Wi-Fi on Board Vehicles
If there is Wi-Fi on the bus then I could take the bus and light rail to work and use that time productively. I could work remotely, check my email, or just surf the Internet.
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This idea is active.Bus and Rail Service »9 comments
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This idea is active.Bus and Rail Service »
Express Light Rail Train
8 commentsLight Rail services take too long to get from Santa Teresa to Great Mall or Mountain View. Might as well drive. There are too many unnecessary stops at stations where no one gets on or off the train.
Express trains will be a good idea.
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Buses on Lawrence and San Thomas Expressways
3 commentsThese two roads carry a ton of cars, which means they are popular travel routes. They already have dedicated bus/carpool lanes and very-long green lights, which means you could run a very fast and efficient bus service on them. They seem like ideal candidates for frequent bus service, yet they currently have virtually no service at all.
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Use electronic station signs like how BART uses them
Again, this will help increase productivity and efficiency for riders. Although VTA does show times on the paper bulletin, it would be easier for riders to look up and see how many minutes the next train will arrive. This should also include: service advisories, active updates on *recent* delays, etc. By doing this, VTA can easily upgrade its current light rail infrastructure to that of a subway. Also, these signs are ...more »
4 comments
Again, this will help increase productivity and efficiency for riders. Although VTA does show times on the paper bulletin, it would be easier for riders to look up and see how many minutes the next train will arrive.
This should also include: service advisories, active updates on *recent* delays, etc. By doing this, VTA can easily upgrade its current light rail infrastructure to that of a subway.
Also, these signs are EXPENSIVE. If we have them now, why not make better use of them than to display "No smoking" and fare-evasion consequences? This would not cost a lot to VTA to implement.
And even if the express trains do get implemented, VTA can easily display information regarding these trains, when they will arrive next, and other important info. These signs have a LOT of potential.
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Citizen-Focused Service Performance Management
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is, in part, a service-oriented organization. In order for a service-oriented organization to be successful, it must focus on providing high quality service to its existing customers. By doing so, existing customers become loyal and feel compelled to tell others about their positive experiences with the organization. Along with its organizational vision and mission, ...more »
Add your commentThe Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is, in part, a service-oriented organization. In order for a service-oriented organization to be successful, it must focus on providing high quality service to its existing customers. By doing so, existing customers become loyal and feel compelled to tell others about their positive experiences with the organization.
Along with its organizational vision and mission, the VTA lists several admirable values that are citizen-focused – dependability, quality, safety, accountability. Unfortunately, the VTA does not regularly measure or report on its efforts to act on these citizen-focused values, so there is no way for the public to understand how well the VTA may be doing with respect to these citizen-focused values.
The VTA does produce reports on its operational performance (e.g. the Transit Operations Performance Report). However, these existing reports are written from the organization’s perspective and focus on ridership and the costs of ridership.
What is missing is a report written from a citizen’s perspective that measures indicators of the citizen-focused values (i.e. dependability, quality, safety, speed, friendliness, and cleanliness). Such a report should provide comparative information for each indicator (e.g. trends over time, results relative to targets, or results compared to other transit agencies) so that the results are put into context. The report should be citizen-friendly – it should use charts and graphs and be written in such a way that the information is easy to read and understand.
One of the VTA’s goals is to “enhance its customer focus” and, as previously mentioned, one of its values is accountability. The VTA has an exciting opportunity to address this goal and display adherence to this value by regularly publishing a reader-friendly document that reports on performance with respect to the VTA’s citizen-focused values.
By focusing its attention on the quality of service it provides to its existing customers, and regularly reporting the results of its efforts to improve service quality, the VTA will demonstrate to the public that it values their patronage and put itself on a path to becoming a truly successful service-oriented organization.
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Employer Sponsored EcoPass(Free to Use on VTA by Employees)
Employers play a major role in influencing how employees use public transit. Details about VTA's Ecopass program are @ http://www.vta.org/ecopass/ecopass_corp/epbenefits.html I think VTA should approach each major employer along North first street and atleast bring to their notice about VTA's Ecopass program I approached my employer to offer Free Ecopasses to all our employees and they were happy to do it.It is also ...more »
Add your commentEmployers play a major role in influencing how employees use public transit.
Details about VTA's Ecopass program are @ http://www.vta.org/ecopass/ecopass_corp/epbenefits.html
I think VTA should approach each major employer along North first street and atleast bring to their notice about VTA's Ecopass program
I approached my employer to offer Free Ecopasses to all our employees and they were happy to do it.It is also tax deductible and employees can get free ride on entire VTA system.
