. I have been using paratransit (formerly Outreach) since 2002 when I incurred a spinal cord injury; I use a manual wheelchair and use VTA approximately ten trips per week for medical appointments, for strength training at the YMCA, for connecting at Caltrain enabling me and my family to travel to social and recreational activities on the Peninsula from San Jose to San Francisco, for continuing studies classes at Stanford and to perform volunteer work at various locations. Before retiring I relied on paratransit to go to work each day or to attend meetings at a variety of locations. I hope this summary conveys the importance of VTA paratransit service to maintaining a productive and healthful life. Having read the VTA proposed changes, I have several questions: I understand that current paratransit users will be able to continue to use these services. What changes, if any, will be made to destinations, or times of service? Will changes to bus schedules have any effects on paratransit/access operations? I am happy to pay the fees being charged for paratransit trips. My Palo Alto neighbors and I pay substantial taxes to support the many VTA projects. Being ?at the end of the line,? I realize that there may not be as many and varied transit services in my neighborhood as those who live where there is a grid of bus lines, light rail and soon BART in places like San Jose. But if the VTA planners attempt to curtail services, using the same number of boardings in Palo Alto as in San Jose, they already know what the result would be: a downward spiral of transit use where services are reduced. It seems like when communities go the extra mile to provide more to get around such as Stanford?s Marguerite or Palo Alto?s shuttle, there ought to be a way to give credit so these creative methods show the importance of these alternative modes. Finally I have a question on an item that doesn?t seem to be in such a large plan. Last week a driver mentioned to me that a manager told the driver that he had ordered 30 ‐THIRTY‐ of the Cutaway busses. If anyone had asked me about such a large acquisition, my reply would have been the following: 1. Is VTA getting into the business of All Comments Received on the Draft Plan hauling five or more people traveling together to a common destination? 2. How much of the purchase price is coming from VTA?s own funds. Would the transaction look different if 50% or more had to come from VTA funds? 3. Most wheelchair users are placed in the rear part of the vehicle, resulting in a rough, noisy ride. 4. I have been in dozens of rides in these ?Cutaways;? Usually I am the only passenger; it takes longer to raise and lower the ramp so both driver and passenger experience a longer trip and presumably fuel costs are more. 5. It does require some effort by the driver to get passengers up the ramp in vehicles with manual ramps. Have there been incidents with drivers using manual ramps? If it?s not too late to give this acquisition the review it needs, I strongly urge a thorough review with input from both drivers and passengers. Thank you for your consideration of issues that could lead to better transportation for persons with disabilities. Routes: 88; 89 Subject: 88, 89 Subject: Please consider the impacts of those served through the Y program and services when evaluating bus and shuttle routes VTA and City of Palo Alto, For more than one hundred years, the Palo Alto Family YMCA has been serving our community to address the needs of youth, seniors, low income families and those with different abilities. Within the last year, the Y has served over 12,000 individuals and partnered with organization like Avenidas and Abilities United. Without effective public transportation, individuals will not be able to receive the services they need to live a healthier and more engaged life in Palo Alto. When the Palo Alto Family YMCA established it current use permit in the later 1990?s, the Y required to establish an alternative transportation program. Still today the Y?s alternative transportation program incentivizes individual to use public transportation, carpools, walking, and riding bikes to the Y. This program has been a success and will continue to reduce traffic within Palo Alto if we can continue to focus on public transportation and safe biking routes. As you evaluate the transportation services within Palo Alto, we hope that you consider the impacts of those served through the Y program and services. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: Almaden Transit Service My concern is for Almaden ‐ for seniors, for paratransit, for ability to get to light rail w/o driving. Routes: 32; 35 Subject: 32, 35 I am a senior living at Moldaw Residences on the corner of Charleston and San Antonio in Palo Alto. I am very concerned that proposed cuts in major bus lines, i.e., #32 and #35, will have a negative impact on my fellow residents. Many of us don't drive, so there is a high level of dependence on the public bus system. Not only is it critical to maintain current service levels and routes, it is important that bus stops be very close to Moldaw. Walking is a problem, and using walkers has its own set of mobility challenges. Thank you for considering my input as you deliberate these issues. Routes: 27; 53 Subject: 53, 27 Recently, I listened to your Representative in the Saratoga Senior Center, presenting the preparations for accommodating the new Bart stations in the Santa Clara County. This involves the elimination of Route 53, which is the route which many Seniors in Saratoga and nearby areas like to use for commuting. Of course the reason is traffic density. One easy way to cut down expenses is to cut down non‐profit routes. Another way could be to make the VTA organisation more efficient by reducing operating expenses. I am offering some suggestions here: 1. During the economic recession, private companies were allowed to do the following to make them more profitable for shareholders: a. Reduce the number of employees b. Employee pensions were replaced by 401K c. Employee retirement Medical Benefits were taken out. Of course, these were done not only to face the reality All Comments Received on the Draft Plan of the situation but also to benefit the shareholders. In the case of VTA, the taxpayers are the shareholders and we are to bear the reduction of services paying the same taxes. The VTA should consider adopting some of the above ways, at least for new employees and reduce their burden and expand services. 2. VTA is probably thinking on the lines of main routes which have high frequency buses. We may also consider picking up passengers from remote areas and bringing them to the main ROUTE BUS STOPS at less frequency. These may be called Feeder routes. Hence many have to use the feeder and one or two main routes to reach the destinations As the waiting time is less for transfers, the passengers may not feel the increase in time. 3. The feeder routes need not use be buses. Instead, they could utilize small buses or vans , depending upon the route. 4. Also, the feeder routes can be operated by private contractors or part time drivers to reduce the cost. 5. Also, some feeder routes could be serviced in cooperation with Uber or Lyft etc. 6. If a basic structure is established, even the Access or Paratransit services could be trimmed for availability only for disabled Seniors and the extra vehicles could be diverted to feeder routes. VTA should consider cost effective ways of improving the public transport with a view of making it popular alternative for all citizens in addition to making it economic transport for underprivileged. Again I would like to stress the need for Route 53 and for increasing the service as well. Already, there used to be a service 27 and this was discontinued a few years back. Alternatively, VTA can consider extending the route 26 from West Valley to De Anza College or Bollinger etc. which may serve us better. Thanks. Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light Rail I would like to contact a board member or the CAC to recommend making light rail service improvement a higher priority. I would like action to be taken ASAP. The background for this request has to do with the light rail efficiency project started a few years ago and has thus far yielded only drafts and stories of still in the planning stage. So many years of planning and no urgency to get something implemented. This is just my view from the outside but I'm sure many people who don't follow VTA closely will have this opinion already of light rail service. The progress made in that time has to do with changing the service lines but nothing about speeding it up which was the priority when the efficiency project started. I see a lot of potential wasted in the light rail service. I hope something can be done sooner rather then later. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Bus Route 13 and 63 Almaden Option B is better than other 2 options [shown by A. Burger at public meeting at Southside Community Center that same night]. But we need off peak rides and ride from Williams to Bret Harte. Can you combine #13 and #63 into one route and run every hour? Routes: 22; 35; 522; 88; 89 Subject: 88, 89, 35, 22, 522 Before commenting on the 88 (and 89) I would like to thank VTA for several things. First, I greatly appreciate the plan to preserve the 35. Second, I appreciate VTA's awareness of a lack of equity resulting from well‐placed employees getting ECO passes and Caltrain passes and thereby having free transport for years if not decades, while those who aren't working have to pay, and pay more when fare increases are instituted. You have also expressed awareness of the fact that the existence of company shuttles, whether they are restricted to employees or open to the public as the Stanford Marguerite is, may depress your ridership, thus becoming another way that employee perks have turned out to undermine the position of public transit and its riders. Thank you for your acknowledgement of these issues. Now, as for the 88/89, we are aware that once there were many more opportunities in Palo Alto for VTA riders. Many of us remember the 86, remember when the 35 went in to the Stanford Oval, when the 22 went to Menlo Park, when the 88 started at Palo Alto All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Caltrain and meandered up to California Avenue Caltrain, then back to the VA, then along Arastradero, and then along its current route (I think) into Midtown Palo Alto, where once upon a time there was considerable light industry. That old 88 took quite a while and gradually became chiefly attractive to school children and veterans, and possibly because of that narrow focus, the route was divided into 88 and 89. It should be noted that for many of the years before the route was divided, Stanford provided a VA shuttle that, unlike the current one that goes around the back of the campus, went along El Camino after leaving Stanford, had a stop at El Camino and California, and then went up California to the VA, coming back the same way, and operating every weekday, including holidays. Once Stanford chose to route its bus behind the campus it became much less useful to veterans, and they were relieved to have the 89 as a possibility‐‐for many of them it is convenient to depart for the VA from El Camino. At the point that the 88 split, those two routes (88 and 89) became considerably less viable, and now we are in a bad position. Reliance on school kids and veterans and increasing the headways to 60 minutes could have been expected to start a downturn for the 88, and probably did. Now I am very alarmed by what you are proposing ‐ I think that operating the 88 for one or two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon, eliminating the Community Bus fare, retaining the 60‐minute headways, and above all making the 88 uni‐directional, will destroy it and reduce service very dramatically for Palo Alto. (In connection with that, I am disturbed by the proposed elimination of the 89, especially as there is so much housing being planned for the Stanford Industrial Park area. It might one day make sense to revive the old 88 route, or part of it...) Returning to the 88 as currently constituted, I urge you in the strongest possible way to consider operating a bi‐directional service for four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon. I think that the school students and their families will feel that they can't rely on anything less than that, and veterans proceeding to the VA from El Camino will need at least this much service. If there isn't at least this much service, I think the line can't attract enough ridership to survive very long at all. Personally, I was deeply shocked by the plan to make the 88 uni‐directional. I hope it doesn't cost much more to insure a bus on what you would consider its trip back. As a senior living off East Meadow close to 101, I use the 35 to get to San Antonio Shopping Center, and I often carry heavy groceries back, making the connection to the 88 at Charleston and Middlefield. Working at Stanford I often take one of its shuttles to get to California Avenue, then take a 22 or a 522 to Arastradero, and then take the 88 to East Meadow. I rely on the 88 being bi‐directional. I hope that you will consider very seriously the damage that would be done by making deep cuts to the 88. I would also like to take the opportunity to say that I am distressed at the "flipping" of the 22 and the 522. I would urge you to do that only on the daytime trips and keep good frequency of the 22 at night. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I'm a volunteer at the VA hospital helping veterans at the Front Desk. The most requested bus information for our Veterans is the 89 bus route. This is a very important route because it passes directly in front of the hospital and many of our patients can no longer drive so they depend on this service. It is very important for them to have frequent service and for the service to remain as it is because the appointment times are variable and the veterans often have mobility issues so just leaving the bus routs to early in the morning and late in the afternoon is not sufficient. I'm sure that many of these veterans are unable to contact you because of health or connectivity issues or they are unaware that the 89 bus service is being debated. But on their behalf, I sincerely hope that you will not change the route in any way. I do not know how many riders there are, but this is a vital service to our veterans who have served our country. I hope that you will not let them down. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Subject: light rail, 48, 49, 27, 328, 13, 60, 61, 62, 26, 56, , Routes: General Project Comment 26 With the official feedback deadline fast approaching (tomorrow I believe) I finally grabbed my copy of the proposed changes and am writing up my comments. 1‐ I'm disappointed in the proposed change to the Winchester to Mountain View line. I'm very pleased to be able to ride it from Winchester Station all the way to Borregas (my regular stop). I remember back in the day riding to Bay Point and then having to transfer there (back when I got off at Reamwood). It usually worked out OK but it was very annoying to miss the transfer and stand around for 15 minutes and being late to work. 2‐ I live in Los Gatos so the 48 and 49 being cut certainly changes things for me. Although with the 27 being extended certainly mitigates that and has some advantages. It will be strange not being able to get into downtown Los Gatos (well, Main Street, the library, etc.) directly on bus anymore. I'm healthy and able to walk from Los Gatos‐Saratoga road so not a big problem for me (but I'm sure it will be for others and I'm sure you've heard from lots of them). The 27 replacing them for me may have some advantages, depending on how late the 27 will run. Specifically, if the 27 will run later leaving Winchester light rail station. My preferred commute coming home is LightRail from Borregas to Winchester and then catching the 48 (or 49). However, due to service cuts the last 48 currently leaves at 6:58 and the last 49 at 7:13. Therefore, when I'm going to be staying at work late I change my route so that either I transfer to a 61/62 and get off at Good Sam for a 1.5 mile walk home. If the 27 runs until 10:00 along the whole route that will be an advantage for me. 3‐ No more 328? It's not my major route but sometimes leaving work I would take it. It was a nice option to have (as I could get off at Bascom and Camden and either catch a 61 or walk about 2 miles or so home).. 4‐ On the subject of buses not going to the Almaden Valley (such as the 328)... Wow! Really, not only are you eliminating the 13 (which previously would run 7 days a week. I know because I used to live out there and would ride it on my commute and on weekends) but now the 63 won't even go to Almaden and Camden anymore? That whole area has absolutely no service in your proposal. Heck, I remember back when I was attending Leland High School how the 63 route would have special trips to get to Leland and Bret Harte. And now nothing? Anyway, I was talking to my Mom who says there's quite a big fuss there so no doubt you've heard plenty on the subject. I know it's a "low ridership" area and shouldn't have heavy service, clearly. But no service at all? That seems either ill‐thought or asinine. 5‐ I see the 60 has proposed changes but since it will still head north out of Winchester Station up past Valley Fair I'm not adversely affected. I wish it would continue into downtown Los Gatos like it used to but I understand that's not going to happen. 