This month, we celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of people with roots in Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. Hispanic Heritage Month started as a week-long event in 1968, created by President Lyndon Johnson, and was later extended to a full month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It kicks off on September 15, marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence shortly after, on September 16 and 18. 

Hispanic Americans have played an important role in shaping life in Santa Clara County. In fact, a recent survey showed that 23% of VTA riders identify as Hispanic, highlighting the strong presence of the Hispanic community in our local transportation system. 

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to celebrate the amazing contributions of Hispanic Americans and recognize the many ways they’ve helped shape our country. As we honor these achievements, we can also look forward to a future where diversity continues to enrich all areas of life, including industries like transportation. 

As a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, VTA had a pop-up to give away free “margaritas” to riders! South America is known to have the highest diversity of native daisies, translated to “margaritas” in Spanish. Daisies are also considered to represent cheerfulness, which we hope we were able to share!