Most of peoples commute is revolved around commuting to work and if we can make it free by using Ecopass more people will use VTA.
From what I can tell VTA is doing a poor job of marketing EcoPass.There is no direct link to EcoPass from VTA's home page , where it should be probably the first link saying "Encourage your employer to give you a FREE VTA EcoPass"
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Elevated Light Rail
Light Rail's average speed south of downtown is roughly 50mph, but once it reaches downtown, it slows to a snail-like crawl of 10-15mph. This is due to the fact that the train must wait for both traffic and pedestrians because it is at street level. I suggest that the train tracks downtown either be elevated (similar to Chicago's El-train) or tunneled. This type of upgrade would speed up service enormously. If ...more »
6 commentsLight Rail's average speed south of downtown is roughly 50mph, but once it reaches downtown, it slows to a snail-like crawl of 10-15mph. This is due to the fact that the train must wait for both traffic and pedestrians because it is at street level.
I suggest that the train tracks downtown either be elevated (similar to Chicago's El-train) or tunneled. This type of upgrade would speed up service enormously. If light rail became a speedy way to travel, I would definitely use it more. As it is, I can often take my car or even bicycle and get there more quickly than the light rail can.
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Wilderness parks
Add your commentAdd buses or shuttle service to Open Spaces and preserves.
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Quiet and Sanitized
2 commentsIf during the daily commute I can take a nap or listen to MP3, riding VTA will be a better choice than driving even it takes longer time.
However, I noticed often time there are people talking, music, or even body odor, etc... That is the unpleasant part riding public transp.
Clean is another issue. Flu and germs is a big reason people avoid public transp.
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Enforce fares on Light Rail
5 commentsI have started to use light rail more. But I have a suspicion that very few people actually PAY to use it.
I hardly ever see anyone use the ticket machines.
I NEVER see anyone check for tickets.
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Overnight/morning routes
Add your commentOvernight routes for those of us working late nights/early mornings. They don't have run as often, nor does every route need to run, but it is very difficult to tell a prospective employer you cant work their 3pm-11pm shift (example) because the buses stop running after 10:30pm.
Not to mention, it would make bus a viable alternative to taxi for last call at local pubs.
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More Community Buses and timed transfers
Since Community Buses have lower fares, VTA should use them on routes that are short and/or only serve a certain community. Examples are the 47, 48, bring back the 15 and perhaps another bus running between Morgan Hill and San Martin Caltrains, the 40, etc. Also timed transfers between short route Community buses with long route normal buses, Express buses, and Light Rail lines would ease travel on VTA. Any Light Rail ...more »
Add your commentSince Community Buses have lower fares, VTA should use them on routes that are short and/or only serve a certain community. Examples are the 47, 48, bring back the 15 and perhaps another bus running between Morgan Hill and San Martin Caltrains, the 40, etc.
Also timed transfers between short route Community buses with long route normal buses, Express buses, and Light Rail lines would ease travel on VTA. Any Light Rail station that is served by bus should have timed transfers. If not all the time at least during peak commute hours.
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Start selling week passes..
Add your commentSome weeks I ride the bus a lot. Some weeks I don't need the bus at all. $70 is a lot of money to spend on a monthly pass, when I often don't know ahead of time how much I'll be using the bus. A week pass would be more affordable. Then I could just buy one if I need it when I have a better idea of where I might have to go that week.
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Add rapid transit buses in the route 26.
Add your commentAdd rapid transit buses in the route 26.
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Open up data for use by developers
Publish data to the Web so that app developers can access it. Right now, you can plan a trip with Google, but developers can't access that data to develop other useful apps. Also, VTA has an AVL system - it would be great if real-time vehicle location and arrival time estimation was available. This could also allow installing real-time arrival signs at busy stops. If this info was made available to developers, they could ...more »
Add your commentPublish data to the Web so that app developers can access it. Right now, you can plan a trip with Google, but developers can't access that data to develop other useful apps. Also, VTA has an AVL system - it would be great if real-time vehicle location and arrival time estimation was available. This could also allow installing real-time arrival signs at busy stops.
If this info was made available to developers, they could create great apps for riders to use to access the data, making the VTA more attractive without costing anything beyond the cost of publishing the data
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Free Weekend Service
4 commentsIf VTA would allow me to ride the bus and light rail for free on weekends I would ride it to places I go for fun. For example, it would be pretty easy to take the train to the Tech Museum in San Jose, or to Downtown Campbell just to window shop.