6‐ What's up with the 61/62 plan? I understand the 62 is cancelled and the 61 states it will run more frequently to replace it. Specifically, I'm curious about the plans at the south end of the trip. On the map it seems to show it will continue on both Bascom and Union. Will it be alternating (like back in the day when there was 61A and 61B? Or will it be South on one and North on the other? Either way seems likely to cause problems. 7‐ Interesting plans for the 26, becoming 26 and 56. Sometimes I currently take the 26 to or from work. To work when I get to Winchester Light Rail Station and there are light rail problems (then i continue North up Winchester to catch it at Campbell Avenue as it drops me off at Borregas Light Rail Station). The proposed 56 would improve things as it would go right to the Winchester Light Rail Station. If the 27 will be running late (as mentioned above in #2) that would be a nice improvement. If the 27 won't run late on the far West part of its route that would be a problem as it's not uncommon for me to ride the 26 from work to get to Bascom and Campbell to transfer to 61 or 62. [Not a huge deal, as I can also ride the lightrail from work and transfer at Civic Center to the 61 or 62 but depending on the schedule or what I have planned sometimes the 26 is a better option for that]. So, that's my specific comments... at least for now. Thanks for listening, [Name redacted] Routes: 34 Subject: 34 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please continue service for Bus 34, especially useful for seniors, people with disabilities and teens who use it. Routes: 47 Subject: Bus Route 42 How will veterans get to the San Jose clinic on 80 Great Oaks Blvd. if the 42 is eliminated? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Camden Community bus For those of us living in the Cambrian Park area, this community bus is needed. It allows us direct access to the train station, SJCC, SJSU and downtown. I wish it was available on weekends. Transferring to other buses in the Almaden Valley area adds a lot of travel time. At one point I believe it was noted that District 9 trends to have an older population. I do believe in walking and getting fresh air, but not all seniors and disabled persons san easily do this. During this redesign period, I would like to suggest that the bus stop signs be made larger and brighter. [Name redacted] San Jose resident Routes: 34 Subject: 34 Bus 34 serves the neighborhood where I live, and includes over 200 people who live in senior housing, don?t have cars, and move more slowly, sometimes with walkers. The VTA states their goal is to provide more service where there is higher demand, less service where there is lower demand. I have recently learned that Bus 34 is scheduled to be canceled. Whatever happened to humanitarian goals ? to help those who need help. It?s not always seniors. Many teens use the buses to get to school. I have seen mothers with children in strollers and people in wheelchairs get special assistance from very patient drivers. Can?t management consider this kind of helpfulness a major goal? My experience with Bus 34 is that it is not geared to good customer service so people who really need Bus 34 may not be using it. The problems: (1) Bus 34 does not always stop for people sitting on benches waiting for the bus. (2) A bus sometimes leaves a stop early according to the VTA programmable sign at the stop it is departing. (3) Other VTA lines have customer service troubles. When a bus breaks down the usual routine is for a replacement bus to take over the route. That does not always happen, and people return to driving cars. If there were more programmable signs, people waiting could be alerted to this problem and told when the next bus is expected. In order for a bus service to attract people, it must be both dependable and courteous. California is not a third world country and people are expected to be on time for work or appointments. Efficient times (an ongoing challenge) is something the VTA should consider as much as the periodic challenge of finding of efficient routes. Employing technology to monitor reliability and setting staff goals for reliability achievement and courteous attention to riders measured by occasional rider surveys might be good goals to help increase ridership and might, in fact, pay for the less used lines. VTA already has more pleasant vehicles; BART trains are so noisy you can?t even hear the person next to you talk, and people sit quietly like zombies. On VTA you can talk to the person sitting next to you or read or use your headphones and computer. This atmosphere also exists on the very successful ACE commuter trains. VTA combined with Caltrain has faster service from Mountain View to Gilroy during the commute hours than driving the freeway. Perhaps VTA could look for routes where a rider could beat freeway driving or at least nearly match it. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I am a frequent rider of the the 37 route. I take this bus from school almost everyday of the week. This route is perfect for me as it drops me off close to home without needing to change buses which can easily become confusing. By changing this route it would become and inconvenient for not only All Comments Received on the Draft Plan me but many others I know that use this route as a way home or even to their job. This bus also tends to get full quick which shows that is is well loved and used by West Valley students. Thank you for allowing us riders to voice our concerns on this proposed change! Thank you. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 This will cause a financial burden on students and San Jose State University staff that depend on on the Express Bus 181 to commute from Fremont to downtown San Jose; the added cost of a round trip ticket on BART, BART parking cost, in addition it will increase the commute time to shuttle to from the BART San Jose station to downtown San Jose. Express Bus 181 seating is full everyday, please do not make our commute longer and more costly by discontinuing it. Using BART is an option but in this case it is not the best option for downtown San Jose from Fremont..........we need Express Bus 181 to remain. Thank you for reading my concern. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I was dismayed to find out that the 181 Express line might be discontinued in fall of this year. The 181 has been the bus I take from where I live in Fremont to get to school and work in San Jose for going on seven years now. My family's financial and transportation situation is poor, which is why I have depended on this bus and the coverage I get from San Jose State University's (SJSU) Eco Pass. I realize that this discontinuation is a result of BART's extension to San Jose, however I am concerned about the possible negative impacts of this change for myself and other SJSU students. I do not know if the SJSU Eco Pass will cover the cost of taking BART, or whether I will have to pay for that part of the trip myself. Nor can I fully anticipate how long my commute to and from San Jose will be if I have to transfer from BART to a bus, which could make trying to get home after late evening master's courses difficult. This change stands to cause a lot of financial inconveniences not only for myself but for other SJSU students who depend on this line to get to school. Hopefully, VTA will reconsider permanently discontinuing this line. If it could even consider limited times, that could mean a world of difference for SJSU students. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Empty Buses All buses run empty resulting in a system not justified. What is the cost per ride? why has there been No independent performance audit? Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 There are several dynamics in play in Almaden Valley that we all need to acknowledge and plan for: 1. Almaden Valley traffic is terrible, particularly the expressway, and is getting worse. We continue to add multi unit structures on relatively small parcels (e.g. the Feed and Fuel property), allow for 'Granny units', and the growing popularity of sites like Air B&B that bring in additional users of our scarce approaches to to the valley. 2. The neighborhood continues to age. Multiple elementary schools have closed. Entire blocks now have retirees only living on them. The need for public transit for this demographic is growing. 3. The demographics are driving towards more multi generational (three or more) family residences as more of our Asian and Indian neighbors move in. This has the potential to both increase the demand for transit services as well as traffic congestion. On a personal note, I recently retired. Part of my financial calculation to allow for this was the planned for reliance on public transit. The use of transit allows for my car insurance to go down (fewer miles driven), my spend on gas and maintenance decrease as well. Finally, it seems the VTA is focused on current ridership as their key metric to determine which routes to continue to invest in. This should not be the key point of focus, instead, as a community, we can respond with 'demand generation' activities All Comments Received on the Draft Plan here in the valley. A few thoughts include: a) Increase the frequency of Route 13 (it runs less than once per hour) b) Encourage the schools to use transit more (Leland/Bret Harte are great candidates... a section of the middle school and high school kids will respond to a 'green campaign'... c) Partner with Uber, et al, to establish VTA subsidized carpooling and/or jitney service that get people from their houses/homes to the Almaden Valley bus stops d) Use any 'fare‐box' adders (e.g., higher ticket prices) to fund the continuation/expansion of valley bus services e) Explore discontinuance of the Almaden to Ohlone/Chynoweth LRT and replace with a more frequent Route 13 f) Use Measure B money to invest in Almaden transit now, not after any disruption in our bus service Thank you for your consideration. [Name redacted] Routes: 201 Subject: Dash I use the DASH as part of my commute to work, along with Caltrain. There are many commuters who do the same. Cutting DASH completely would significantly raise the cost of committing, perhaps even causing some to decide against using public transportation. At least consider keeping DASH during peak commuting hours. This would allow downtown residents and workers to use public transportation and help keep more drivers off the road. Routes: 10 Subject: Airport Express Didn't Measure B promise, among other things, improvements for our transit systems ??? In my opinion, the opposite will happen if some of the proposed changes to VTA service are implemented. I am extremely disappointed with the direction in which VTA is heading. Instead of increasing travel options, VTA is decreasing them. Rather than increased ridership, the opposite will happen ‐ ridership will decline ‐ inevitably prompting more business for ride share programs like Uber and Lyft. In particular I am dismayed about the proposed elimination of the #10 Airport shuttle and the DASH, as well as reducing #22 stops along Santa Clara Street and #23 stops near O'Connor hospital. As a longtime airport volunteer I can assure you the DASH and the #10 buses are a big plus for visitors to our city. And "pluses" are badly needed because we offer little. Swallowing up the #10 into the #60 is not a smart move. Consider especially those who currently use the #10 for quick access to the Metro stop to ride the Light Rail. Incidentally add to this your elimination of the day pass last year which was a step in the wrong direction. Your rationale ‐ the Clipper Pass ‐ is not viable for visitors! Again, allow me to reiterate, your proposed changes will increase the usage of Uber and Lyft by visitors arriving at SJC and Diridon. Their prices will be come to be viewed as much more reasonable especially for door to door service for downtown destinations. As a senior and a grandmother I can assure you the elimination of stops along the #22 and 23 routes make commuting more difficult for our elderly, those traveling with children and anyone with mobility issues. And if these changes are being made strictly based on dollars and cents, then how can you justify your decision to "rebrand"? Surely expenses associated with this unnecessary venture will cost a huge amount of money !!! Please, you ought to be implementing changes to VTA to ENCOURAGE riders ‐ not discourage ! I look forward to your response. Routes: 304 Subject: Bus Route 304 Dropping 304 is NOT a good idea. Request keeping 304 bus and/or request bus from South San Jose (Evergreen area ‐new development at Ruby Square) to Lawrence & Arques ‐ many tech companies (Apple, Fujitsu, Intel, etc.) Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Frequent service All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I'm a resident of Santa Clara County. I wanted to share my feedback about VTA, having taken some of the busses and light rail. My main feedback is that the existing service is prohibitively inconvenient. Although I *want* to take public transit, it simply doesn't work for me. It would be *much* better to have frequent service (every 10 minutes) on a small number of high‐demand routes (in and out of google or foothill college, for example), rather than trying to cover the whole county with ridiculously inconvenient service (long wait times between busses that aren't on schedule; transfers; circuitous routes). Thanks for your consideration Routes: 27; 48; 49; 62 Subject: 27, 48, 49, 62 Feb. 20, 2017 Gentlemen/VTA et al, Please find herein my two cents worth regarding: A ‐ Fall 2017 proposed West Valley changes (routes 48,49,27 etc.)and B ‐ General issues GIVENS: 1‐ I'm now a current 'senior' rider 2 ‐ Reside in the greater Los Gatos area 3‐ I've used VTA for many years and, for the most part, been pretty happy with it. 4 ‐ Have watched your webinars, in particular the Jan. 18 & 26, 2017 ones, with Eileen Goodwin (Appex Strategies) moderating along with Kermit et al. 5 ‐ Didn't attend the Campbell meeting(s) because 'The Last Train from Clarksville', IE. Bus 49, departs Winchester TC lastly at 7:13 pm., which would've left me stranded. Re. A Bus routes 48 & 49 deletion appears to eliminate ENTIRELY access to the downtown Los Gatos area including it's Civic Center and library. While not a daily issue for this old wretch, I'll hazard here to mention that these changes must be of relevance to L.G. high schoolers, as well as anyone commuting/navigating the Community Hospital side of Winchester Blvd. My thought here is that mayhaps SOME kind of bus runs could occur, let's say from 6‐9am and 4‐9pm, so folks have an option to at least get TO and BACK from these environs on any given day, including weekends. HISTORICAL NOTE >> I can recall many moons ago when the trusty 62 bus could get me clear to San Jose in one shot and ran enough to get me back from SJSU night classes. That ceased sometime well since then and the little community buses commenced. I DO like the aspect of being able to get back 'close' to the Los Gatos area at proposed later hours from the Winchester LRT. However, I'm now sort of wondering when the last shoe will drop and the new 27 loop proposed this‐a‐way will disappear ! ? Re. B I technically reside in a county pocket and thus fear that any noise I "might have made" to the L.G. town council would have fallen upon deaf ears. On this point I plead ignorance (which is no excuse), but am as yet curious as to what politization may have, or is playing there. One last item I'd like to mention is that of "timepoints". The LRTs, at least to me, run pretty much like clockwork. Of course they enjoy some particular right‐of‐
way and I like that (I'm of German descent...and New York). It is here I'd like reference concern of the same regarding busses...ALL busses. For instance, if one 'knows' that Bus X "should be" at timepoint D at a certain time, one can reasonably count on when that bus "should" pass one of the little 'non‐
timepoint' stops, say between D and E or L and M, or whatever. I'm just saying it's really aggravating when one finds oneself "stoodup" for 30‐45 minutes because the driver's running 'HOT'. And that's that. CONCLUDING....YOU folks know the numbers!! I'm certain you'll reach the best overall results you can, both subjectively and objectively. ? Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I am very concerned to see that there is a proposal to have Route 37 eliminated. My son does not drive so he has to take the Route 37 bus to get to West Valley College and then back home. He takes Route 37 from the bus stop at the corner of Vistamont and Hillsdale Avenue, all the way to West Valley College. It is essential that Route 37 is not eliminated. Thank you. Routes: 13; 63; 65 Subject: 13, 63 64 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 5:18 PM To: Cuff, Kermit Subject: Routes 63 (13) and 64 Hi Kermit, I have slightly revised what I sent you last week to the following. I will be at the Thurs eve Board Meeting. Thank you for passing on this info to the persons that will make changes and updates to VTA later this year. The current 2017 Proposed Changes include cutting all service into and out of the Almaden Valley. Please review and consider the following to include service in the Almaden Valley for all its riders. By combining and extending some of the current routes, VTA will be providing service to the Almaden Valley, and support VTA?s mission to facilitate commuters and increasing ridership to utilize public transportation verses driving their cars either to work or to VTA parking lots then accessing public transportation. Please consider the following two route possibilities to service the Almaden Valley Community?s students, employees, retirees and all others intending to use public transportation, most especially if VTA plans to discontinue Route 13. These two route changes will provide service into and out of Almaden Valley, and increase overall ridership in the area. 1. Please consider extending Route 64SB from Almaden Expressway at Coleman to Almaden Expressway at Camden Ave (the layover will be here or at Almaden LRT), then 64NB will turn right at Crown, right at Trinidad, left at Almaden Expressway and into Almaden LRT then continue its 64NB route. 2. Please consider combining part of Route 13 with 63 thus extending the current Route 63 from Almaden Expressway at Camden Ave (the layover will be here), THEN adding peak commute times (about 6am‐
