I moved here a couple months ago and don't have a car yet so I often rely on the VTA on the weekends. So far there's a consistent 4 in 10 chance that the bus just never shows up despite Transit and Maps saying it did. The other times the bus either shows up early or 10-15 min late. The VTA has probably wasted hours of my time at this point. Honestly my biggest gripe is that if there ISN'T a bus, don't report that there is! I've had several occasions where I just call an Uber after half an hour of waiting or just walk for 1-2 hours to get home. I thought the public transit was terrible in my old city, but my experiences with the VTA have taught me that there is ALWAYS a lower low that the VTA strives hard to reach. read more

Bus 3412, Route 44, Northbound Sat. at 10:30am: This might be the newest smelling bus ever!! No dust, no dirt, no grime, no litter. Except for a circular liquid stain on one of the rear seats. So, if you jump into a hella-new smelling bus, see if there is that cresent-shaped stain on the rear seat which looks like a tattoo from that Dungeons and Dragons movie. . . read more

Valley Transportation Authority - June 2024 - unusually clean for Santa Clara County Transit - clean enough to lick! - Public Transportation Near Me - San Jose, California

Friday eveing 6.30PM, I step out of the train from Santa Teresa to Alum Rock at Tasman after along day to board the Mountain View train but forget to carry my laptop case out of the train. I immediately call lost and found and within the next 15 minutes, I know that the driver of the train has been spoken to and there is no laptop found in the car that I had left it. Feel terribly gloomy for the loss of my high end laptop, logitech wireless mouse and a cute looking handheld laptop case. Feeling miserable for my carelessness. Monday morning 11AM, I call VTA lost and found hoping that there is a mireacle and someone wouldve handed over my laptop. The miracle had happened. The friendly voice on the other end said reassuringly as I described my laptop and case that so far I was doing good, he also gave me directions and the address to their office. I was there in half hour and found that it was indeed my laptop. I had to provide my Id, address and mobile number and my laptop was given back to me. Gratitude goes out to the stranger who handed over my laptop. Gratitude goes out to the people at VTA for making my Monday awesome. No more worries about the lost school notes or the work files I would've lost. I promise to be careful of my belongings. Thank you! read more

Valley Transportation Authority - Lost n found..jst collected my laptop - Public Transportation Near Me - San Jose, California

Take transit mostly every day and while on many fronts the service is good, some things are left to be desired. Such as better wait times for buses/trains. Waiting one hour for buses/trains is a lot especially if you miss the bus. The buses are pretty inconsistent with the schedules as they are constantly late or rarely ahead of schedule. Additionally, service has been receiving cuts as well which is not good. Despite these shortcomings, VTA has still managed to provide a good service that benefits many people. read more

This review is for the building, I see most are about their opinion on the VTA itself. This building is very cool. Went here to get my youth clipper card and the building is not what you would expect. It looks like your average building from the outside but the inside is very spacious and interesting. They have old photos of the buses and trains. The workers are very nice. The building is very quiet and calm. They have lots of brochures that are very helpful. read more