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More Community Buses for remote areas of the county
These buses wouldn't have to run that often. 30 minutes during peak hours and 45-60 minutes off peak would be fine. I'm specifically talking about serving South County more. Bring back the Line 15, make the 16 go to the Morgan Hill Caltrain, and add another Line that serves areas of Morgan Hill not served by the 15 and 16 and can also serve San Martin. Also, Monte Sereno currently isn't served by VTA. Many of the people ...more »
Add your commentThese buses wouldn't have to run that often. 30 minutes during peak hours and 45-60 minutes off peak would be fine. I'm specifically talking about serving South County more. Bring back the Line 15, make the 16 go to the Morgan Hill Caltrain, and add another Line that serves areas of Morgan Hill not served by the 15 and 16 and can also serve San Martin.
Also, Monte Sereno currently isn't served by VTA. Many of the people who live in the more suburban towns on the outskirts of the county don't ride VTA because the service isn't good in their area.
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Better Trip Planner
Add your commentCheck how accurate Google is about riding VTA it is very misleading...making planning more accurate, real, simple will encourage people to consider VTA...
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transit etiquette
Add your commentMany times during peak hours, one boards light rail only to find that passengers have blocked the seat next to them with briefcases, backpacks or other personal items. It would help if announcements could be made by the operator or pre-recorded by VTA. The announcements could remind passengers to not block seats with personal items.
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More bikes
Add your commentInstall a bike rack that fits 3 instead of 2. And if possible another 3 bike rack on the back of the bus.
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Late Night Service on Friday and Saturday Night and on Holidays
Late Night Service on Friday and Saturday Night and on Holidays. There should be even two runs, on at 130am and another at 230am after last call on Friday and Saturday nights in addition to 4th of July, New Year's Eve, Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, SF Pride and other similar events. If funding is the issue cut and paste the lowest ridden trip during the day and the last trip of the day. And only do it on Light Rail and ...more »
Add your commentLate Night Service on Friday and Saturday Night and on Holidays.
There should be even two runs, on at 130am and another at 230am after last call on Friday and Saturday nights in addition to 4th of July, New Year's Eve, Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, SF Pride and other similar events.
If funding is the issue cut and paste the lowest ridden trip during the day and the last trip of the day. And only do it on Light Rail and the major cross county lines such as the 23, 24, and 66/68.
It will save lives from drunk driving accidents and increase tax revenue from more people going out.
At the very least have it occur every other week on a Friday or Saturday night just on light rail.
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VTA - More Accommodation for Bike racks to encourage biking
Add your commentCurrently, VTA has only a couple of bike racks up front and the driver refuses permission routinely to allow bikes inside bus during peak hours - very inconvenient.
This also puts off potential bikers.
Got to have more bike racks, possibly on bus roof or in an area inside the bus, even at the expense of seats.
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Light Rail to Morgan Hill and Gilroy
2 commentsLight Rail service should extend to Morgan Hill and Gilroy. I think anyone who has to commute north from these two areas during peak hours would agree. Caltrain just doesn't cut it, and those of us who reverse commute would appreciate an option that's faster than the 68 bus.
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Fix bike racks on trains!
It is clear that whoever designed the current bike rack configuration on the VTA light rail trains never tested the system before installing it. With seats across from the racks, there is no room for someone to squeeze in and lift their bike up onto the racks while the seats are occupied. Having to lift the bikes is also difficult for many people who are short, have heavy or long bikes, or have disabilities. If they removed ...more »
2 commentsIt is clear that whoever designed the current bike rack configuration on the VTA light rail trains never tested the system before installing it. With seats across from the racks, there is no room for someone to squeeze in and lift their bike up onto the racks while the seats are occupied. Having to lift the bikes is also difficult for many people who are short, have heavy or long bikes, or have disabilities. If they removed the seats and installed another bike rack in their place it would double the amount of bikes that could be held while eliminating the liability of someone getting injured when someone else is trying to use the rack. If you angled them in opposing directions it would also make it much easier to get your bike onto the rack when entering the car. I have attached diagrams to explain the change I'm proposing.
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Third bike campaign.
2 comments3 bikes in front of the bus, 3 bikes in the back. A third leg doesn't hurt. Other transits in the south like San Luis Obispo does it and Highway 17 has 3 in the front. What is one more going to hurt?
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