10am and 2pm‐7p) to Via Valiente, Camden Rd, Harry Rd, McKean Rd, Almaden Rd and the most convenient streets back to Camden then to Meridian toward San Jose and SJSU. Thank you Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Too many service cuts I am very distressed by the plans for the Next Network. VTA's plans to severely reduce coverage will cause severe hardship for many people throughout Santa Clara County who rely on VTA to get around. I know that politicians think that transit is just a way to get to the full‐time jobs they think everyone has, but it's not. I don't own a car or have a full‐time job. I work all over the Bay Area as a freelance musician, especially for after‐school programs. There are no reliable alternatives to VTA for getting around. Do you expect me to pay for an expensive Uber or taxi everytime I need to go somewhere? VTA is a government agency, not a pro‐business advocacy group, and I'm sorry that it bothers you to maintain low‐ridership lines, but providing coverage is your basic responsiblity as a public transit agency. It's not just about commuters, and it's not just about major highways. I know that the high‐priced consultants who drew up the proposals for the Next Network told you that increasing service along major roads is the "only way" to increase ridership, but that's not true. Your consultants don't know what they're talking about. If you increased frequency and coverage and actually ADVERTISED your services instead of just assuming people will show up, you would have a chance of increasing ridership. I've noticed that the Next Network calls for eliiminating the 37 in Campbell due to low ridership. I frequently try to use the 37 when I take the 522 or 22 and then the 57 to get to Rolling Hills Middle School in the Campbell School District, but the schedule is such that the 37 passes by on Quito Road minutes before the 57 does, and the problem got worse after the recent schedule change where many buses were shifted forward about 7 minutes. I am forced to walk fifteen minutes or so from Quito every time I take the bus to Rolling Hills because I can't make the connection. If the 37 were 5 or 10 minutes later I could. Lack of connection makes the 37 difficult to use, even though it's the only bus that serves Rolling Hills Middle School and several other Campbell schools that I work at. So if you redid the schedule to connect to the 57 you would probably have higher ridership. I'm also disturbed that you lie in your materials about the 37‐‐you suggest it will be discontinued and then say "current riders may use the new Route 26." But the new Route 26 doesn't cover any of the area the current 37 does, which is the area between West Valley College and Winchester Transit Center. This area is BLANK on the proposed Next Network map. I also ask that you don't change the current 26 into a new 56 and modified 26. I use the 26 via the 522 or 22 to reach All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Downtown Campbell and many stops along Campbell Avenue. The reroute of the 26 to Hamilton means yet another transfer just to reach Campbell Avenue west of Downtown. Very frustrating. Also, in Palo Alto, news articles keep saying that the new 21 will not eliminate stops in the current 35 and 32, but several miles in Mountain View along the current 32, mostly along Middlefield Road, are cut out of the proposed 21 route. Oops. Also, I see that the 53 stops service south of DeAnza college. Is there is to be no service along Saratoga/Sunnyvale? No service to Saratoga HIgh School and its Performing Arts Center? Really? And apparently because VTA thinks that access to BART is more important than getting around in Santa Clara County, the Mountain View/Winchester light rail line is to be diverted east so there's no longer a direct connection to San Jose and Campbell. I've ridden the entire line at times; it's a long trip as it is‐‐must there be a transfer just to go from Mountain View to downtown San Jose? Pardon my anger, but I am so frustrated by VTAs unwillingness to provide coverage. Ridership has been dropping ever since the last major cuts during the recession. At the time, it was announced that VTA was changing its policy and buses would no longer reach every part of the county. Well, that policy seems to have been a disaster, but here you are again, trying to increase ridership by reducing coverage. Don't politicians ever learn lessons? It's not about acting like a business and cutting "low‐performing" service just because you can, it's about making your service good enough so that there AREN'T any low‐performing lines. Imagine if, instead of aggressive cuts in service, you waged an aggressive marketing campaign to build ridership on the low‐performing lines while simulaneously increasing frequency across the board? By cutting service, you cut potential for ridership; there are already many nearly‐empty buses on major routes like the 22 and 522. How will increasing that service increase ridership, especially if it's "balanced" by cutting service elsewhere? You'll have to make up the lost ridership just to maintain the current ridership levels. Arts groups and non‐profits know that constant advertising and publicity are needed to put butts in seats and build an audience; attendance is never taken for granted. VTA would do well to take lessons in audience‐
building from non‐profits rather than businesses. There are too many issues involved with the "Next Network" for it to be implemeted this summer. The public comment period has been far too short for such sweeping changes. Please give us time to work out a better deal, one that doesn't leave me and thousands of other transit users stranded throughout Santa Clara County with no way to get around. Pleae keep the coverage. After all, you have a new tax to pay for it. Routes: 201 Subject: DASH The San Jose Downtown Association has significant concerns with the removal of DASH and replacement with line 500. This new route, along with many others, will be significantly impacted by BART construction [into Downtown San Jose]. Routes: 17 Subject: Bus Route 17 A discontinuance of Route 17 will be detrimental to our community having access to the social services office, Community Solutions, Compassion Center and Hope. Routes: 13; 64 Subject: Almaden Transit Service I need a bus ride from Almaden / Harry to San Jose State University. Routes: 53 Subject: 53 My dad is close 80 years old, living in Saratoga. He can not drive, so he relies on VTA bus to get around. We heard that part of VTA53 route in Saratoga area is planned to be eliminated. We are strongly opposed to this plan. Please reconsider it. If the ridership is not high enough, then please consider to use smaller transit vehicles, but please keep the route and the service. I believe there are All Comments Received on the Draft Plan many seniors living in Saratoga area depending on this service to go out to Saratoga downtown/West Valley College/Cupertino/Sunnyvale etc. Removing this part of the service will make them strangled at home and be desperate when they needs a ride/help. Thank you so much for your consideration! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general After reviewing the plan, there are many drastic service reductions under this 85‐15 plan, which was presented under the "NEW" VTA in 2008. The only difference is the opening with BART. Under this plan, VTA will continue to lose base riders and new riders as there will no options to ride VTA. Also, I don't understand how Lines 25, 23, 70, 71, will experience service reductions with frequencies reduced from 12 to 15, with the Line 70 operating 30 minutes after Berryessa. All 13, 17, 19, 34, 37, 42, 45, 48, 49, 65, 88, 89, 180, 181, 200 being discontinued, about 36 less coaches operating. I don't see where service is being added to base service. From VTA's "New VTA" 15 lines were already identified as operating 15 minutes. Even with the extension of LIne 323/523 and 500, The numbers do not add/up. There is too much service being cut. Personally in the Eastridge area, I do not understand why Line 39 has to be renumbered 93? Why can't it retain it's same Route name as 39, as it has since 1985? Line 76, which a combinations of Lines 42, 70 and 31. This route is predominantly LIne 31, why should this line be renamed to a 70's designation, which are normally long mainline route. Please leave Line 31 as it, and as for the Line 70 part, retain Line 37 and extend 37 to Eastridge (as it was serviced via Capitol) Allow Line 37 to operate hourly during the day and 30 minutes between Capitol LR and Eastridge. Line 26's new routing is awkward and is a pattern that riders have not traveled. I suggest leaving Line 26 as it is. If needs be, terminate Line 26 at Vallco, as the bus would change headsign to 56 Locheed, vice versa. My other concerns is the lack of regional transportation to Berryessa Bart and Milpitas. Why were 10 additional Express coaches purchased, when VTA would discontinue routes 120, 140, 180 and 181 when BART is extended? The 4200s/200s are on many routes, so wasn't a great need. However, there should be an express from Gilroy/Morgan Hill to Berryessa Bart via 101/13th Street/Commerciall, and Los Gatos/Campbell to Milpitas Bart via 17/880 and Tasman. What will happen to the 4100s? Thanks. Routes: 34 Subject: 304 Greetings! I've been told that route 304 will be going away in the Next plan. I'm currently on a packed 304 bus from Scott and Bowers, heading to Saint James in downtown San Jose. I take the reverse trip every morning. What will my alternate route look like under the Next plan? Honestly I'm not we'll versed in reading route maps, but the proposed route 66 and 68 don't appear to address my travel requirements. If it's still up for discussion, I would propose we keep route 304, as regards of the metrics, the ridership appears to be high. Many thanks! Routes: 201 Subject: DASH I understand that VTA is considering the elimination of the DASH shuttle bus. Along with several other employees of San José State University, I ride the DASH twice a day every weekday between Diridon station and campus. Many students also use it each day. I urge you to keep the DASH bus in operation. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general Comments on Draft Plan service changes Dear Valley Transit Authority, The South County Democrats Club represents Democrats in the cities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and the incorporated portions of South Santa Clara County. We are united by values of unity, inclusion, and support for all members of our community. This letter addresses some of the concerns we have regarding the proposed service All Comments Received on the Draft Plan changes under the Draft Plan. First, this will result in reduced service to Gilroy's Gavilan Community College by students and staff. Also, there is no mention of service in the future to the newly opened Gavilan campus in Coyote Valley on Bailey Avenue in south San Jose. Second, under the Draft Plan, Gilroy will lose Lines 15, 17, and 19. The effect of this intra‐city reduction is that fewer people will have proximate access to public transportation in our city. Third, the new lines between cities will present economic challenges to access essential services, as more transfers will be required to reach social services in San José, since transfers require additional fare for each service line. In light of this burden, we ask you to make transfers free‐of‐charge. Fourth, VTA?s proposal to eliminate service Line 17 along Murray Avenue will cause increased barriers to Gilroy social services to our most vulnerable citizens who require shelter, job training, and rehabilitation: the homeless, economically challenged, seniors, and those requiring medical services. Finally, Line 68 is situated along a route with limited sidewalk and few safe walking routes. Citizens traveling to stops on this path will be put at risk of physical harm simply to catch a bus. Gilroy has the highest percentage of low‐income residents in Santa Clara County. Many rely on VTA as their only means of transportation for work, medical appointments, or family visits. It is imperative VTA consider the needs of this community when determining how to structure a transit system that does not exclude an already‐underserved community. Walt Glines Gavilan College Board of Trustees Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 A FREE VTA Bus #10 is VITAL! 85% of the public ground transportation that we refer, as volunteers at the Information Booth at the Minetta San Jose International Airport, use the FREE VTA Bus #10 to get to their next connection or destination. Referring travelers to the FREE VTA Bus #10 creates a positive image for the airport and on the City of San Jose. It often results in a smile and sometimes eases frustration or delays that a traveler may have incurred during flight. The Free VTA Bus #10 demonstrates to visitors that the city of San Jose welcomes travelers and appreciates their contribution to the city. The FREE VTA Bus #10 simplifies public access to other forms public transportation and makes it easier for travelers to use low cost alternatives instead of using rental cars which contribute to our city's and county's traffic issue. The frequency of the FREE VTA Bus #10 shortens the travel time for the airports customers and again reflects positively on our city. As volunteers, especially during the night shift, we assist stranded passengers to find lodging, by using the FREE VTA Bus #10 to get to a local less expensive hotel/motel along the bus's route. The most common complaint about the airport is the lack of restaurants. The only available food establishments offer coffee and snacks. A FREE VTA Bus #10 allows us to suggest various local eating establishments that cannot be reached on foot. Being able to find a full meal would provide nourishment and ease tension during their long wait whether it is for a lay over, colleague, or another form of transportation. We are asking you to reconsider making any changes to the FREE VTA Bus #10. ‐‐ [Name redacted] Routes: 17 Subject: 17 I am writing in regards to proposal of changing the Bus Route 17 in Gilroy. I work and live in Gilroy and feel this would be a huge disservice to our community. As a Eligibility worker, I have a large clientele that are homeless, disabled , and are elderly. My clients depend on the bus to get them around not All Comments Received on the Draft Plan only to our building, as well to get them around town for medical appointments, work , school. Etc. I am asking that you reconsider the proposal and continue to make the turn down Murray Ave. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to express my discontent with the discontinuation of Express Bus 181. I am a senior undergraduate student at San José State University, and I have relied on the Express Bus 181 for four years now. I live in Fremont, and the bus has made a huge difference in my ability to get to school on time, reduce my reliance on vehicle transportation, and I believe it has saved a significant amount of gas emissions from cars that would have been driven by students like me, had this bus route not existed. Thus, if Express Bus 181 is discontinued, hundreds of people will be impacted, along with our local environment, and in the long run, jeopardize students' success in school since it will be more difficult to attend and spend more time on campus. Parking and traffic are already huge problems between Fremont and San José, and this change would only worsen these critical issues. So I am asking to please not discontinue Express Bus 181; it needs to exist during the construction of the BART extension, and even after the project is completed. More public transportation options should be available to our increasing Bay Area population and need to connect the rest of the Bay Area with the Silicon Valley. Thank you very much for your time. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bart Connections I am a long term resident of Milpitas and I would like to call out needfoe a bus route on north N. Park Victoria Boulevard North of Jacklin Road. We don't have any accessibility to public transport from this area and it would be great for bus line covering N.Victoria beyond Jacklin to Green Valley road in Fremont that would ferry people at least to the Milpitas transit center/BART or warm springs BART station. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I work as a Recreation Therapist in the Polytrauma program at the VA Palo Alto. One of my patients recently brought to my attention a proposal to discontinue the 89 line which leaves from our hospital. Given the limited number of public transportation options that our patients currently have, this change would definitely negatively impact their ability to access the community. As part of our rehabilitation therapies, we regularly train our patients on how to utilize the bus system and practice independence in the community. The 89 line is the primary means we have to accomplish this. Please consider keeping this line running so that the Veterans and Active Duty Service members being treated at VA Palo Alto can remain connected to the community. Routes: 13 Subject: Bus Route 13 Bus 13 is the only way a number of kids get to school and some old people go out! Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I have reviewed your planned changes to Route 89 (elimination) and institution of a new Route 288. I am a volunteer at the Veterans hospital and have been for 7 years (in addition to being a veteran myself though not a patient). In my role at the front desk I see a number of veterans who use public transportation including VTA and Caltrain. I feel the substitution of 288 for 89 will be a tremendous disservice to our veterans who depend on public transportation. Some of them also use Caltrain. Route 288 would require a transfer between buses to get to the transportation center at either California Ave. or University Ave. Furthermore the routing of 288 makes little or no sense. It seems to All Comments Received on the Draft Plan start in a residential area of Palo Alto and end someplace on Middlefield. I have lived in Palo Alto for over 35 years and this makes no sense. I am a supporter of making VTA more efficient in addressing needed heavy areas of use and reducing little areas of use. But this change makes no sense. Furthermore it seems to impact the high tech workers in Stanford Research park who commute on Caltrain. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: student [I am a] father of one of your regular passengers. It is sad to know that the bus that transports her and few and many other students to San Jose may stop running that route. I am writing to ask that you keep that bus running and hoping my note with every single passenger can make a difference to keep it in route. There are many college students who are so dependant on public transportation who are trying to make a difference in their lives and if they have no way to get to school it will hinder their chances to make a difference. So please do not cancel for the sake of the students. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: maps on buses Well I found all the much needed service proposals on the express buses this morning, these lines are not being affected nothing but the 181/180, collected them and passed them out to my riders on the 55/54 line, perhaps these pamphlets could be placed on routes that are being most affected and a small pamphlet for drives pouch with a brief overview of the changes to that particular route that way the operator doesn't have to spend excess time researching the new route the bus will take if any, then I think more operators wouldn't mind sharing the information with the passengers i realize theirs already too many announcements inside the bus but the service change is smithing major, I personally would be ok with this playing over the loop for a few months in order to inform the public Routes: 13 Subject: 13 We would like to keep the Route 13 bus. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 Hi this email is regarding the bus route 181 between Fremont bart and San jose. I am urging you to please change your mind on cancelling it. Many people, and I do mean MANY people depend on it. Students, employees, and others use it DAILY to get back and forth. We were devastaded to hear that it is being dicontinued. If it does, so many people will need to find other forms of transportation and many don't have any other alternatives. This will force people to drive on their own, creating even more traffic than usual. Riding the bus helps the environment by people carpooling. And not to mention we have created a community with this system. I have met many new friends while riding the bus and had wonderful conversations with random strangers. We are commuters, it is part of our identity. Please don't discontinue it. Routes: 88; 89 Subject: 88, 89 Thursday 2 February 17 Thank you for writing back to me. Before commenting on the 88 (and 89) I would like to thank VTA for several things. First, I greatly appreciate the plan to preserve the 35. Second, I appreciate VTA's awareness of a lack of equity resulting from well‐placed employees getting ECO passes and Caltrain passes and thereby having free transport for years if not decades, while those who aren't working have to pay, and pay more when fare increases are instituted. You have also expressed awareness of the fact that the existence of company shuttles, whether they are restricted to employees or open to the public as the Stanford Marguerite is, may depress your ridership, thus All Comments Received on the Draft Plan becoming another way that employee perks have turned out to undermine the position of public transit and its riders. Thank you for your acknowledgement of these issues. Now, as for the 88/89, we are aware that once there were many more opportunities in Palo Alto for VTA riders. Many of us remember the 86, remember when the 35 went in to the Stanford Oval, when the 22 went to Menlo Park, when the 88 started at Palo Alto Caltrain and meandered up to California Avenue Caltrain, then back to the VA, then along Arastradero, and then along its current route (I think) into Midtown Palo Alto, where once upon a time there was considerable light industry. That old 88 took quite a while and gradually became chiefly attractive to school children and veterans, and possibly because of that narrow focus, the route was divided into 88 and 89. It should be noted that for many of the years before the route was divided, Stanford provided a VA shuttle that, unlike the current one that goes around the back of the campus, went along El Camino after leaving Stanford, had a stop at El Camino and California, and then went up California to the VA, coming back the same way, and operating every weekday, including holidays. Once Stanford chose to route its bus behind the campus it became much less useful to veterans, and they were relieved to have the 89 as a possibility‐‐for many of them it is convenient to depart for the VA from El Camino. At the point that the 88 split, those two routes (88 and 89) became considerably less viable, and now we are in a bad position. Reliance on school kids and veterans and increasing the headways to 60 minutes could have been expected to start a downturn for the 88, and probably did. Now I am very alarmed by what you are proposing ‐ I think that operating the 88 for one or two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon, eliminating the Community Bus fare, retaining the 60‐minute headways, and above all making the 88 uni‐directional, will destroy it and reduce service very dramatically for Palo Alto. (In connection with that, I am disturbed by the proposed elimination of the 89, especially as there is so much housing being planned for the Stanford Industrial Park area. It might one day make sense to revive the old 88 route, or part of it...) Returning to the 88 as currently constituted, I urge you in the strongest possible way to consider operating a bi‐directional service for four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon. I think that the school students and their families will feel that they can't rely on anything less than that, and veterans proceeding to the VA from El Camino will need at least this much service. If there isn't at least this much service, I think the line can't attract enough ridership to survive very long at all. Personally, I was deeply shocked by the plan to make the 88 uni‐directional. I hope it doesn't cost much more to insure a bus on what you would consider its trip back. As a senior living off East Meadow close to 101, I use the 35 to get to San Antonio Shopping Center, and I often carry heavy groceries back, making the connection to the 88 at Charleston and Middlefield. Working at Stanford I often take one of its shuttles to get to California Avenue, then take a 22 or a 522 to Arastradero, and then take the 88 to East Meadow. I rely on the 88 being bi‐directional. I hope that you will consider very seriously the damage that would be done by making deep cuts to the 88. I would also like to take the opportunity to say that I am distressed at the "flipping" of the 22 and the 522. I would urge you to do that only on the daytime trips and keep good frequency of the 22 at night. Routes: 45 Subject: 45 Thank you for coming to see us! I being a Vietnam Veteran, proud to have served and yet treated with shame for many years. I kept quite about my service as most of us did. The services we have today were not there during that time. So your visit was more appreciated than you might imagine. The most difficult link we now have is transportation. So from all of us...I thank you again. Routes: 54; 55 Subject: 54, 55 This is with reference to my discussion with you during your visit to India Community Center today. As informed to you many seniors come to India community center by bus nos 54 and 55. It has been All Comments Received on the Draft Plan come to our notice that VTA is going to make some changes in the routes of these two buses and some bus stops are also being abandoned/discontinued. As requested, kindly let me know about the revised routes of these buses and which of the existing bus stops are being discontinued and from which date. I request you to kindly not make any changes in these two bus routes and their stops. Your early reply shall be highly appreciated. Routes: 63 Subject: 63 It was brought to my attention that the VTA is considering, as part of a larger Transit Service Plan revision, cutting the 63 bus service into Almaden Valley beyond Blossom Hill. I would like to urge the VTA not to do that. We have been residents of Almaden Valley for nearly 14 years and all of our children have relied on the Route 63 bus to get to and from Pioneer High School as well as for weekend use. Our youngest is starting at Pioneer High this fall and we were depending on the 63 to get her there and back. Although we have the means to drive, we have been very conscious of our need to help curb global warming by reducing our carbon footprint. As part of that effort, our family has has been making use of VTA bus and light rail a higher priority in recent years and Route 63 has been a critical component in helping us achieve that goal. Please rethink the plan to cancel bus service through Almaden Valley. Thank you for your consideration, [Name redacted] Almaden Valley Resident Pierce Ranch Neighborhood. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 I am writing to you as a very concerned SJSU student. I currently live in Fremont and I commute by taking the 181 bus to and from San Jose to get to campus. And I happen to know a lot of other students whom rely on the 181 bus as well. And I have many concerns regarding the plan to discontinue the 181 bus coming fall 2017. Without the 181 bus, other students and myself would have to drive. Driving to school would mean spending money on gas and parking at school. That being said, the parking situation at SJSU is not ideal. There is not enough parking for students as it is. As of right now, it sometimes takes students up to an hour to find a parking spot. This leads to students sometimes being late to class. Discontinuing the 181 bus, would be detrimental for many students like myself as it would mean many of us would have to start driving to school. And as I mentioned before, there is not enough parking for San Jose State students as it is. This would also lead to more cars on the road, thus more pollution going out into our environment. Since I began attending SJSU in the fall of 2015, I have considered myself extremely fortune enough to have a mode of transportation that comes at no cost to me and in addition, at no cost to the environment. For some students, this bus is the only way they are able to get to and from school, so my fellow peers and I ask you to please strongly reconsider the discontinuation of the Express 181 bus. Thank you. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: 37, 48 I could not find a link for commenting on Proposed Schedule Changes Fall 2017, so please send my comment to the appropriate people. Thanks. I reside in West Valley Area and rely on Line 37 and 48 to take me to/from Winchester Transit Center for Light Rail and other buses to work. Eliminating these two lines will create hardship for me and a lot of other people accessing the Winchester Station. It took me 30 minutes to walk there on a good day, while the bus cut that time to only 5 minutes. Please reconsider the elimination of both lines 37 and 48. But if you have to, could you route line 27 to cover Hacienda, Burrows Rd. and Pollard Rd., please. Thank you. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 63 Subject: 63 I would like to put my voice towards not shortening bus route 63. We have a member of the family that uses it to commute into Almaden Valley every day to go to work. She's elderly and doesn't feel comfortable getting a driver's license. On top of that, using a service like Uber would be cost prohibitive for her to continue working. So shorting route 63 to not go into Almaden Valley essentially puts her out of her job as an in‐home caretaker. Routes: 288; 89 Subject: 89, 288 Many aging veterans that cannot attend the community meetings would be negatively affected by the change of route 288. The VA Palo Alto hospital has an emergency room that many low income veterans use on a daily basis. Many low income veterans come to the VA hospital for emergency care because they have earned the right to receive medical care at the VA hospital for a lower cost than paying medi‐care or an insurance plan to pay for the bill at a county hospital or other local hospital. Please reconsider to have a route that accesses the VA hospital at 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto daily. Let me know if you need any additional information. Thank you. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I am a VTA bus user that frequently rides your route 65 buses. Because I rely on that bus to bring me to school everyday, I was upset to hear that the route may be discontinued in the fall. Please take my comment into consideration and don't discontinue route 65! Routes: 63 Subject: 63 Jodie Lam I was heartbroken and nervous when I found out that route 63 was going to stop its service. My son, a San Jose State University student, is an everyday rider. I have been feeling grateful and proud that VTA provides such service that meets our needs. I have been working for about 26 years and I feel that my tax dollars should support the VTA. I also use route 63 once in a while. Every time I ride on the route 63 bus, I feel that the VTA does not forget about me, and I can count on route 63 to take me not only to downtown San Jose, but also to the Caltrain Station. Every time I ride route 63, there are always people on the bus. I feel that the elderly who live in Almaden Valley are not forgotten. VTA can help them and my family live independently if route 63 continues to be of service in Almaden Valley. Please do not take this away from our home. Routes: 82 Subject: 82, I am a 57 year old disabled male with a service dog who hosts a radio show "THE DEVILS MUSIC FEATURING THE BLUES CAFE every Friday at San Jose State, 90.5 FM KSJS, and run the soundboard for an award‐winning Public Affairs show, RADIO ETHIOPIA, every Sunday. I depend on the 82 line not only to get to and from school but for all of my social service assistance including Food, Housing, In‐
