VTA light rail

A schematic map of the VTA LRT system

The VTA light rail system consists of 42.2 mi (68 km) of track, currently consisting of two main lines and a spur line. There are currently 62 light rail stations in operation on the three lines. The light rail system was opened in 1987 and has gradually expanded since then. Its ridership as of June 2008 was 37,536.

Alum Rock — Santa Teresa

Designated as 901, this line runs from the Alum Rock station in East San Jose (or Alum Rock) to Santa Teresa station in the Santa Teresa neighborhood of San Jose, via Milpitas and downtown San Jose. There are 36 stops on this line. In South San Jose, the line operates in the median of State Route 87 and 85. A proposed future development is an extension past Alum Rock along Capitol Ave. and Capitol Expressway to the Eastridge Transit Center, which would effectively duplicate (and possibly replace) the current service by the 522 bus line along this corridor.

Mountain View — Winchester

VTA Light Rail Car

Designated as 902, this line runs from Downtown Mountain View station in Mountain View through Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, North San Jose along Tasman Drive, North First Street, Downtown San Jose, and the Southwest Expressway on its way to its terminus at the Winchester station in western Campbell. It has 32 stops, 14 of which are shared with the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa Line.

Almaden Shuttle

Designated as 900, this is a 3-stop spur from the Ohlone/Chyoweth station to Almaden station at the Almaden Expressway in the Almaden Valley. The Ohlone/Chynoweth station provides connection to the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa Line, and the Almaden station connects to VTA bus service. It receives little traffic, even though there is an intermediate stop at the Westfield Oakridge mall.

Light rail vehicles

From 1987 until September 2003, the system was served by a fleet of high-floor light rail vehicles built by Urban Transportation Development Corporation. In 2002, VTA introduced new low floor light rail vehicles by Kinki Sharyo into the fleet. The low floor vehicles initially operated only on the Tasman West line (Downtown Mountain View — I-880/Milpitas)because the vehicles' floor height matched the platform height only at that line's stations and was only able to provide level-boarding there. In 2003, after VTA reconstructed platforms along North First Street from the Japantown/Ayer stop northward (with wooden ramps provided for the leading car's front door at all other stations), VTA replaced the entire fleet with low floor light rail vehicles. The 29 (802-830) high floor vehicles were sold to Utah Transit Authority and 20 (831-850) sold to Sacramento Regional Transit. Only 1 car was retained as a wrecker. Currently, all stations on the Mountain View - Winchester line and all stations from the Branham station northward on the Alum Rock - Santa Teresa line provide level boarding at all doors.

Stations south of the Branham station on the Alum Rock - Santa Teresa line and all three stations on the Ohlone-Chynoweth - Almaden line still only provide level boarding at the first door via wooden ramps. VTA plans to renovate these platforms beginning in February 2008 to allow level boarding at all doors of these stations. [1]

HF LRV specifications

File:UTDC VTA LightRailCar.jpg

Urban Transit Development Corporation high-floor light rail vehicle - used by VTA between 1987-2003.

• Car manufacturer: Urban Transportation Development Corporation
• Years of manufacturer: 1987
• Fleet no.: 801-850
• Fleet size: 50
• Length: ft
• Weight: kg
• Seating: 75; reduced to 67 when 4 bike storage spaces were added
• Speed: mph
• Motor:
• Propulsion:
• Track gauge: 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches (1435mm)
• Brakes:

LF LRV specifications

File:Vtamv.jpg

A Kinki Sharyo Low Floor Light Rail Vehicle in Mountain View - used by VTA since 2002

• Car manufacturer: Kinki Sharyo
• Years of manufacturer: 2001-2005
• Fleet no.: 900-999
• Fleet size: 99; 1 car replaced (924)
• Length: ft
• Weight: kg
• Seating: 64
• Speed: mph
• Motor:
• Propulsion:
• Track gauge: Standard gauge, 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches (1435mm)
• Brakes:

Major Accidents and Incidents

Virginia Station Derailment

On March 21, 2008, at approximately 7:10 pm, a southbound 2-car light rail train derailed just north of the Virginia station. Four people, including the train operator, were injured, and the train was heavily damaged. At the time of the accident, trains were operating on a single track through the area because of construction at three nearby light rail stations. The train involved was attempting to switch between tracks when it derailed. The investigation into the accident is ongoing, but the VTA has ruled out mechanical or equipment failure as a cause for the accident.

Future

In 2000, voters approved Measure A, which will provide funding for two new light rail corridors. The proposed corridors are:

• Sunnyvale/Cupertino
• Santa Teresa/Coyote Valley
• Downtown/East Valley Connection to Guadalupe Line along Santa Clara St./Alum Rock Ave.
• Stevens Creek Boulevard
• North County/Palo Alto
• Winchester/Vasona Junction

VTA is planning an extension continuing south of Alum Rock to Eastridge,.

Major light rail connections

• Caltrain - connections at the Downtown Mountain View, Tamien, and San Jose Diridon stations.
• Amtrak - connects at the San Jose Diridon Station and Lick Mill stations.
• Altamont Commuter Express - connections at the San Jose Diridon and Lick Mill stations.
• BART (proposed) - there is a proposal to include connections to BART at the Montague, Santa Clara Street and Diridon stations in the planned "BART to Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara" project. This would replace current buses to Fremont BART.

References

• VTA Roster