Number #4 !!! This is #4 on my list of top FREE Downtown places to visit in the real San Jose. This spot, this epicenter - VTA bus and light rail transfer spot on the corner of South 1st Street and Santa Clara Streets - Here is the ONLY place in San Jose where ALL cultures clash and worlds collide: 1. The upper class Tourists are here, wandering too far from the Fairmont and Sainte Claire hotels two blocks south. 2. The Upper Middle Class are here, wandering too far from the Shark Tank and San Pedro Square. 3. The Working Class are here, transferring buses here where around 20 different bus routes interconnect from all over the county. 4. The Under Class are here, coming in from the riverbanks and from the halfway houses to make their living. 5. The Ex-cons are here, released from prison and hanging out, as so many of our employers refuse to another chance even though the've served their time. 6. The Seniors are here, coming in from the nursing home buildings located nearby. 7. The Students are here, from the nearby universities and trade schools. 8. The Latinos are here, coming in from all over to the taquerias and live music. 9. The Vietnamese are here, many hanging out at Club LIDO. 10. The Kids are here too, busing in from schools to visit the university or the museums, or just crusing by on a saturday night. 11. The Metro-sexuals are here, coming in for the comedy clubs and the bars 12. The Leather and ink people are here, wandering by from visiting the tattoo joints and smoke houses. 13. The Undocumented are here, staying quiet to avoid attention, or lobbying for work. 14. Celebrities are sometimes here. Comedian Jim Belushi wandered by last week as he was in-town and appearing at the neighboring Improv. 15. And of course the Bible thumpers are here too! Jehovahs, LDS's, Dianetics, all doing their thing. It all comes together here and mixes up. Engage with strangers for a real experience. Or watch as the guy on the streetcorner doesn't get why the guy wearing the $1,000 watch feels threatened by the idea of taking out his wallet to pull a few dollars out - with all those credit cards inside with $10,000 + limits. Or check out the how that guy wearing that $1,000 watch has no clue why that streetcorner-guy can't just smile and return that "Simple Hello" - being malnourished, sleep deprivated, untreated medically, and body-liced. Watch as a lady suddenly realizes that it was a bad idea to wear heels here. Or watch as a bus-rider with only a $20 suddenly realizes that the guy asking for spare change is the best one there able to break that $20 for the bus fare. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it's rough. But it's ALWAYS different and it is never, ever DULL. One of the big differences one will notice between VTA and Samtrans or Muni, is that if you're busy reading a book while waiting at a stop, the VTA drivers often honk to get your attention as they're about to pass by. With Samtrans or Muni, you often have to wave to the drivers to get them to stop. Another good thing that some VTA drivers do, is during the flu season, they will pop the ventilation ports open on the ceiling, and turn the heat way up. This prevents more passengers from getting the flu. By constantly circulating outside air into the bus, and the inside air going out, you flush out airborne viruses from everyone coughing and sneezing next to you (and you also stop odors from the unbathed from stinking up the bus.) read more

The "Real Time" app just plain sucks! It's off by at least 4-5 minutes. I live exactly 3 minutes from a 522 stop. Yesterday, I left the house when the app said 9 minutes to the next bus. Then when I'm at the corner waiting for the light to change, the bus goes by and I miss it! WTF??? To make things worse, the next 522 got held up for almost 30 minutes due to a street closure, so I was about an hour late for my doctor's appointment. This is the third time I've relied on the Real Time app and it was completely inaccurate! WTF??? read more

Taking transit around here can be a huge hassle or a delight, depending on if it goes where you need it to go, which driver you get, and who else is on the bus. Do your research ahead of time so you don't need to rely on drivers to know where they're going. Assume they don't know. Also, add an hour or more to your perceived destination arrival time in case of delays. I don't just mean traffic. Drivers often will leave you sitting on the bus while they run in and grab food somewhere. Or, they'll speed by you so fast that they don't notice you waiting for the bus and you have to wait for the next one. I've occasionally had drivers that drove like lunatics on speed. Scary. That hasn't been most of them, however. I've had friends whose parents refused to let them ride buses because they don't want them to meet "the kind of people who ride buses". Well, some of those people have taught me a lot. For better or worse, there are more opportunities for interaction in public transit than sitting in your own car. And those who explain that they're riding the bus because of their D.U.I.s, I'm damn glad they're riding and not driving! For those who can drive but choose not to, their use of transit helps cut down on traffic congestion and they don't take up parking spaces. Overall, a variably reliable, somewhat safe, and limited way to get around considering the sprawl of the South Bay. But, depending on how you use it, much cheaper than owning a car. read more

This review is on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus line #22, San Jose to Palo Alto. I started riding the 22 in about late July 2010 to current. I ride the bus to work and ride my bike home in the evenings. These are my findings: I catch the 22 on El Camino *Bus is always on time (give or take a few minutes either way) *Have change or dollar bills for your fare *Bike rack on the front of bus that holds 2 bikes *Love those fast aggressive male drivers (get me to work faster) *Some drivers get out of the bus to get a free newspaper from the newspaper bins and leave the bus engine running full of passengers on board, unattended, hence leaving us passengers susceptible to a bus-jacking. I've even seen one driver take his cigarette break outside while we sat and waited for him. *Several drivers I've had have been unfriendly and mean mugging (hello---public service). There have been a few friendly drivers but my experience tells me that most of the VTA drivers are unhappy and miserable. *Bus drivers please lower the bus so I can get my bike on the rack easier. *My VTA bus ride to work usually takes about 25 minutes. Yeah, yeah, the VTA bus lines always have homeless people riding so they can have a warmer place to sleep that is out of the cold. Do not judge...they are not all bums/drunks & druggies. Just be grateful it is not you and thankful for what you got, and hey...they pay their fare just like every other VTA bus rider. Oh yeah...ironic, on the bus stop sign post there is a little blue bus label labeled in braille...how the heck is a blind person going to be able to find that sign when I a seeing person just saw it a few weeks ago and I've been riding the bus for several month everyday Monday - Friday. read more

