Visionary Network

VTA’s Visionary Network – A Blueprint for Aspirational Transit Service in Santa Clara County 

What does the ultimate transit network in Santa Clara County look like to you? More frequent buses and trains? Service that covers more times throughout the day? New routes taking you to new destinations? Bus stops and stations with more amenities? On-demand transit service?  

VTA looks forward to listening to your ideas as it starts the Visionary Network process starting this winter. The Visionary Network will define how transit service in Santa Clara County should look over the next 30 years, including street corridors it should serve in the future, how often buses and trains should arrive, how early and late-night service should run, and what bus stops and stations should look like and provide. By the end of the process, it should reflect a shared vision between VTA, each of the 15 member agency cities, and all residents of the county. 

The Visionary Network will be instrumental in several ways. It will be: 

1. A blueprint for annual transit service plans to follow. Annual transit service plans are the community’s chance to discuss possibilities for more frequent service, earlier service in the morning, later service in the evening, and service to new areas each year. Each annual service plan, like the latest 2023 Transit Service Plan, becomes a building block toward achieving a Visionary Network that keeps riders happy and motivates new riders to come aboard. 

2. A core input to  VTA’s long-range transportation plan is the Valley Transportation Plan. The Valley Transportation Plan 2050 (VTP 2050) is also vision-setting with the community this winter on all modes of travel, including highways, local streets, expressways, active transportation, transit, and other transportation systems. Transportation projects wishing to be included in VTP 2050 must indicate how they will play a critical role in supporting VTA’s Visionary Network. Projects that intend to support a Fast, Frequent, Reliable Visionary Network would be developed when VTP 2050 begins its project identification phase in Spring 2023. 

3. Santa Clara County’s “North Star” for transit service as the county’s population, jobs, economic prospects, and environmental impact grow over the next 30 years. More people and more activity mean more transit service will be necessary to keep up with travel demand, keep transit thriving for those who need it most, and support the county and cities in reaching their economic and environmental goals.  

Following a series of visioning meetings with different community stakeholders, including riders, residents, CBOs, city staff, and elected officials, the VTA Board will consider the ultimate Visionary Network for adoption at its May 2023 meeting.  

Community Engagement Opportunities for the Visionary Network 

The community was invited to join VTA in this process and speak with staff about the future of transit service in the county at various in-person and virtual events, including some of the following:
 

AskVTA: Online Office Hours (Visionary Network & VTP2050)
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Community Meeting #1 
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A recording of this meeting is available on Youtube

VTP 2050 / Visionary Network  
Community Based Organizations (CBO) Round-Table Discussion
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Community Meeting #2 
Monday, December 12, 2022 
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A recording of this meeting is available on Youtube

Ask VTA: Online Office Hours (Visionary Network & VTP 2050)
Thursday, January 19, 2023 
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m