Home Supportive Services, Downtown Streets Team, and more. Discontinuing the 82 line would severely disrupt my life and be a severe hardship. Having direct access to downtown San Jose is crucial for me!!! In fact when I was able to obtain housing my apartments selection by me and my support team was made because of it's location, the EL PASEO STUDIOS are located across from WESTGATE on HAMILTON AVENUE (4980 Hamilton Avenue in San Jose), and the fact that it was directly serviced by the 82 line to get me to downtown San Jose. It is much to late for me to relocate. Additionally, there are many seniors and people with disabilities who rely daily on the 82 line and what will happen to us? There are also fellow San Jose State students who use the 82 line on a regular basis who will be inconvenienced as well! I have found that many regular 82 riders are unaware of the proposed changes. So I have been attempting to spread awareness but there is a large segment of 82 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan riders who don't speak English and I believe this is another factor in the decision to discontinue the 82 line because it affects a minority population. This should not happen!!! In conclusion I would plead for the retention of the 82 line because service down Hamilton Avenue to downtown San Jose is crucial for so many of us not only to directly access downtown San Jose but to have access to the many businesses on the route, schools, etc. You can contact me if you would like more information or clarification. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY OUR 82 LINE!!! Routes: 13 Subject: 13 Please keep Route 13 to match Bret Harte middle school, Leland high school schedule. There are lot of ridership during these time. You can reduce service during other time of the day. As to Route 63, we hope to have express bus during morning and afternoon rush hour from Almaden to major employment hub such as downtown. Too many cars on the road creates heavy traffic during rush hours and increase air pollution.You can reduce service during other time of the day. Thank you very much for your consecrations. Routes: 45; 46 Subject: Canary More input since VTA community input. I don't know if addressed in new schedule but: Scenario: My son who just started with the post office. He has been a regular bus user since high school and is attempting to continue to do so. (Car costs not really in his budget at this point and trying to be independent.) Problem starting this January he will regularly work on Saturday and Sunday. He discovered 10 days ago that while he finishes work at either the Cambrian or Payne Ave / Westgate PO at 5 or 6 depending on workload, the bus stops running at 5. This means a very long walk to Los Gatos after walking a minimum of 8 hours a day for work if we are not available to pick him up.Paying retail for an Uber ride could add up to more than insurance on an older car pretty quickly. The situation adds to the mindset that public transportation in our Valley does not easily support basic workforce activities or need to do errands etc... He travels from Los Gatos on Saturday and Sundays from either the Hillsdale near Ross Ave post office or Payne Ave and Saratoga Ave post office. (Turns out they share floater workers.) Summary: This 20 something enthusiastically used public transportation in Portland, OR during first 2 years of college. (Sometimes in combination with bicycle.) When back in South Bay, he dealt with all the transfers and wait times while using it until graduation from SJSU and following for continuing to do so for continuing education afterwards. Now that he is starting into the workforce, he is running into consistency of use issues when attempting to use VTA for work open 7 days a week. (They deliver packages on Sundays now.) This example should be a canary in the mines as time moves forward for you. Every year VTA does not do things differently, we slowly creep through key crucial years of mindset change for this new Silicon Valley larger than baby boomer generation to change their view of public transportation. Please, don't miss this new opportunity and look back and say, "see people don't want to use the VTA." This is not the trend in other large metropolitan areas with traffic issues such as ours. Things are not same old as traffic maps show us every day. And ‐ please don't continue to support slow response when companies clustered in areas look for options to get people out of cars. While Google may be able to support their own bus force and prefer it, many companies are losing well qualified applicants simply over the fact of how stressful it is to get to various locations and lack of intuitive and available alternatives. (Myself included.) Please ‐ be the new VTA; identify clusters of commuters going to major work areas onto buses, offer options to cover barriers to change; home emergencies, late work schedules etc... Come up with alternatives ‐share services ‐ Uber / taxi/ shuttle ride credits, sweeper bus. Address all those reasons people continue to hold onto those car keys; safety, schedule transparency, ease of finding frequency times and routes; create incentives etc... Those filled buses should help cover those All Comments Received on the Draft Plan weekend routes ‐ building on reputation that VTA can get you places even on weekends ‐ etc... Every time I see a Google bus I think of lost opportunity to support overall system and empty buses going other direction / inefficency... etc... (No should mean ‐ "no" to what part of proposal....) Meanwhile ‐ I wonder at what point my son will give up and join those paying insurance to drive instead of becoming an advocate. Routes: 17 Subject: Bus Route 17 She uses it to go to social services. Uses it frequently to go to the places she needs to go. Routes: 26 Subject: 26 Please do not take out the 26 from sunnyvale going to eastridge because this bus is convenient for me to take on saturday and sunday and also please do not discontinue the 58 because my boyfriend lives right where the 58 is. Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 Our petition has reached 300+ signatures and many people have added their comments why we need to keep the bus service. To many of us, the buses are the only way we can leave and return home. We just don't have other option. Please keep the bus service. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: Bus Route 13 and 63 Bus 13 and 63 is important for high school [students], middle school [students] and senior[s]. Routes: 42 Subject: Bus Route 42 42 line. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 As a volunteer information person at the airport, I refer many patrons to bus #10 so they can get to Caltrain and to the light rail line on First St. It would be a great disservice to dIscontinue that special service. There are more people flying into San Jose these days with more domestic and international flights, and therefore many more referrals to the #10 bus to connect them with our public transportation system, and to avail themselves to 'real' restaurants outside of security! I am sure that the 'Airport Flyer' has become well known to many travelers, and have become dependent on it when arriving into or departing from SJC. PLEASE, PLEASE. do not discontinue the #10 or incorporate it another route. Keep San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley a place where the traveling public is welcome, and public transportation is easily available to them, especially the free #10. (Note: they would 'pay their fare' on their next leg!!) Routes: 37; 48; 49 Subject: 37,48,49 Even though the ridership might be low there are quite a few of us that depends on these routes. I am a frequent rider of all buses mentioned and also notice a lot of seniors and school kids who use these routes daily. Line 37 is a very important route on this side of town as no other routes within reasonable walking distance are available. 37 is by major shopping centers, post office and libraries that are used by everyone. To cut this route in a busy city is just unacceptible to me and other riders who greatly depend on it as our only choice of transportation. The 48 and 49 in los gatos is another route that is used by service residents who work in retirement facilities, restraunts and los gatos shops and businesses. Without transportation in these areas all these businesses in the area will be All Comments Received on the Draft Plan greatly affected. Please reconsider all three routes mentioned above. Surely in this day and age a better plan can be made for all areas in the valley. Remember the more you cut the more you lose riderships as is what has happened these last 10 years. Go back to the drawing board and lets be fare to all who use your service. Thank you. [Name redacted] Routes: General Project Comment Subject: access My experience with the VTA, with any bus system, leads me to say that it's not only important where the buses go, but where and how often they stop. A long walk at the beginning and/or end of a trip leads the rider to find another means of transportation or to forgo the trip entirely. I'm speaking for myself because I ride the bus when I am injured or otherwise can't bike. A long walk makes it impossible to get to the stop. [Name redacted] Routes: 81 Subject: 81 Respected Sir/Madam, Myself [Name redacted] student of San Jose State University always take 81 bus to commute . It is the only bus available for me to commute to the university daily . I received an email from VTA , the change in the 81 bus route . I am very unhappy about it , because there is no stop at 4th street(San Jose State University) from Fall 2017. I would like to make another request " please provide the bus facility for every 15 mins." Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general We are writing to express concerns regarding proposed service changes in Gilroy. As our community continues to experience population growth and attract new job creating businesses, we feel the proposed service cuts to the community would have very negative consequences. Under the Draft Plan, our existing residents will lose lines 15, 17 and 19 for intra‐city transportation. These changes will have an adverse impact on a number of Gilroy residents that depend on these routes for access to employment, healthcare and other services. Our community has a high percentage of lower income families that rely on VTA as their only means of transportation. The Draft Plan results in a 50% coverage cut to Gilroy routes. As our population and city continues to grow and provide housing to the Silicon Valley workforce, these cuts will also have a negative impact on businesses within the region. The Draft Plan also fails to take into consideration coverage for the west side of Gilroy, where the majority of residential growth is occurring, and service to Gavilan Community College. Gilroy is a community of out‐commuters, with over 15,000 residents leaving town each day to employment areas north of our community. Fewer public transportation options will significantly impact our congested roadways and result in increased trip miles for many residents. It is imperative that VTA consider the needs of Gilroy residents and businesses when determining how to structure a transit system that does not adversely impact the needs of our community. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I work at the SJC as a volunteer. One of the wonderful features we have for our passengers is the convenience of the FREE shuttle. Passengers take it all the time to get a bite to eat at our local eateries while waiting for their next flight. It would make many people unhappy to change this great special service we have in SJC. Hope you keep it the way it is. Routes: 120 Subject: 120 Pls pls pls do not cancel VTA 120. That is a lifeline for me to get to work and back. I have been using this VTA 120 for a long long time now. Your alternates are not feasible and will cause more delay, stress in getting to work and back since they will have to do thru multiple hops. The Express 120 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan avoids all that. Hwy880 and 237 will not be able to get wider. If you cancel 120, I will be yet another single driver in a single vehicle polluting the air, my health and providing poor quality of life to my kids since Daddy has to spend more time on the road fighting traffic. Pls keep VTA 120 alive. [Name redacted] Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Gilroy Bus Serv. VTA, Once again, VTA is considering changes, and or elimination of bus service in Gilroy. Shame on you! Perhaps one solution is to run smaller buses on the routes with fewer passengers, or something else creative and less disruptive. South Santa Clara County has always been an underserved community! We fought for Cal‐Train years ago. All of these services are vital to those without transportation to go to school, get to the Doctor, go to the store. I did not attend the last meeting but attended one about a year and a half ago. There; many of the residents wanted better sun protection at the bus stops and expressed the need for more buses to places like the St. Louise Medical Center and to the DMV. With the horrid congestion on the 101 and with increased population in Gilroy, it is critically important that routes be maintained, and up‐graded services be considered. This is NOT the time to eliminate any route because of the impact to our most vulnerable, and needy residents. Routes: 63; 65 Subject: 63,65 I would like to comment about the proposed bus routes 63 and 65 changes that may be made. I understand the reasoning behind making the changes, especially when ridership is low. But, on the other hand, if people from outlying areas cannot get to the middle infrastructure of bus service, light rail, BART and train stations, this decreases the amount of riders throughout the entire system. Those that are able to drive will use their vehicles if they cannot easily take public transit. Unfortunately, some people do not have the option to drive. Being able to drive instead of taking public transportation is not an option for my daughter, who is a disabled adult. She is unable to drive. She travels via route 27 and 63 to her job at the Safeway on Camden and Almaden Expressway. With a decrease or discontinuation of route 63 to that Safeway store, she will not have a way to get to and from work. I would like to stress how difficult it is for disabled people to find good employment. Public transportation is vital to these members of our community. The discontinuation of the 63 bus route all the way to Camden and Almaden would require her to leave her job, which will affect her ability to remain independent. Please consider keeping the route all the way to Camden and Almaden. In fact, I would like to propose that the frequency and the service hours for the 63 to that area be increased. This would give her the ability to expand her work hours. At present, her work hours are very limited due to public transportation availability. My daughter also uses the 65 bus route to get to her classes at the College of Adaptive Arts in San Jose. With changes to that route she may not be able to continue with her classes if she cannot easily get there. The school is very important to her as a means of education, as well as for networking and socializing with her peers. Please reconsider the changes to route 65. There are other disabled adults living in her community that would be affected by the changes in these routes. Please always keep in mind that disabled members of our community lose their independence when transportation options are decreased. This affects their ability for work, education, entertainment, socialization, and in general, with their daily living. Please do not limit their transportation abilities, which is so vital to their everyday life! Thank you for reviewing and considering my comments. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Bart Connections Why the focus on connecting only to BART? What about connecting to Caltrain and the Light Rail?? People in the South Bay, along the peninsula, do not have easy access to BART but there is a great All Comments Received on the Draft Plan need for CT & LR to be connected to (better than) decent bus service. Thank you for your consideration. [Name redacted] Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I am a Host Volunteer at the information booth at both Terminal A and Terminal B. The present bus service to the Light Rail and Cal Train Stations as an independent Bus Route is a vital and important service to many travelers from our airport. I know the ridership is not large but it is a convenient service to those who wish to get to points surrounding the City San Jose and to get to cities north along the peninsula served by Cal Train. I would recommend that this independent route be saved by making it a paying route and do away as a FREE Route. Many travelers ask if this a paying service so it seems many of them are willing to pay for this convenience. Please consider keeping this bus route independent. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: 48, 49 I understand the need to reduce service to low traffic routes, but please do not cut the 48/49 service to the Los Gatos civic center because it connects the public to important services including a hospital, library, police station, post office and of course the civic center. It is also important for many employees who commute to Los Gatos for work. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Day pass The clipper cards are cool and all but i tend to loose them along with all the money i put on them. So it it not so convenient for some one like me. I dont mind keeping cash on me sense i dont use debt or credit cards on my daily activity. But it really pisses me of that sense i dont use the clipper card there no way just to buy a day pass at the bus or lightrail machine. I find myself useing 10 plus dollars on just one days worth of public transit travel. This is not right there is no reason why someone should not be able to buy a day pass with cash. Its like you just want to rip us off and keep making us pay the fair. In no way does it hurt your company to let people buy a day pass on the go. And for people that have clipper cards what happens if there's no walgreens in a reasonable distance or your just in a rush and you just dont have the time to go to the store. I dont believe you should have to keep paying the fair with no option of a day pass with cash. I hope you reconsider your company policy and let us buy day passes on the go with cash. Routes: 31 Subject: 31 Please keep this line from Eastridge to Evergreen. The times match my bus route transfers. I do not have an alternate form of transportation. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: pamplets As an operator, I'm trying to inform my passengers of the changes. I hear much too often that the 65 discontinuance will be a huge hit on the community. Also anything going to the VA. I was happy to see thee will be ambassadors giving out information and I think it should happen regularly until the changes come. Most people were uninformed when last years day passes were discontinued. I would be happy to tell my passengers where to find information in the panflets! Routes: 181 Subject: 181 [Name redacted] February 7 at 11:47pm We need 181 to stay for students and others residence who works in SJ All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general I am writing to you on behalf of El Camino Hospital in Los Gatos. Since becoming part of the El Camino Hospital family, the Los Gatos campus has been an important resource for the Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Jose, and Saratoga communities with 24/7 emergency care, mother‐