Read this review and let me know what you think. I've been using VTA for the past 15 years and this is what I can tell you. Pros: It saves you money if you don't want to pay for a car, car insurance, registration, and all that good stuff. It saves the environment and some prices are not that bad. Cons: The first of the month is always crazy because people like up outside of the door before the doors even open. Everyone that is paid on the 1st or 2nd of the month usually waits to be able to get their bus pass. Using the Express bus to get to Fremont is expensive if you don't have a disabled pass or you are not a senior citizen. Homeless people stand out in front, some talking to themselves, looking for shelter and so forth. If you are traveling at night on the 22 line, the homeless look for shelter and this is the only way they can sleep comfortably. Some drivers are nice enough to put the heater on but some are rude and put the AC on late at night on cold nights so they will be cold. I was homeless once and this was my only way to sleep at night. I found this to be they safest way to survive on the coldest of nights. It is difficult to understand why people bring their belongings such as trash bags full of clothing and roller suitcases on but if that is all you have to survive you would do it too. Some drivers drive crazy, talk on cell phones, wait at bus stops and make you sit in a stalled bus while they go in and get food. It's kinda rude for your passengers who are sitting there and trying to get to their destination. The lightrail is pretty good but one issue I have with it is I have seen more fights and thugs on there than I have in Oakland. Don't get on the lightrail without a pass or the Transportation Police will catch you and ticket you, $250. I won't risk that again. Other than that, I will always take the bus. read more

Valley Transportation Authority - VTA - Public Transportation Near Me - San Jose, California

You signal then you pull out, we get a ticket if we dont let you out same rull should apply for you. read more

Valley Transportation Authority - Watch out he pulls out without signaling prior turns on signal as he pulls out. - Public Transportation Near Me - San Jose, California

think: dmv for public transport. Ok, it's not THAT bad, but that's certainly the context. It's a very structured place. Get in line. People help you. Polite. Located very near the Santa Clara VTA stop on 1st Street. read more

Specifically writing about bus service. Clipper recharge takes 6+days. No balance refund for cash payment( paid $5 for $2 ride, no balance return, cost of 2 mile bus travel = $5 !!!). VTA don't meet basic requirement for effective public transport : cost (bus travel is costlier than car), access (6 mile travel in 2 bus need 1 hr) and quality(No balance refund for cash payment , 6 days delay for clipper recharge). read more

Long time light rail rider since '09, overall I greatly appreciate the VTA with it's wide coverage of the Silicon Valley and it's fine, kind & courteous engineers & ticket inspectors. This review is for one engineer who seems to work for the VTA as his own personal power trip. Since I don't have a car, I use public transportation and ride a bicycle around San Jose so, of course there are many times I have to take my bike on the light rail. There is one train driver (16104) I dread riding with, who seems to hate bicycles on his train. There is indeed a bike section on each car, but most folks, including inspectors, don't mind if bike riders sit in the handicapped section when the bike section is full. (I do this to keep my bike out of the aisle, and of course, I will move if an elderly or disabled person comes onto the train.) This engineer doesn't mind inconveniencing every other rider to leave the forward compartment and yell at me to 'Get in the bike section!' no matter how full and difficult it is to get into. I finally had to write this review after riding with this rude engineer again, after the Light Rail had resumed its service with stricter safety guidelines because of the Covid-19 crisis. As you know, VTA advises you to not ride unless it is essential, which in my case it was because I am essential worker at my job. Also, they enforce social distancing of six feet on the train with signs and seats ropes off. As I entered the train last week, I noticed that there was already someone seated in the bike section, and the remainder of the seats were roped off, so I couldn't sit there. Naturally, as I sat down in the available handicapped seats, that obnoxious engineer hopped out of his compartment, just to berate and harass me in front of everyone, for not sitting in the bike section. I explained to him that there was no room because of social distancing, but he repeatedly insisted that I compromise my health and safety and sit there anyway. I'm dismayed and disappointed that this train driver's power trip was more important to him than keeping his riders safe, read more

