On Saturday, June 8, the East San Jose community, elected leaders, and VTA gathered at the Eastridge Transit Center to celebrate the start of construction of the light rail extension. This event was designed to celebrate the community and the project. Music, refreshments from local food trucks, and entertainment added to the day's festivities.
VTA is extending the Orange Line from the existing Alum Rock Station to the Eastridge Transit Center. It will run primarily above grade in the median of Capitol Expressway. There are two new stations: one at Story Road, which is elevated and accessible via a pedestrian bridge, and the second at street level at the Eastridge Transit Center. Construction will take about four years, and service is anticipated to begin in 2028.
The day started with the sounds of Mariachi Tequila. At the same time, several hundred members of the East Side community meandered through the maze of VTA programs and community-based organization tables that made up the Resource Fair. Attendees learned about several VTA programs and provided feedback on many of the transit planning efforts, such as the 2025 Transit Service Plan, Transit-Oriented Development, and Bicycle Pedestrian Program, to name a few.
Outside of VTA we were joined by several nonprofit organizations including Our City Forest, Amigos de Guadalupe & Rapid Response Network, The Housing Trust, and Silicon Valley Transit Users, and many more!
The groundbreaking program included a roster of elected leadership that supported the project's advocacy and funding: Senator Dave Cortese, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Mayor Matt Mahan, Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Councilmembers Peter Ortiz and Domingo Candelas. This event was for and about the community and included Christina Bui of the Tully Road Eastridge Business Association and long-time community advocate Danny Garza of the Plata Arroyo neighborhood. Special guests included former District 8 Councilmember Rose Herrera and former California State Senator Jim Beall.
After the “Golden Shovel” ceremony, drumming and cymbals announced the brightly costumed Lion Dancers. This was followed by the Ribbon Dance with martial arts, performed by Vovinam Viet-Vo-Dao of America.
Keeping with a multicultural theme, Folklorico Nacional Mexicano's dance performances organically merged with Mariachi Tequila, performing several traditional dances to everyone’s delight.
Overall, this day of celebration was a joyful and colorful event. Construction activities are ramping up, and people who live, work, and drive through the project area are beginning to realize some of the construction impacts related to traffic, noise, and vibration. We look forward to the Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the completion of the project in 2028!
For more information visit the EBRC Project Page.