List of VTA bus routes
The following is a list of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus routes. Route numbers are classified as follows:
- Lines 1-99 are standard local bus routes, which feature many, closely spaced stops. These lines serve a smaller area, such as connecting transit centers to the surrounding community or Downtown San Jose to nearby neighborhoods.
- Lines 100-199 are express services and primarily operate during peak periods only. These lines operate express mainly on freeways and provide fewer stops than local services, mainly at train stations and major transfer points in Santa Clara County. These also charge higher fares than standard bus routes.
- Lines 200-299 are school services that operate limited service to several area high schools.
- Lines 500-599 are limited stop "Rapid" branded routes.
- Lines 800-899 are commuter rail shuttles that operate mainly during peak periods. These lines operate of Great America ACE/Amtrak Station and serve nearby high-tech businesses and industrial parks.
- Lines 900-999 are intercity routes operated in conjunction with other agencies.
VTA embarked on a large network redesign that was implemented on December 28, 2019. This eliminated the DASH shuttle, Almaden Light Rail shuttle, limited-branded bus service, community bus service, and many express routes but established a core frequent network and increased service on numerous local bus routes.
In 2023, VTA's bus system had a ridership of 21,419,200, or about 77,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
Regular bus service
[edit]Santa Clara VTA operates numerous bus lines that operate on most major thoroughfares throughout Santa Clara County. Several of these lines converge at key transfer points, including Downtown San Jose, several Caltrain stations between Palo Alto and Gilroy, the Milpitas and Berryessa BART stations, and most light rail stations. Some lines also provide connecting services to other transit agencies, including AC Transit, Dumbarton Express, Monterey-Salinas Transit, and SamTrans.
Included in this listing are VTA's limited-stop Rapid services, as those levy the same cash fares as regular local buses.
Line Number | Direction | Terminals | Days of Operation | Schedule Information | Major Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20
|
East-West | Milpitas Milpitas station |
Sunnyvale Sunnyvale station |
Weekdays | Line 20 | Downtown Sunnyvale, North Santa Clara, Mission College | |
21
|
East-West | Palo Alto Stanford Shopping Center |
Santa Clara Santa Clara Transit Center |
Daily | Line 21 | Palo Alto Transit Center, San Antonio station, San Antonio Center, Downtown Mountain View, Downtown Sunnyvale, Santa Clara University | |
22
|
East-West | Palo Alto Palo Alto station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 22 | Stanford University, San Antonio Center, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, SAP Center, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Eastridge Mall |
|
23
|
East-West | Cupertino De Anza College |
San Jose Alum Rock Transit Center |
Daily | Line 23 | Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University |
|
25
|
East-West | San Jose Valley Medical Center (short turn) |
San Jose Alum Rock Transit Center |
Daily | Line 25 | San Jose City College, Fruitdale station, Tamien station |
|
Cupertino De Anza College | |||||||
26
|
East-West | San Jose Westgate Center |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 26 | Downtown Campbell, Pruneyard Shopping Center, Curtner station |
|
Saratoga West Valley College (select weekday trips) | |||||||
27
|
East-West | Campbell Winchester Transit Center |
San Jose Santa Teresa station |
Daily | Line 27 | Downtown Los Gatos, Good Samaritan Hospital, Princeton Plaza, Westfield Oakridge, Blossom Hill station (light rail), Cottle station | |
31
|
North-South | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
San Jose Evergreen Valley College |
Weekdays, Saturdays | Line 31 | Eastridge Mall | |
37
|
East-West | San Jose Capitol station (light rail) |
Saratoga West Valley College |
Weekdays | Line 37 | Winchester Transit Center | |
39
|
North-South | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
San Jose The Villages |
Daily | Line 39 | Eastridge Mall, Evergreen Village Square, Evergreen Valley College | |
40
|
North-South | Mountain View Mountain View station |
Los Altos Hills Foothill College |
Daily | Line 40 | San Antonio Center, Googleplex, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Downtown Mountain View | |
Los Altos San Antonio Rd & Lyell St (Sundays & holidays) | |||||||
42
|
North-South | San Jose Santa Teresa station |
San Jose Evergreen Valley College |
Weekdays | Line 42 | ||
44
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas station |