baby care, a fast‐track stone program and other specialized programs, such as men?s health, urology, sleep disorders, and orthopedics. We are committed to the health of our communities and devoted to offering quality, compassionate care in a community setting. As part of our commitment to our community, we encourage our staff, patients, and visitors to use alternative forms of transportation to access the hospital. Currently there is a VTA bus stop located directly in front of our hospital serving the #48 bus route. According to the Draft Next Network Plan, the #48 route will be discontinued and replaced with a revised #27 route with increased frequency. While we support combining multiple bus lines in the area to serve the wider community and increasing frequency on the route, we were disappointed to see that no bus will now stop in front of our hospital. With the new plan, the closest bus stop will be located on Winchester Boulevard over a half mile away. We respectfully request that the VTA please reconsider the #27 route to include a stop in front of the Los Gatos campus of El Camino Hospital. By including a stop in front of the hospital, we can continue to serve our patients and visitors and encourage our staff to take alternative transportation by offering them another transportation option besides single‐occupancy vehicles. In addition, by having the revised #27 route stop in front of the hospital instead of the current #48 route, a large number of our staff, patients, and visitors living in Blossom Hill, Almaden, and Santa Teresa would be much better served by direct transit service to the hospital. Overall we are supportive of the changes VTA is proposing to improve access to transit services in Santa Clara County. However, in order to continue to best serve the February 20, 2017 James Unites Deputy Director of Transit Operations Valley Transportation Authority 3331 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134 Dear James, ALTRANS is appreciative that the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is making plans to improve transit ridership levels by adjusting bus and light rail routes throughout the Valley. As VTA modifies the system routes to accomplish a cost‐neutrality basis, we would like to point out two services that could be retained as part of the Next Network System. Line 27 (Proposed) As the attached letter from our client El Camino Hospital ? Los Gatos states, VTA should maintain a bus‐stop in front of this critical trip‐generator. Depending upon where the bus stop would be for the proposed 27 route, the distance to walk to Winchester Boulevard could be greater than one half‐mile, which is too far for many of our employees and patients. We believe that additional patients would need to utilize the VTA?s Paratransit Service if the current bus stop was eliminated in front of the hospital, which would defeat the overall cost‐neutrality program goal. ALTRANS recommends that the proposed 27 route circle around the hospital similar to the current 48 route alignment. Line 65 (Existing) Approximately 140 San Jose State University (SJSU) students currently use route 65, from a total of almost 900 students that live along the route 65 corridor. Routes 61, 63 and 66 are listed as alternative routes to use if route 65 was eliminated. Looking at a map, route 66 is clearly not an option for the students that live along the Leigh Corridor; likewise route 61 will not travel close enough to SJSU to be an affective mode of transportation for students. In addition, many students that reside in (student) rental housing between SJSU and Hedding and 13th Streets, would not be served if route 65 was eliminated. On behalf of our transportation peers and associates at San Jose State University, line 65 should not be eliminated. Thank you for your consideration to study these recommendations and incorporating these two transit needs into VTA?s and the public?s Next Network System. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am writing to advocate for NOT discontinuing bus 89. I am a Recreation Therapist on the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at PAD and our patients often take passes to leave campus and access the community. As most of these veterans utilize wheelchairs for mobility, many of them either do not have an accessible vehicle or are not cleared to drive at all. They require use of accessible public transportation to enter the community and discontinuing this bus line would greatly impact their ability to do so. Additionally, we often utilize public transportation as a means of treatment and community access training for our newly injured spinal cord patients. This is a useful resource for many of our treatment goals which benefit our veterans recovery every day. Please consider keeping the bus 89 line route to and from PAD so our veterans can continue to heal and be supported by their community on their road to recovery. Thank you. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I have been a Volunteer at the San Jose Airport for the last 5‐6 years. I am an individual with disabilities and I do not drive. I have been taking the Light Rail early in the morning and transfer to Bus#10 to get to the Airport to volunteer on Saturdays. At the Airport, I refer lots of passengers to Bus #10 which is free as well. I refer them to bus #10 when they want to know how to get to Caltarin Station or to go to SF or get to the Metro Light Rail to travel to Downtown San Jose or other locations. They also use Bus #10 to get to restaurants and then come back to the Airport to catch their next Flight. Please do not change Bus 10 and if you do, please make it free. If Bus 10 is taken away, I do not know how to get to the Airport to Volunteer. I may nott be able to volunteer anymore. Also, If I do not get the free ECO Pass, I will not be able to continue to volunteer at the Airport. Please allow us to help the passengers. Please Keep Bus 10 for free and grant the volunteers Eco Pass. Thank you! Routes: 330 Subject: 330 Hi VTA: Please do not cut 330 Bus Limited. There are people on that bus that take it to work every day from the south bay. VTA even added an early line at 7:00a.m. and another at 4:30p.m. at night for that 330 bus line. So I do not get it. I take the 330 bus at Camden and Union which is a straight shot to Cisco. Now, I know there are other routes I can take, but this is the fastest way for me to get to work. If you take this away for everyone, it will add time travel for most people because they have to transfer to another bus or light rail. My co‐worker lives at Santa Teresa and Cahalan in the Santa Teresa area which there are no buses that run in that area. She walks 30 minutes to the light rail to catch it. Why there is no buses that connect to the light rail in the Santa Teresa area? There is a big hole there for that area which makes no sense. The 27 does not reach her nor does the 330 Limited bus to go to Cisco. Can you advertise on TV, or Newspaper that there are changes happening to the public transportation system? Taking public transportation is good for everyone. People are choking the freeways and highways with their cars. People just do not know what a service you provide, if you don?t, you will create more traffic for everyone. Routes: 51 Subject: 51 Husky Trains 51 should be routed to West valley and serve monta Vista high at Cupertino Routes: 96 Subject: 96 I am looking at housing on Santa Teresa ...the walk to the 96 is over 2 miles to get there...we need an east west route. The house is located at the Eagle Ridge Golf Community I think the closest street would be monterey about 2 miles south and the Santa Teresa / 152 W is 1.5 miles north from the main gate that I would have to walk thru All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 34 Subject: 34 Bus 34 is vital to the seniors living in this area. Most people are retired and have no cars and rely on public transportation even though walkers and other means are used to get to the bus stop. School children and workers housewives with children also depend on this service. If this service is removed, it will be very difficult for many of us who are dependent on this service to have a means of transport. I believe that more riders will increase if they can depend on the schedules posted as the buses can be late or when they breakdown, there may not be any replacement sent. Dependability or someway of informing riders when a problem occurs will certainly increase the confidence in this service, along with suggestion input from riders. Please consider these before canceling Bus 34 nroutes. Routes: 181 Subject: 181 It is important to me that the 181 continue in operation. If and when the BART station really opens at Warm Springs, riders will still need an express bus line to San Jose Civic Center and downtown San Jose. That means we need VTA to continue running the 181 from Fremont BART or at least start a new express line that goes from Warm Springs BART to the civic center, downtown, etc. please note that the 181 is essential to people who live in Alameda County (or even SF or Contra Costa) and work for Santa Clara County government agencies or attend San Jose State University. Termination of this vital public transportation link would jeopardize our employment and the ability of these students to continue attending San Jose State. And that doesn?t even factor in those folks who live in Fremont and board the 181 from other stops in Fremont between the BART station and the 880 Freeway. Thank you for your consideration. Routes: 37; 48 Subject: 37,48 I live in the San Tomas Aquino neighborhood of Campbell. This is reasonably dense suburbia (by Silicon Valley standards). Currently it is sparsely served by Routes 37 and 48. I am concerned that BOTH these routes are scheduled to be discontinued in the draft plan, and there is no replacement. I've attached an image of the isochrones for this area from your website. The roughly circular shape of the 30‐minute contour shows that there will be essentially no bus service within walking distance after the planned changes. Both these routes serve as a vital connection to the Winchester Light Rail Station. I understand the need to consolidate low‐ridership and / or low‐frequency routes, but urge you to keep at least one of these services, possibly at an increased frequency. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail Just saw your YouTube video titled: Webinar about VTA's Transit Redesign in Palo Alto & Mountain View I would like to see the light rail expanded into Palo Alto. Routes: Light Rail Subject: light rail Just to be clear, I would like to see the light rail expanded into downtown Palo Alto University Avenue. Routes: 20 Subject: 20 I would very much like route 20 extended to downtown Pallo Alto ‐ University Ave. Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 Why delete 37 65? 65 bus is my favorite bus stop that I depend on most to get to San Jose city college 37 is closest by my home if delete 37 I would have to walk far to get to 64 bus but I can understand u want make more new buses for other buses that might will bring higher ridership for this fall. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 48; 49 Subject: 48, 49 I cannot attend he meeting tonight on changes in the VTA routes. I am asking you to continue service along Los Gatos Blvd to downtown Los Gatos. This route provides rides to the high school for many students and to downtown for elders to the library and post office, a needed service on our community. Routes: 58 Subject: 58 I'm concerned about the discontinuation of route 58. Route 58 is extremely convenient for me, and has very good connections to other routes/lite rail. As far as I can tell, the routes suggested to make up for the discontinuation would end up being more of a hassle, and require more transfers to get to places, that I could previously get to with only one transfer or no transfer. I may end up resorting to using taxi or uber/lyft service, just for the sake of less hassle, even though the price is a lot more... Please let me know if there's any way to keep the 58 or if there will be any solutions for transfers... (The free transfer survey will hopefully result in free transfers at least... If not, I most definitely will be finding some other way to get around.) I mostly use the 58 for travel down to the Central Park library in Santa Clara (The stop on Kiely Blvd and Homestead) and in general for a way to get to areas around Kiely and El Camino. The other main use I take it for is for the lite rail stations, (River Oak and Tasmin). I appreciate any feedback! Please, I need to know how I'm going to be able to get around in the coming times... And if it will mean more transfers. Thank you. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Evergreen Guys...i'm a SJSU student and have to travel one and half hours everyday to reach the univ. from Evergreen via Eastridge. So it takes me 3 hours of commute everyday to and fro the univ to my home and there are many other SJSU students like myself who share the same problem.? ?Please plan of an express route that directly connects evergreen to downtown. I would really appreciate it as it would help me and all the SJSU students utilize our precious time and money on our studies and education rather than just traveling throughout the day. #Vtatransitredesign? Routes: General Project Comment Subject: paratransit The survey does not include anything about the proposed changes for RTC card holders from $25 to $45 or $30. For poor disabled people, even $5 is a huge amount of money. I know. I live on SSDI with no frills or savings with a 0.3% COLA this year. I'm sure that the VTA can do without this fare increase. The only way that I found out about this was at the fares table staffed by Alvin Lucas at the Mountain View community meeting. This information is not in any VTA documents for the public that I've been able to find. I brought 3 disabled neighbors to the meeting, but they couldn't stay for the last part to find out about this. How do I explain this to my neighbors? Tell them to fill out the second to last section of the survey with their comments ??? There are 120 apartments in my building for seniors and the disabled. We submitted a petition about our the stop on our street (which is being eliminated) with 27 signatures. Do you have a pdf about the increased fares that I can print out? We only have till the 20th and if you have some documentation, I might have enough time to help my neighbors and myself. Routes: 68 Subject: 68 Your service on the west side of Gilroy is totally inadequate. There are tens of thousands of people that live there, but only a very inaccessible, infrequent bus line that connects the people to Route 68 and the train stations. You need a bus that runs along Santa Teresa, probably starting at Gavilan All Comments Received on the Draft Plan College, all the way through Gilroy (past First Street, past Christopher High), though San Martin (past Highland, past San Martin Ave.), up to Morgan Hill, possibly turning east on Watsonville Road to Butterfield, and onto Morgan Hill Caltrain and 68 line. The little local feeder lines in Gilroy that you have serving hat neighborhoods is inadequate, and hardly anybody uses it. You need a major line that connects the west side of Gilroy to transportation hubs going north, toward San Jose. The 68 line along Monterey Road is frequent, and it serves hundreds of people a day. But, there should be an equivalent on the west side of Gilroy, along Santa Teresa. Routes: 81 Subject: 81 Route 81 needs much better signage to warn riders about route bypass to MVHS. Many many times, I have stopped to let people waiting( middle of the day) at Fremont and Grant know that the bus doesn't stop at that stop ‐ most of the day. I know this because I occasionally take this bus, and I have to check carefully about times and stops. Just last Thursday, I told a man in a wheelchair that he needed to go back up Grant Road to Morton to catch the bus to MV. Poor guy had been sitting in the rain for an hour wondering why the bus wasn't coming. People see a bus stop and assume a bus will be coming. Routes: General Project Question Subject: extended service a) Since we do not have light‐rail in Cupertino area, Is it possible to arrange more buses in morning and evening (return) between Great America/Tasman and Cupertino junctions? This will definitely attract commuters, who are tired of driving this stretch of congested Lawrence and san tomas corridor. There should be a bus, every 5 to 10 minutes. Points of pick up can be De‐anza, Miller Ave Junction, Moorpark junction, (few suggestions, could be more) 8‐10 AM. Drop‐off, Great America junction, Tasman, Sunnyvale, etc., 5‐7 PM. Ps: Wifi would be added advantage. Routes: 330 Subject: 330 I have been a daily rider of route 330 to and from 85/Camden to the end at Tasman/Alder for over 5 years. If you discontinue this route I will have to get back in my car, YUCK!! Any alternate bus route will double my commute time, which is not acceptable. Please keep this route active!! Routes: 53; 54 Subject: 53, 54 My kids use Route 54 to get to DeAnza College daily. We see that it will be discontinued. The replacement route is on Sunnyvale Saratoga which is quite a ways from house. I am not sure how often we will use that link versus some other method to get to school. We will miss the 53 and 54 buses !! Routes: 48; 49 Subject: 48, 49 I'm asking that you continue service on Los Gatos Blvd south to Main St and the post office. This route serves students and elders in our town and would be sorely missed. Routes: 37; 65 Subject: 65, 37 There are alternatives to eliminating Route 65 and Route 37 ‐‐ perhaps rebate Measure B sales taxes to residents within a half mile of these corridors? Considering that Routes 65 and 37 serve the Camden‐Hillsdale Urban Village, and Urban Villages are selected because they are TRANSIT‐
