VTA Approved a New Partnership Model for Express Bus Routes
On February 6, 2020, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the Express Bus Partnership Program. As part of the 2019 New Transit Service Plan (NTSP) and an effort to operate a more cost-effective and efficient bus service, VTA identified bus routes that need to be canceled due to low ridership or high cost per passenger. Many Express bus routes fall into both categories.
Routes That Remain
Stanford Research Park stepped up to join VTA in funding four routes. Service on these routes resumed in June 2020 after having been suspended in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Route 101 remains unchanged. The schedule, stops, and path of travel will continue for two trips per day.
• Route 102 maintains its stops and path of travel and runs five round trips per day.
• Route 103 maintains its stops and path of travel and runs three round trips per day.
• Route 104 runs two round trips per day, and now begins at the Milpitas BART Station instead of Penitencia Creek Station.
Juniper Networks and Lockheed Martin have partnered with VTA to fund three round trips per day on Route 121. Service on this route will resume on June 13, 2022 at the request of its sponsors after also having been suspended in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The stops and path of travel will remain the same from its pre-pandemic service.
VTA’s Effort to Find Funding, Keep Express Routes in Service, Inform Riders and Foster New Partnerships
Before the remaining Express bus routes were eliminated, we reached out to nearly 400 Silicon Valley companies who may have employees who rely on Express bus service. By funding approximately 25% of the fully-allocated cost of the route, private companies were invited to partner with VTA to not only save an Express bus route from discontinuation but also to influence the schedules and path of travel. The new partnership model gives companies the opportunity to sponsor one or more Express Bus routes, and offset the high cost of Express Bus operations.
The partnership model has recently opened doors for new transit service partnerships such as the SCVMC Shuttle. Like VTA’s Express bus routes, this shuttle operates during peak hours, but provides first-/last-mile connections for essential employees and other riders traveling between Valley Medical Center at Bascom and the San Jose Diridon Station.
VTA Express Bus Fares and the SmartPass Program
In light of changes brought on by the Express Bus Partnership Program, riders may pay the fare on VTA Express buses in one of three scenarios:
- Pay the full Express Bus fare, which is $5 for an adult. Youth ($1.25) and Seniors ($1) pay the same fares for an Express bus trip as for a regular bus trip.
- SmartPass passengers already have unlimited standard bus fare ($2.50 per adult) covered but need to pay a bit extra to ride an Express Bus. That difference is an additional $2.50 which can be paid by tagging a pre-loaded Clipper card.
- The old SmartPass Express program will no longer be offered, but employees of companies who sponsor any VTA Express route may use a new employer-issued SmartPass Clipper card for unlimited rides on any VTA Express Bus.
For more information about the Express Bus Partnership Program, or for route and trip planning information, please contact VTA Customer Service: 408-321-2300 customer.service@vta.org
For more information on bus fares or the SmartPass Program, please visit vta.org/go/fares
VTA Approved a New Partnership Model for Express Bus Routes
On February 6, 2020, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the Express Bus Partnership Program. As part of the 2019 New Transit Service Plan (NTSP) and an effort to operate a more cost-effective and efficient bus service, VTA identified bus routes that need to be canceled due to low ridership or high cost per passenger. Many Express bus routes fall into both categories.
Routes That Remain
Stanford Research Park stepped up to join VTA in funding four routes. Service on these routes resumed in June 2020 after having been suspended in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Route 101 remains unchanged. The schedule, stops, and path of travel will continue for two trips per day.
• Route 102 maintains its stops and path of travel and runs five round trips per day.
• Route 103 maintains its stops and path of travel and runs three round trips per day.
• Route 104 runs two round trips per day, and now begins at the Milpitas BART Station instead of Penitencia Creek Station.
Juniper Networks and Lockheed Martin have partnered with VTA to fund three round trips per day on Route 121. Service on this route will resume on June 13, 2022 at the request of its sponsors after also having been suspended in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The stops and path of travel will remain the same from its pre-pandemic service.
VTA’s Effort to Find Funding, Keep Express Routes in Service, Inform Riders and Foster New Partnerships
Before the remaining Express bus routes were eliminated, we reached out to nearly 400 Silicon Valley companies who may have employees who rely on Express bus service. By funding approximately 25% of the fully-allocated cost of the route, private companies were invited to partner with VTA to not only save an Express bus route from discontinuation but also to influence the schedules and path of travel. The new partnership model gives companies the opportunity to sponsor one or more Express Bus routes, and offset the high cost of Express Bus operations.
The partnership model has recently opened doors for new transit service partnerships such as the SCVMC Shuttle. Like VTA’s Express bus routes, this shuttle operates during peak hours, but provides first-/last-mile connections for essential employees and other riders traveling between Valley Medical Center at Bascom and the San Jose Diridon Station.
VTA Express Bus Fares and the SmartPass Program
In light of changes brought on by the Express Bus Partnership Program, riders may pay the fare on VTA Express buses in one of three scenarios:
- Pay the full Express Bus fare, which is $5 for an adult. Youth ($1.25) and Seniors ($1) pay the same fares for an Express bus trip as for a regular bus trip.
- SmartPass passengers already have unlimited standard bus fare ($2.50 per adult) covered but need to pay a bit extra to ride an Express Bus. That difference is an additional $2.50 which can be paid by tagging a pre-loaded Clipper card.
- The old SmartPass Express program will no longer be offered, but employees of companies who sponsor any VTA Express route may use a new employer-issued SmartPass Clipper card for unlimited rides on any VTA Express Bus.
For more information about the Express Bus Partnership Program, or for route and trip planning information, please contact VTA Customer Service: 408-321-2300 customer.service@vta.org
For more information on bus fares or the SmartPass Program, please visit vta.org/go/fares