Milpitas McCarthy Ranch |
Daily | Line 44 | Great Mall, Alder station |
|
47
|
North-South | Line 47 | Downtown Milpitas, Milpitas Kaiser | ||||
51
|
North-South | Mountain View Moffett Field |
Cupertino De Anza College (short turn) |
Weekdays | Line 51 | Downtown Mountain View, El Camino Hospital |
|
Saratoga West Valley College | |||||||
52
|
North-South | Mountain View Mountain View station |
Los Altos Hills Foothill College |
Weekdays | Line 52 | Downtown Mountain View | |
53
|
East-West | Sunnyvale Sunnyvale station |
Santa Clara Santa Clara Transit Center |
Weekdays | Line 53 | Downtown Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Kaiser, Santa Clara University | |
55
|
North-South | Santa Clara Old Ironsides station |
Cupertino De Anza College |
Daily | Line 55 | Downtown Sunnyvale, Reamwood station |
|
56
|
North-South | Sunnyvale Lockheed Martin Transit Center |
San Jose Monterey Rd & Old Tully Rd |
Daily | Line 56 | Apple Park, Westgate Center, Hamilton station, Tamien station | |
Sunnyvale Fair Oaks Ave & Tasman Dr (Weekends & holidays) | |||||||
57
|
North-South | Santa Clara Old Ironsides station |
Saratoga West Valley College |
Daily | Line 57 | California's Great America, Levi's Stadium, Mission College, Westgate Center |
|
59
|
North-South | San Jose Baypointe station |
Santa Clara Saratoga Av & Stevens Creek Bl |
Daily | Line 59 | Old Ironsides station, California's Great America, Levi's Stadium, Mission College, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair | |
60
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas station |
Campbell Winchester Transit Center |
Daily | Line 60 | Metro/Airport station, San Jose International Airport, PayPal Park, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown Campbell |
|
61
|
North-South | San Jose Sierra Rd & Piedmont Rd |
Campbell Good Samaritan Hospital |
Daily | Line 61 | Berryessa station (light rail), Berryessa/North San José station, San Jose Civic Center, San Jose City College |
|
64A
|
North-South | San Jose McKee Rd & White Rd |
San Jose Ohlone/Chynoweth station |
Daily | Line 64A | McKee station, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, SAP Center, San Jose Diridon station, Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, Westfield Oakridge |
|
64B
|
San Jose Almaden Expwy & Camden Ave |
Line 64B | McKee station, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, SAP Center, San Jose Diridon station, Princeton Plaza, South San Jose, Almaden Valley |
| |||
66
|
North-South | Milpitas Dixon Rd & Milpitas Blvd |
San Jose Santa Teresa station |
Daily | Line 66 | Milpitas station, Great Mall, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, Capitol station (Caltrain), Snell station |
|
68
|
North-South | San Jose Diridon station |
Gilroy Gilroy station |
Daily | Line 68 | Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Capitol station (Caltrain), Cottle station, Santa Teresa station, Morgan Hill station, San Martin station |
|
70
|
North-South | San Jose Berryessa/North San José station (short turn) |
San Jose Capitol station (light rail) |
Daily | Line 70 | Hostetter station, Eastridge Mall |
|
Milpitas Milpitas station | |||||||
71
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 71 | Eastridge Mall |
|
72
|
North-South | San Jose 2nd St & Bassett St |
San Jose Monterey Rd & Senter Rd |
Daily | Line 72 | Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, South San Jose |
|
73
|
Line 73 | ||||||
77
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 77 | Berryessa/North San José station, Eastridge Mall |
|
83
|
North-South | San Jose Ohlone/Chynoweth station |
San Jose Almaden Expwy & McKean Rd |
Weekdays | Line 83 | Westfield Oakridge, Almaden Valley |
|
84
|
North-South | Gilroy Gilroy station |
Gilroy St. Louise Hospital |
Daily | Line 84 | Gilroy Outlets |
|
85
|
North-South | Daily | Line 85 | West Gilroy | |||
86
|
North-South | Gilroy Gilroy station |
Gilroy Gavilan College |
Weekdays | Line 86 | ||
87
|
North-South | Morgan Hill Civic Center |
Morgan Hill Burnett Ave at Sobrato High School |
Weekday Peak Periods | Line 87 | Morgan Hill station | |
89
|
North-South | Palo Alto California Avenue station |
Palo Alto V.A. Hospital |
Weekdays | Line 89 | Stanford Research Park |
Rapid bus service
[edit]Currently, the VTA operates one arterial rapid transit line, a precursor to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, the Rapid 522[1]. This service operates along one of Santa Clara County's major commercial corridors, El Camino Real, between Palo Alto and East San Jose. It stops at 30 intersections and transit centers that provide timed and extensive connections to other bus and light rail services, a far fewer number of stops than line 22 that operates on the same corridor.
