VTA light rail is a light rail transit system that serves the Santa Clara County in the U.S. state of California. The system has 42.2 miles (67.9 km) of tracks and is operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), which oversees public transit services in the county.[1] The system serves over 32,000 passengers a day as of fiscal year 2007.[2][3]
The initial segment of the VTA light rail between the Civic Center and Old Ironsides stations began service on December 11, 1987.[3] In 1988 and 1990, the system was extended south of Civic Center to Downtown San Jose and Tamien station.[3] Another 9.7 miles (15.6 km) segment to Santa Teresa and Almaden stations was added to the system in April 1991, completing the entire Guadalupe section.[3][4] In December 1999, the system underwent another extension with the completion of the Tasman West section and began services to Mountain View.[5][6] The system was extended to I-880/Milpitas in 2001 and to Hostetter station in 2004 as part of the Tasman East extension. In the same year, the Capitol extension to Alum Rock station was also finished.[7][8] The latest section, the Vasona extension, was completed in 2005, connecting Campbell to Downtown San Jose.[9]
As of December 2019[update] the system consists of 59 stations. The majority of stations, 39, are located in San Jose. Seven stations are in Sunnyvale and four are in Mountain View. Campbell, Milpitas, and Santa Clara each have three stations.
VTA closed Evelyn station on March 16, 2015 in order to build a second track between Mountain View and Whisman stations.[10]
- ^ "About VTA". vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
- ^ "Light Rail System Statistics". vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Light Rail System" (PDF). vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ Middleton, William D. (August 1991). "San Jose goes all the way — has the entire 20-mile Guadalupe Corridor light rail line in service". Railway Age. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Tasman West Light Rail Extension" (PDF). vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Tasman Corridor West Light Rail Extension". Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on November 3, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Tasman East Light Rail Project" (PDF). vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Capitol Light Rail Project" (PDF). vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Vasona Light Rail Project" (PDF). vta.org. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ MV light rail station closed, to be demolished