ORIENTED, eliminating transit to and from these Urban Villages seems short‐sighted. Other Urban Villages to be denied service include Camden‐Branham and Camden‐Kooser. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 60 Subject: 60 I think it would be great if there were a way to go from Saratoga to the Winchester Ave station of the light rail on 49er game days. Right now, we all drive over there, or to another station to get to the games. It would also be great if there were a more direct service from the Winchester station to Levi Stadium. Right now, it stops at every stop so takes about an hour. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: connections to Caltrain I live in West San Jose and would like to provide the following feedback. 1. There is no service that connects West San Jose and Saratoga/Campbell to a Caltrain station. With the worsening road traffic, many people including myself, would like to consider using Caltrain to travel north. Also, parking at the Caltrain station is often a problem. VTA could operate this only in peak hours ‐ 2‐3 buses each in the morning and evening that connect to specific Caltrains to/from SF, such as the baby bullets. It should be an express service from West Valley/Saratoga, Campbell, Westgate Mall and express over 280 south to San Jose Diridon. I am sure it will attract excellent ridership. An additional bonus would be for this bus to continue on from SJ Diridon to provide a connection to San Jose Airport. 2. Similarly, there is currently no connection from West San Jose and Saratoga/Campbell to the Fremont BART. I suggest an express service from West Valley/Saratoga, Campbell, Westgate Mall and then express over San Tomas Expwy to 880 and Fremont BART. Again this could be a peak‐hour only service. I hope these ideas can be turned in to reality soon! Best , ‐[Name redacted] Routes: Light Rail Subject: Light rail I am a retired person, and appreciate being able to use the light rail from Winchester to downtown San Jose to attend events. But there are times when the parking lot is full, and I have had to (illegally) use the spacious parking across the street. Routes: 48; 49 Subject: 48, 49 As a resident in one of the surrounding downtown Los Gatos neighborhoods, I was pleased to hear the bus route on E. Main (passing by the high school, library and community center) may soon be discontinued. I've called VTA for years to create awareness of buses that remain at nearby stops with engines idling for 10 ‐15 minute stretches. They're extremely noisy and can be heard for miles up the hill. Thanks for accepting my comment to proposed plan. Routes: 10 Subject: 10 I am a host volunteer at San Jose Airport and the "FREE" #10 bus is one I direct passengers to many times during a shift. I believe the City will be placing an additional detouring reason for passengers to fly into San Jose. They have numerous reasons to avoid using flying into our airport and visiting our city. This is just one more nail in our coffin of failure. Routes: 21; 35 Subject: 21 I see that the new route 21 is not going to go around the Showers Dr. loop to stop at the Cal Train stop in Mountain View. I believe this is not a good idea. Riders using the Cal Train at this stop will have a very long walk to the nearest 21 bus stop. I think the best way is to keep the original 35 route that stops at Cal Train and then loops around the Walmart transit center. Additionally there is a low income housing complex located on Showers Dr near the end by Franciscan Glass that would also be impacted by this route change. All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 65, 13 I have contacted the VTA authorities multiple times regarding this matter in the past. Thought of sharing this with VTA again to see where we are with this. I missed attending recent VTA meetings & hence thought of writing this up in the email. I believe my request is a development opportunity to VTA. This request is regarding route change of VTA bus route‐66(bringing it closer to Dixon landing park area). I am a resident of Milpitas and a regular VTA bus/light‐rail commuter. Typically me along with my family members take Route‐66 for commute to/from work(Only option available). The first/last stop for Route‐66 bus is on North Milpitas Blvd (Intersection of North Milpitas Blvd & Dixon Landing Road) In‐order to take Route‐66 bus, we have to walk approximately 1.2miles one way from my home on daily basis. I live in one of the homes behind Dixon Landing Park.There are many communities(listed below) in and around Dixon landing area whose residents also faces similar situation of walking ~1.0 to catch the bus. ‐ Housing Community on the Back of Dixon Landing Park ‐ Mill‐Creek Apartments ‐ Housing Communities on intersection of Milmont & Summerwind/Seaside drive ‐ Non‐profit Swaminarayan Temple (>1000 people gather here on weekends & holidays) ‐ Non‐
profit Shirdi Sai Parivar (>1000 people gather here on Thursdays, weekends & holidays) ‐ 100+ businesses on Milmont Drive, California Circle, Fairview Way, Cadillac Ct etc. ‐ Spinnaker Pointe Apartments ‐ Apartments between Dixon/North Milpitas & Dixon/Milmont drive. ‐ Waterstone housing community of 125 homes coming up on California circle. There are lots of residents(~20+, many of whom are kids & elderly parents) whom i know are eagerly looking forward for Route ‐66 to come closer to the Dixon Landing park area & California Circle. I happen to see lots of elderly parents, some walking >1mile in extreme heat/wind/cold to catch the bus or are walking back towards Dixon & Milmont drive after being dropped at Dixon & Arizona. There are more than 1000+ residents living in & around Dixon Landing park, who could benefit from this cause, if VTA change their route, i.e. to bring it closer to Dixon Landing Park area. Doing some research, I found out that similar request was made some 10 year ago as well by one of the temple authorities on California Circle. Like me, they were also informed that extending Line 66 to this area is not operationally feasible at this time. However, we will be looking at this area for a possible service expansion in the future. So based on this data, it looks like this would never be a possibility. Because 10 years is a long time to think upon. Analyzing the route, I believe it could be practically feasible. Route‐66 bus after reaching Dixon & Arizona(last stop) halts there for a period of 10‐15mins after which it goes to the intersection of Dixon & North Milpitas Blvd(near Walgreens) to start the route again. Instead of stopping over at Dixon & Arizona, it could continue towards Dixon & Milmont Drive, stop over here or continue further towards California Circle, route through the entire California Circle & come back to Dixon & North Milpitas Blvd(near Walgreens) to start the route again. This way the impact on bus timings could be almost minimum to none. To add to that, we now have Bart passing through this route as well. I sincerely request the VTA to consider looking into this matter as it would hugely benefit lots of residents living around this vicinity. 1/2 mile of an extension would help residents significantly as well as increase revenue prospects for City & VTA. Looking forward to hearing back on this soon. Routes: 89 Subject: 89 I would like to know that u shouldn?t change it right now, but in the future about 1or2years from now. You make hard for all people who are disabled & so called normal people to ride the bus throughout San Jose,Ca. There are some lines that u don?t need them but, don?t delete line 89. It show be in service for an while & extend the hours that are in service, until 7pm, if possible from the hospital . This is what u should do about line 89, When it goes to the VA hospital as an 89, then it should leave the hospital as line 88 and vise versa. This is my suggestion. Back years ago when Ruby All Comments Received on the Draft Plan was on line 88 for an longtime until her retired then u made an new line 89, all u need to do was to, when they come in the hospital to go clockwise and counterclockwise, that?s why I asked the driver before I board, what direction are u going, back before 00. Thanks for your understanding in this matter. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 By cancelling the 65 you take away my transit to SJSU, I will have to drive. :‐( Routes: General Project Comment Subject: paratransit I think I understand why you would stop buses in Almaden Valley because there is not that much ridership, but to take ALL buses out would be very hard on our community. Can you consider changing the routes to closer to homes (right now Almaden Expressway is at least one of the routes) where more people can have a closer walking access to the buses. I understand you are considering having and Leland High and/or Bret Harte route. I think that is a good idea. Also, I think there should be at least one morning route to get to work and one evening route to get home from work. Isn?t Paratransit connected to the bus lines? What will those that need Paratransit do? Please come up with a plan for those who are disabled to get around. Routes: 37 Subject: 37 I would like to protest the possible closure of Route #37 which you are planing to enact in the Fall of 2017. This line is practically the only mass transit line that connects across several large swaths of suburban neighborhood family dwellings, apartments, and low cost housing. It connects many of the inhabitants in this large area to several other routes in the VTA system as well as other transportation systems in the Bay Area. It also allows safe and efficient access to many other businesses and services in the Santa Clara Valley that people need to travel to to maintain productive and useful lives. The loss of this route would require individuals who must take mass transit to perform their daily routines with much longer walking distances as well as more route transfers to get to their necessary destinations. Not only do I often see college students take this bus route to Foothill College and back to the Capital Light Rail Station at the other end, but in‐between these two terminating stops, many mothers with small children, handicapped individuals, elderly, and people who just do not have access to cars for whatever the reason, also take this line regularly. It is not uncommon for example, with the large suburban developments they live in, to be a significant distance from fully stocked grocery stores, malls, financial and government offices, doctor & dental services, etc. In my neighborhood alone, I am at least two to three miles away from a well‐stocked grocery store (and not including the irregularly stocked "discount" stores who seem to carry every thing but what I really need at the time). I can still walk the distances needed to these places but it is not that easy carrying a couple of arm loads of groceries two miles in the pouring rain or 90+ degree weather either. I can't imagine my neighbors trying to deal with this with one, two, or more children, those older than me, or even my next door neighbor who has no legs and gets around has to travel blocks and blocks in his electric wheelchair (and in which has on occasion run out of battery power). On Union Avenue, near Camden, there is the Camden Community Center which has exercise and swimming programs for children, the handicapped, the elderly, and the rest of the community. It is a 3 mile walk from my house which I often do daily, but here again if it is raining or very hot, it can be difficult. Without #37 route (which is the case on weekends) for example, and if I couldn't walk for whatever reason, I would have to take the #63 to the #26 stop on Curtner and Meridian (I have walked the mile there as well since the #63 and the #26 schedules often don't synchronize well on weekends either and one could stand in the rain or heat for twenty minutes too) and them the #26 up to Union stop on Curtner than the #62 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan down to stop for the community center near Camden. It takes a tremendous amount of effort and time where the #37 takes something like 10 minutes on a bad Hillsdale/Camden traffic day (which there are plenty of them as well). I hope you reconsider your elimination of this line and understand that it is being used by a wide cross section of ordinary people who live in a very large and crowded area who are without automobiles or a means other than a reliable and functional public transit system to get to the places that are required in a reasonable amount of time within a busy day to maintain their basic well being, and are not just some elite few who don't like to driving their own cars in all the traffic in the area. Thank you for reading this. Routes: 13; 63 Subject: 63, 13 Accessibility of public transit is vital to Almaden Valley. We have over 500 supporters who signed the petition to keep VTA service in Almaden Valley. Many people have also left comments. Without bus service, our non‐driving seniors won't be able to stay socially active. This will negatively affect their health, both physically and physiologically. ‐Without buses, some of our middle school, high school, and college students can't travel between home and schools independently. Driving is not an option for many of them. VTA service is the only affordable option for these families. 2. Some of us purchased our homes in Almaden Valley because of its public transit accessibility. 3. Discontinuing all bus routes will cut our area off from the whole public transportation network. 4. We should not evaluate public transportation only as a profit making business. It is a NEEDED SERVICE for a healthy, growing city. Thank you for listening to our voice. Please vote to maintain VTA service to Harry Rd! Routes: 10; 63 Subject: 63 63? 7:39? Camden Ave? 10? Routes: 37; 48; 49 Subject: 37, 48, 49 We are in great need of these lines continuing to operate Lines 37, 48, 49 which service us at Stops Pollard, Hacienda. These West Valley lines support our workforce for commuting, And our educational programs. Please do not eliminate, or reduce, or disrupt this service. There are really no other options for us. Thank you. Routes: 88 Subject: 88 It is with great concern that I write to you regarding the proposed changes to the 88 Bus schedule. I am a Special Education Teacher in the Futures Program at Gunn High School. Our students ride the 88 bus during the school day to help foster independence and life skills. Community Outings are an integral part of our program, and the 88 bus is our lifeline to the greater Palo Alto Community. The Futures students travel on the 88 to the library, grocery store, park,Town and Country, Caltrain and restaurants. They plot out the bus routes, and work on social skills, money handling and transactions, ordering a meal, checking out a book, shopping from a grocery list, understanding and obeying traffic rules and traveling safely. The hope is that with this training, the students will graduate from Gunn High School with the skills to be independent, contributing and valued members of the Palo Alto Community. Please help us to help our students. We can't get out into the community without the 88 bus running during the school day. I know that the 11:58 bus on Arastradero is always crowded, so many community members would be affected by a change. Thank you for your time and consideration. Routes: 13; 65 Subject: 13, 65 All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Please keep the 13 and 63 in Almaden. These lines are vital for Almaden Valley. Students and others have no other way to get to Almaden. Routes: 17 Subject: 17 I am writing you in regards to the proposal discontinuance of route 17. I?m assuming VTA is planning to take this route off due to number of riders. It has been my observation in more than one Occasion, I have seen a bus do its route and another has followed a few minutes after. Sometime even right behind the other. Can the tracking or managing of current busses potentially save the route? Routes: 37 Subject: 37 Do you realize that a lot of people rely on route 37 to get to school and it's one of the most popular routes. I've been taking that route to school and home for years and for you to take it away just to save time is completely and incredibly selfish. This route connects me from my home to school and it's the fastest routes and you realize that it's going to piss off a lot of college students because not only do I take that route to school and home but it connects me right to my place of work. For you guys to say well it will save time and be efficient did you think about how many students this will effect in the long wrong. Maybe instead of thinking of efficiency think of how it will effect the riders and how they will feel when they learn it will cost them more money to get from school and work and home. I for one am pissed off at you guys. [EXPLETIVE] you all and all you think about is money and not your riders [EXPLETIVE] YOU ALL!!! Routes: 58 Subject: 58 I moved from Fremont to Santa Clara at the end of September of last year. My commute is now much shorter, fewer than 3 miles one way. I now charge my electric car once a week instead of every day. However, I would like to remove my dependency on having a car in order to get to work, which, besides reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, would benefit my health significantly. I do have a bicycle, but I cannot ride it often due to knee problems. I am able to walk without any problems, though. I am disappointed that route 58 is being eliminated. I live in the neighborhood across Montague Expressway from the Rivermark Plaza near De La Cruz Blvd. I work at NVIDIA near San Tomas Expressway and Walsh Ave. Although Route 58 doesn't take me door to door from my house to work, it provides an ideal mix of walking and riding (about 17 and 12 min., respectively). With the proposed