On January 6, 2014, VTA expanded the Rapid 522 hours on weekdays and Saturdays to end at approximately 10:30 pm while introducing a new Sunday schedule operating between 9 am and 6 pm.[1]
This service operates daily; for service outside of operating hours, use Line 22.
Similar to the BRT systems for which it is a precursor, Rapid Line 522 utilizes queue-jump lanes, traffic signal priority, and enhanced bus stop designs that provide riders with quicker service to and from major attractions in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and San Jose.
VTA started construction in March 2014 on the Santa Clara-Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit Project [2], which will upgrade the section of the Rapid 522 between Eastridge Transit Center and the SAP Center at San Jose to BRT service. The new BRT service will feature special hybrid vehicles with Wi-Fi on board, enhanced stations, dedicated lanes on Alum Rock, transit signal priority, electronic real-time information message signs, off-board payment and all-door boarding to speed up stops, and service every 10 minutes at peak times.
In the future, VTA has plans to upgrade the rest of the Rapid 522 route to BRT service with the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project [3].
VTA replaced Express line 168 with line 568 in October 2021 due to many passenger complaints that line 68 took too long to get between Gilroy and San Jose. Line 568 is a weekday service that has fewer stops than line 68 with quicker travel times between Gilroy and San Jose, but utilizes Monterey Road rather than using local freeways like most Express routes except for most of Morgan Hill.[2][3]
Line Number | Direction | Terminals | Days of Operation | Schedule Information | Major Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rapid 500
|
North-South | San Jose Berryessa/North San José station |
San Jose Diridon station |
Daily | Line 500 | Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University |
|
Rapid 522
|
East-West | Palo Alto Palo Alto station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 522 | Stanford University, San Antonio Center, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, SAP Center, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Alum Rock station, Eastridge Mall | |
Rapid 523
|
East-West | Sunnyvale Lockheed Martin Transit Center |
San Jose San Jose State University |
Daily | Line 523 | Lockheed Martin, Downtown Sunnyvale, De Anza College, Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University | |
Rapid 568
|
North-South | San Jose Diridon station |
Gilroy Gilroy station |
Weekdays | Line 568 | San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, Downtown Morgan Hill, San Martin, Downtown Gilroy |
|
Special bus services
[edit]Express routes
[edit]VTA's Express Bus routes operate along many of Santa Clara County's freeways, including Highway 85, Highway 237, Interstate 280 and U.S. Route 101. These routes use suburban-style Gillig low-floor buses with unique color schemes and onboard Wi-Fi.
These services mainly operate during weekday peak periods only, operating in the typical commute direction.
Due to the large subsidy per rider to operate express bus routes, VTA eliminated most express bus routes in the December 28, 2019 network redesign, except for those serving the Stanford Research Park, which funded the cost of operating the service. Fares are higher than standard bus fares.
Line Number | Direction | Terminals | Days of Operation | Schedule Information | Roads Used | Additional destinations | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Express 101
|
North-South | San Jose Camden Av & SR 85 Park and Ride |
Palo Alto Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 101 | Camden Av, Winchester Bl, Hamilton Av, Lawrence Expwy, Stevens Creek Bl, Vallco Pkwy, I-280 | Winchester Transit Center, Westgate Center |
Express 102
|
North-South | San Jose Santa Teresa station |
Palo Alto Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 102 | Santa Teresa Bl, Snell Ave, SR-85, I-280 | Snell station, Ohlone/Chynoweth station, select stops along Santa Teresa Blvd |
Express 103
|
East-West | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Palo Alto Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 103 | Capitol Expwy, I-680, Southwest Expwy, Fruitdale Av, Meridian Av, I-280 | Capitol Expwy & Story Rd, Fruitdale station |
Express 104
|
East-West | Milpitas Milpitas station |
Palo Alto Stanford Research Park (Deer Creek Rd at VMware) |
Weekdays | Line 104 | Great Mall Pkwy, Main St, Calaveras Blvd, SR-237, US-101, Charleston Rd, Alma St, Page Mill Rd | Downtown Milpitas, south Palo Alto, Palo Alto V.A. Hospital |
Express 121
|
North-South | Gilroy Gilroy station |
Sunnyvale Lockheed Martin Transit Center |
Weekdays | Line 121 | Monterey Rd, Butterfield Blvd, Cochrane Rd, US-101, Great America Pkwy, Tasman Dr, Lawrence Expwy | San Martin station, Morgan Hill station, Old Ironsides station |
School tripper routes
[edit]VTA operates a collection of routes timed specifically to serve students at local high schools. These services only operate around bell times when schools are in session.