Great way to get around! Saves $ and the environment. Takes me to Caltrain, shark tank, downtown, malls, work, and play. Helps if you look up your route prior to leaving, but the staff are always there to help. read more

Right now is 7:20 pm may 13 2018 I am on bus 22 going home the number of the bus is 0184 I am sitting at the bus stop and the driver was just driving away staring at me not even stopping to see if I wanted to take the bus and then when I waved at him he stopped so what do you guys have chairs for then. Then I went in the bus he said he doesn't except anyone that is sitting in the bus stop and also I have a VTA bus pass where I can only paid $1 when I don't have money on my card and I showed him and he still wanted to charge me $2.25 you guys need new drivers read more

The people that attended me were very nice they even offered me a refund because of a problem that I cause I really recommend it, it's personal is very qualified. read more

Almost just T-Boned by the driver of bus #1031 pulling out of the light rail station at Lelong at 87! He didn't even flinch nor acknowledge he was a total jackass! read more

Do not take the train to the game. No trains after the 49ers game Sunday night. We saw only one packed train going to alum rock at 8:30 and no more after. I watched 5 trains go by with an out of service sight on. I walked to the next station and when the train passed by around 10:30 he was at a light the turned his bay point sign on after he passed all the 49ers fans.. read more

I used the light rail for the women's march on January 21, 2017. Despite the fact that this was a well publicized event and known to be happening long before it occurred, there were no added trains to accommodate us. We were packed on the trains like cattle after waiting a full half an hour for a train to come along with enough cars to accommodate us. Thanks VTA for making us feel like our issues were important. NOT! What don't you get about being prepared for big events in one of the biggest cities in California. Honestly, it doesn't take a mensa IQ! What's wrong with this picture? read more

I wasn't sure which vta account to write on, I am a freshman at SJSU and haven't had the best experience till up until I took a bus I didn't know could take me to the same place as the one I chased. This review is for the most amazing driver Don he is very friendly nice and caring. A few weeks ago I went to take the 63 right at the corner of my school and the bus just ditched me I ended up running 5 blocks to catch it before having my asthma attack. I saw the 65 was heading to my same location. Don asked if I was ok as I got on the bus I told him I was having an asthmatic attack from running to catch the 63 he then turned the air on to help me. When I got off at his last stop he asked how I was and gave me a complaint number because no should have to run to catch the bus when the bus clearly can see you waiting at the corner for it. But anyways as I would ride the 65 the next few weeks I'd have interesting conversations of how the buses work he told me they change drivers every 3 months. Out of all the bus drivers I have had Don has definitely been the best most caring and patient driver I have had I'm hoping that I will have him again one day on my bus route. Most drivers don't look for their passengers on the side waiting but Don definitely does he will honk when he sees you if multiple buses come at ones and wave to you when he sees you. Thank you Don for helping me and looking out for me read more

I've been a student at SJSU for a year and a half now and bus 72 has never been on time, not even once. I'm only writing the review now because it's raining! read more

Ive been taking VTA transportation for over a year and it has its ups and downs. I live pretty close to downtown SJ so i have many options of buses/lightrails that i can take. My biggest complaint about buses is that drivers let homeless people come on. The homeless people i see on buses(especially the 22) smell terrible, they only use the bus to sleep. (A Bus is a Bus, not a hotel). and they bring all their garbage bags and shopping carts full of their shit in the buses so theres no room for the people just trying to get home. Lately ive only been taking lightrails to see my Boyfriend and go to Mission college and that works out perfectly! the lightrail takes just as long as driving to both of those places and it drops me off reallly close. Lastly, they cost of VTA needs to STOP increasing.. i think this will make many people stop taking it. Next month children month passes go up $5 and Adults go up $9. read more