new routes, the amount of walking would be significantly increased, and I would have to walk on busy streets, making it more dangerous, especially since I would be doing this several times a week during rush hour. I wouldn't need Route 58 to run very frequently, just during weekdays, and even then, I would only need to get on the bus at either 8:48 or 9:50 AM, and at 6:26 PM to go back home. Routes: 14; 201; General Project Comment Subject: DASH Brandi, Thank you for your response. But I am not reassured by any means that our concerns are being taken into consideration. You did not at all address my concern about the elimination of the DASH. Also, I beg to differ about the 22 where you have ALREADY eliminated stops ‐ for example some along Santa Clara Street in downtown San Jose. Rerouting the 23 means you ARE eliminating stops! You will eliminate a stop for backdoor access to Valley Fair which is much closer to the mall than a hike from Stevens Creek. And more upsetting and shameful, continuing along Stevens Creek means you will be eliminating the stops that serve the many who go to O'Connor hospital and all the clinics nearby! The 323 already takes the Stevens Creek route‐ why change the 23??? All Comments Received on the Draft Plan Routes: 45; 64 Subject: 45, 64 I attended the meeting at the Alum Rock Library yesterday evening & I was not impressed. We didn't need to hear about finances or anything else not related to actual schedule or route changes. I have prepared a list of changes that the residents in the Alum Rock/E. Hills area need to be addressed. Thank you for your time. VTA MEETING ‐‐ 2017/02/13 64 LINE: EXTEND ROUTE ALL THE WAY DOWN MCKEE ROAD & TURN LEFT ON TOYON AVE.; THIS WILL BE THE END OF THIS LINE IN THIS DIRECTION. HAVE THE 64 THEN START FROM TOYON AVE. & TURN RIGHT ON MCKEE ROAD; THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THIS LINE IN THIS DIRECTION. HAVE THE 64 GO DOWN MCKEE ROAD & CONTINUE IT'S CURRENT RUN FROM MCKEE ROAD & WHITE ROAD. 45 LINE: THIS LINE TO START EARLIER IN THE MONRING & END LATER IN THE EVENING AT (45) MINUTE INTERVALS. ALSO; ALSO; HAVE THE 45 RUN ON WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS. BELOW IS A TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE ABOVE REQUESTED TIME EXTENSIONS: WEEKDAYS: 6:00 A.M., 6:45 A.M.; 7:30 A.M.; 8:15 A.M.; 9:00 A.M.; 9:45 A.M.; 10:30 A.M.; 11:15 A.M.; 12:00 P.M.; 12:45 P.M.; 1:30 P.M.; 2:15 P.M.; 3:00 P.M. 3:45 P.M.; 4:30 P.M.; 5:15 P.M.; 6:00 P.M.; 6:45 P.M.; 7:30 P.M.; 8:15 P.M.; 9:00 P.M.; 9:45 P.M.; 10:30 P.M.; 11:15 P.M. WEEKENDS: 7:30 A.M.; 8:15 A.M.; 9:00 A.M.; 9:45 A.M.; 10:30 A.M.; 11:15 A.M.; 12:00 P.M.; 12:45 P.M.; 1:30 P.M.; 2:15 P.M.; 3:00 P.M. 3:45 P.M.; 4:30 P.M.; 5:15 P.M.; 6:00 P.M.; 6:45 P.M.; 7:30 P.M.; 8:15 P.M.; 9:00 P.M.; 9:45 P.M. OUTREACH TYPE VAN: 7:00 A.M. ‐ 11:00 P.M. 7‐DAYS A WEEK (ONCE AN HOUR) ‐‐ RUNS FROM KIRK AVE. & MCKEE ROAD TO KIRK AVE. & ALUM ROCK ROAD; THEN MERGES OVER TO FLEMING ROAD FROM ALUM ROCK AVE. DOWN TO FLEMING ROAD & STORY ROAD. TAKE A (20) MINUTE BREAK; THEN REVERSE THE TRIP. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: To Whomever it may concern: I am in the final phase of negotiation to acquire a building located at the intersection of Scharf and Alum Rock. During my visit today, I noticed that intersection traffic light was disabled and left turn lane into Scharf has been blocked off. Long‐term, closure of this intersection will have significant impact on the valuation of the building. Business located at immediate junction will suffer due to losing 1/2 of the traffic. I have searched the website for additional information on duration of closure or permanency. Could you shed a light into whether this is a permanent intent or temporary action? My decision to purchase or not will hinge, at this point, entirely on your informative reply. Routes: 22; 23; 323 Subject: 23 Hello Brandi, I have already written to Patrick Griffin regarding Route 23 eliminating the access to O?Connor Hospital and all the nearby medical buildings on Forest Ave. Your below response to Roseanna LaVia does not reply to this disgraceful change in routing. The 323 already does the Stevens Creek/San Carlos route. The 23 goes via Forest Ave, via O?Connor Hospital and then to the Valley Fair Transit Center ‐ all of which are very important! I use this route constantly to access all my doctors: Primary Care Physician, Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist, Dermatologist, VRI Radiology Center. Will I need to Uber or Lyft to all these places when you eliminate Forest Ave? The Forest Ave route is very busy and well used. You are wrong about the stops of the 22/23 on Santa Clara. The 3rd/4th Street stops have already been removed requiring a much longer trek to reach the 6th and 1st Street stops. PLEASE check your facts! Routes: General Project Comment Subject: general In general I like the proposals being made for the Next Network. I like the move toward fewer, more frequent routes, and the additional proposed changes to the fare structure. I wish as much additional All Comments Received on the Draft Plan money was being invested into the bus network as it being invested into the Light Rail network. I am a regular morning rider on the 522 from Palo Alto to Wolfe, in Sunnyvale. I do have some specific suggestions: First, I think VTA should fill in stops on the 522 and 523 Rapid routes so that stops are no more than 1 mile apart, instead of the current conditions, with 6 gaps of about 1.7 miles each. This insures that riders, after they get to the route, never have to walk more than an additional 1/2 mile to get to a Rapid stop. In Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara there are areas with high density, some in brand new apartment buildings on El Camino that are more than 1/2 mile from the nearest 522 stop. New stops in Palo Alto at Embarcadero and Ventura, in Mountain View near Escuella and near Grant, retaining the stop at Hollenbeck for Sunnyvale city hall and library while adding a stop at Sunnyvale Ave, and a stop at El Camino/Alameda in Santa Clara would bring the largest gaps down from about 1.7 miles to less than one mile, and put Rapid stops within a reasonable walk of many more residents. This would reward those who have decided to live on or near our ?Grand Boulevard? with better access to the 522 Rapid route and the VTA network. Of course adding stops will slow the bus some, but passenger boarding times are not limiting speed. Much more significant is traffic delays, especially due to signals. VTA should work with cities and implement traffic signal priority on all rapid bus routes, and signal preemption for VTA light rail and Rapid buses with dedicated lanes. Travel from Milpitas to Mountain View on LRT should average at least 20 mph, or faster, to attract riders. If LRT cannot achieve this, then the existing express bus from Fremont, or Warm Springs, should be retained. Speed should be monitored throughout the system, and goals for average speed should be promoted. I hope the average speed for the new dedicated lanes on Alum Rock will show increases over current service, and also VTA can work with cities to invest in these signal upgrades and street designs that allow successful ?jump lanes?. On my one ride on the 323, I was astounded at how slow it was from W. San Carlos into Downtown. Please monitor the speed of that route and make sure it is Rapid. If not, consider alternatives that will speed up this line, such as using an alternative routing away from W San Carlos and the transit mall so that it can avoid the most congested parts of the route. Finally, I hope that Clipper card usage will increase, as it speeds boarding. You should consider a discount for Clipper (or a surcharge for cash) as part of the fare structure. SF Muni already does this. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Gilroy Bus Serv. I would like to see more routes to Gilroy and downtown San Jose 24 hours a day. I work the swing shift in downtown San Jose and sometimes I need to stay later. When I stay till 12:00am at work, I miss the last bus to Gilroy forcing me to stay at work or get an overpriced hotel. Also, since South county area does not have light rail or bart availability, it would be nice to have a mini express bust that works 24 hours a day. This bus would only make a few stops from Gilroy to Santa Teresa Light rail station. I take the bus and light rail to work everyday from Gilroy and since I work the swing shift I am often on the 2 hour ride to Gilroy. A lot of people that I meet don?t want to be on the bus for 2 hours. Make the bus go from Gilroy transit to Santa Teresa through Monterey Rd so that people that live on that side (No Santa Teresa) have a speedy way to get to work. I leave my home at 1030am from San Juan Bautista. I take 3 buses and light rail. I get to work about 1pm. So it can take me from 2.5 to 3 hours a day each way. I hope this information is helpful. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Gilroy Bus Serv. Please do not cut service to Gilroy, especially Route 17, which is needed to take citizens up Murray Ave. to many Social Services located there. I'm also concerned about the Route to Gavalin College, please INCREASE the times as our high school students have a College program at Gavalin and our College students need to get to class on time! Another issue is that your proposed service map does All Comments Received on the Draft Plan not expand services through out our town, leaving the majority of our residents without the option of taking Public Transportation. We have no reliable Cab service or Urber, there are no other options! Gilroy's service should never be reduced. We have some of the most needy County residents who need the bus. Please do not cut our local service to serve the Tech sector‐ to get them to Silicon Valley quickly. Yes, they need a bus but so do our residents traveling throughout Gilroy & those trying to get to San Jose during the day. Routes: 65 Subject: 65 I rely on Bus 65 to get to work. Please keep this bus. thx! Routes: 23; 55 Subject: 23, 55 Please consider my requests affecting Northbound 55 and Eastbound 23 as part of the public comments for the Fall 2017 Transit Proposal. Please consider routing Northbound 55 and Eastbound 23 from De Anza College through southbound Stelling, eastbound McClellan, and northbound De Anza Blvd to Stevens Creek and beyond. For Eastbound 23, please add stops on De Anza Blvd at Pacifica and De Anza Blvd at Rodrigues, where there are Route 55 stops today. Under the Fall 2017 Transit Proposal, there is currently no plan to offer transit service on De Anza south of Stevens Creek. But omitting eastbound transit service from De Anza College/Stelling/McClellan/De Anza Blvd for routes 23 and 55 is a missed opportunity because many homes are located along or adjacent to this route, and VTA is likely to collect morning commuters, including Cupertino High School Students, San Jose State Students, and others looking to make connections at the Sunnyvale Transit Center. While it would be nice also to have Southbound 55 and Westbound 523 routes returning to De Anza College via De Anza Blvd/McClellan/Stelling, this change must be balanced against the needs of others to reach retail destinations on Stevens Creek between De Anza Blvd and Stelling. So, a counterclockwise loop from Stevens Creek/Stelling/McClellan/De Anza Blvd for Southbound to Northbound 55 and Westbound to Eastbound 23 routes in and out of De Anza College is acceptable. Thank you for your consideration of my requests to change the routes for Northbound 55 and Eastbound 23 from De Anza College, including maintenance of the existing stops for Route 55 and the addition of two stops for Route 23 along De Anza Blvd. Routes: General Project Comment Subject: Measure B I live in Santa Clara and bicycled to work daily from 1991‐2014. My biggest headache was the Hwy 101 overpass at Trimble Road. It needs to be widened, not just for bicycles, but vehicles as well. The Guadalupe River path is fantastic, but it's a one‐mile addition to the commute between De La Cruz and Trimble Road. Now that it's paved its entire length, it needs to have more access points in business parks. Those are lacking. The bicycle/pedestrian corridor along San Tomas Aquino Creek should be extended beyond Stevens Creek Boulevard heading south next to San Tomas Expressway, linking up with Los Gatos Creek path. Hedding Street's road diet design is fabulous, but it needs to continue on Pruneridge Avenue. Every effort needs to be made to complete the Coyote Creek path between Morgan Hill and the Bay. It's especially important with BART coming to San Jose. There are too few pedestrian/bike overpasses at Hwy 101 in the South Bay. More cars need to be added to Caltrain for bicycle access. More road diet modifications to city streets are needed on streets linking to our schools. Separated Class IV bike lanes are needed in congested areas, like downtowns and shopping centers. Focus more on building infrastructure and less on education. Build it and they will come. Routes: 201 Subject: Dash All Comments Received on the Draft Plan I am writing with feedback on the proposed elimination or change of DASH service. I am a frequent user of the shuttle and I have always seen a healthy number of users. We know that 1000 users ride it every week. It's not clear to me why the route needs to be changed. Once the BART station downtown is operational, we can assess whether the shuttle route should change. There's little reason to change it now. I usually take the shuttle to travel by Caltrain. However I also use it to get to other buses, as well as as to stores like Whole Foods. DASH is an important part of San Jose. Please don't change the route. Routes: 201 Subject: DASH I am a San Jose resident and am employed by a company in downtown San Jose. I personally have used Downtown DASH a handful of times and it is very convenient for getting around the area. I am writing however, not so much as a frequent rider, but as an advocate for many of my fellow employees whom I know take Caltrain in to Diridon and rely on DASH to get to the office. It is so wonderful that VTA provides this service and it would be a shame for it to go away. Routes: 20; 35; 88 Subject: 20,35,88 I would like to make the following several recommendations during this public comment period in regards to the VTA?s Transit Service Redesign Draft Plan of the proposed Next Network that I believe would help improve the ridership of the VTA bus service within Palo Alto. First, instead of replacing Route 35 with an extension of the new Route 21 into Palo Alto, I believe replacing Route 35 with an extension of the new Route 20 would be more beneficial and have higher ridership compared to extending Route 21 through Palo Alto as is currently proposed. This is because extending Route 20 would provide a one‐seat bus service from Stanford Shopping Center and Downtown Palo Alto through Palo Alto all the way to the Milpitas BART Station, while also providing direct one‐seat bus service from the high‐density housing developments in the Agnew/Rivermark region of the City of Santa Clara and the new high‐density housing developments situated around downtown Sunnyvale with the major job centers of downtown Palo Alto and Stanford Shopping Center. Second, the new Route 20 that I recommend replacing the Route 35 through Palo Alto should maintain its 30‐minute headways on weekends too. This would be in compliance with the Next Network stated goal of providing improved bus service on weekends to support VTA transit riders who work in the restaurants and retail service sectors. Currently Route 35 (and the future Route 20 or Route 21) services four major employment centers of these service workers who often work weekends: downtown Mountain View and San Antonio Center in Mountain View, and downtown Palo Alto and Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. If there were any bus route that should qualify for more frequent weekend service for our restaurant and retail service workers, it would be the new Route 20 (or Route 21) servicing downtown Palo Alto via the Middlefield corridor. Third, a redesigned Route 88 should be retained, maintaining all‐day weekday service (and not just very limited school‐trip runs as currently proposed) along the Arastradero Road/Charleston Road corridor. The current Route 88 doesn?t justify all‐day service due to its low overall ridership. But I believe the low ridership is not due to bad transit‐rider demographics along the Arastradero/Charleston Road corridor but due mostly to its infrequent weekday service and its servicing of the low‐density R‐1 residential housing along Louis Road and Colorado Avenue in Palo Alto. A more productive Route 88 would start at the Palo Alto VA Hospital and travel down Arastradero Road and Charleston Road and terminate at Rengstorff Center in Mountain View. This would provide direct access to two more popular shopping centers (Charleston Plaza and Rengstorff Center). After arriving at Rengstorff Center, the redesigned Route 88 could either turn back onto Charleston Road via Leghorn Street and Independence Avenue, or via a longer loop via Rengstorff Avenue and Middlefield Road. The longer loop would help provide All Comments Received on the Draft Plan continued service along Middlefield Road between Rengstorff and San Antonio Road that had been provided by Route 32 but is planned to be abandoned under the proposed draft plan of the VTA?s Next Network. I hope you will be able to implement the changes. I realized I had forgot to emphasis in my previous email on this topic a very important point in regards to making the redesigned Route 88 that I suggested below a successful bus route. It needs to have 30‐minute headways to max