Line Number | School Served | Other Destinations | Schedule Information | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
School 246
|
Milpitas Milpitas High School |
Central Milpitas | School Trippers | |
School 247
|
Central Milpitas | |||
School 255
|
Sunnyvale Fremont High School |
North Sunnyvale |
| |
School 256
|
San Jose Willow Glen High School |
Central San Jose, Tamien station | ||
School 270
|
San Jose Independence High School |
East San Jose, Hostetter station |
| |
School 287
|
Morgan Hill Live Oak High School |
Morgan Hill, San Martin | ||
School 288
|
Palo Alto Gunn High School |
Central Palo Alto |
| |
School 288L
|
Central Palo Alto | |||
School 288M
|
Central Palo Alto |
ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) shuttles
[edit]The VTA, in conjunction with many private entities and high-tech companies, as well as in coordination with Altamont Corridor Express, operates free shuttles to and from various light rail stations and Great America Station to serve businesses in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and San Jose. Passengers can ride these shuttles for free as funding for these services are provided by grants from high-tech companies and business associations based in Santa Clara County, as well as from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These mainly operate weekdays only (except holidays).
All shuttles listed below originate from Great America Station and are operated in coordination with ACE train arrival times in the morning peak and departure times in the afternoon peak.
For a map of these services, click here
Line Color | Direction | Origin/Destination | Companies served | Schedule Information | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACE Gray South Sunnyvale
|
North-South | Sunnyvale Kifer Rd & Uranium Dr |
Gray Line |
| |
ACE Green North Santa Clara
|
East-West | Santa Clara America Center Dr |
Green Line |
| |
ACE Orange Mountain View/Palo Alto
|
East-West | Palo Alto E Meadow Dr & Meadow Cir |
Orange Line |
| |
ACE Purple West Milpitas
|
East-West | Milpitas McCarthy Ranch |
Purple Line |
| |
ACE Red North Sunnyvale
|
East-West | Sunnyvale Lockheed Martin Transit Center |
|
Red Line |
|
ACE Yellow South Santa Clara
|
North-South | Santa Clara Scott Blvd at Intel |
|
Yellow Line |
|
ACE Brown North San Jose/Light Rail
|
North-South | San Jose N First St & Montague Expwy |
|
Brown Line |
|
ACE Violet East Milpitas
|
North-South | San Jose Lundy Ave & Commerce Dr |
|
Violet Line |
|
Other shuttles
[edit]Line Number | Direction | Terminals | Days of Operation | Schedule Information | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCVMC
|
North-South | San Jose Diridon station |
San Jose Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) |
Weekdays | SCVMC Shuttle |
|
Regional services
[edit]The VTA collaborates with other regional agencies that operate into and out of Santa Clara County with inter-agency transfers and commuter benefits. However, these lines do not use VTA's own buses nor levy VTA's bus fares; instead, these are operated by a consortium of operators, in which the agency is a participant, and the consortium sets the fares for such services.
Line Name | Direction | Terminals | Days of Operation | Communities Served | Schedule Information | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Clara County Terminal | Regional Terminal | ||||||
Highway 17 Express | North-South | San Jose San Jose State University (weekdays) |
Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Metro Center |
Daily | San Jose, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Santa Cruz | Highway 17 Express |
|
San Jose Diridon station | |||||||
Dumbarton Express Line DB |
East-West | Palo Alto Stanford University |
Union City Union City station |
Weekdays | Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Newark, Union City | Line DB |
|
Dumbarton Express Line DB1 |
East-West | Palo Alto Stanford Research Park (Deer Creek Rd) |
Union City Union City station |
Weekdays | Palo Alto, Newark, Union City | Line DB1 |
|
Monterey-Salinas Transit Line 59 |
North-South | Gilroy Caltrain station |
Salinas Intermodal Transit Center |
Weekdays | Salinas, Prunedale, Gilroy | MST Line 59 |
|
References
[edit]- ^ Perez, Lucas (January 2, 2014). "VTA Service Changes Take Effect Jan. 6". Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ New Rapid Bus Line Unveiled Gilroy Dispatch.
- ^ VTA Expans Transit Access to South Santa Clara County San Jose Spotlight.
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus stations
- Public transportation in Santa Clara County, California
- Bus transportation in California
- Bus rapid transit in California
- Lists of California bus routes
- San Francisco Bay Area-related lists
- San Jose, California-related lists