Silicon Valley Transit Users Podcasts

An audio recording of the May 9, 2011 public meeting to discuss Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) proposed service changes in July and next year. In addition, it is to discuss the same plans for VTA's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 and 2013 budgets.

The meeting was held in San Jose at the Senter Auditorium, at the County Government Center. Whole audio is nearly 90 minutes.

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This is brief audio taken of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) long-range transit planning meeting in Campbell on April 13, 2011.

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This is the second part of the recording for the April 7, 2011 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors meeting in San Jose.

Highlights include discussion of the Caltrain Joint Powers Board (JPB) voting to delay its fare hike and service cut proposal for 2 weeks. Group members Eugene B. and Michael L. thank VTA for taking the lead in saving Caltrain. In particular, Eugene B. calls for the consolidation of SamTrans into VTA to save that agency from total bankruptcy.

In addition, group member Michael L. points out a flaw in VTA's Express Bus Business Plan - specifically cutting service on 3 popular express bus lines but increasing service on one poor performing limited stop bus line (the 321).

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This is an audio recording of the April 7, 2011 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors meeting in San Jose.

Due to technical issues encountered in the recording, the audio for this Board of Directors meeting is split into two parts - this being part 1.

Action starts as the VTA Board of Directors exits its "closed session" meeting 45 minutes after roll call is taken and the meeting starts. Part 1 ends in the middle of VTA General Manager Michael Burns' report.

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This is audio from the March 3, 2011 Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board meeting at the County Supervisors' Chambers, 70 W. Hedding Street, San Jose.

Here are highlights from that Board meeting:

• 2:55 - Public Presentations - where the VTA Board & management want to hear from YOU
• 11:58 - March employees of the month and 2010 employees of the year honored
• 55:15 - update on BART to Silicon Valley (SJX)
• 57:45 - Board discussion of Caltrain crisis, your input, and approval of General Mgr. Burns' plan to save Caltrain
• 112:15 (1:52:15) - Kevin Connoly of VTA discusses the Express Bus proposal

The total audio is just over 2 hours. Forgive some of the audio quality issues; a Samsung Galaxy S phone running VirtualRecorder was used.

Enjoy.

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This is an audio recording of the Caltrain community held February 14, 2011 at San Jose (California) City Hall.

The meeting's purpose: to obtain public input on proposed Caltrain service cuts, fare increases, and station closures.

Two group members, Eugene Bradley & Michael Ludwig, were at the meeting and provided comments for the Caltrain staff on hand.

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This is a recording (podcast) of the September 2010 Board meeting of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).

Highlights of this Board meeting include

• An announcement on changes in light rail service on October 4 - including express light rail service in South San Jose during weekday peak travel hours.
• More discussion on solutions to resolve VTA's ongoing fiscal crisis

The board meeting is just over one hour long.  Enjoy.

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Highlights from the April 1 VTA Board Meeting (lasted nearly 2 hours):

(~ 6:00) Members of the public petition for additional Outreach service and an extra 63 bus weekdays at 10:00pm, and a request to pursue grants for VTA eco-passes for high school students in Palo Alto.

(13:02) Group member Alice Frayne continues to try to convince the VTA Board to move meetings to Saturdays out of convenience for the riding public

(17:23) General Manager Burns' presenatation.  The VTA Board hears a presentation from some consultants on how to proceed with constructing BART into Santa Clara County from Fremont's Warm Springs area

(27:00) The VTA Board received a presentation from a consultant on design, bid, and construction techniques for the BART project

(58:00) Don Gage gives his report on the financial stability committee

(1:05:55) discussion on the proposed people mover system at San Jose Airport

(1:38:50) VTA discusses, approves survey of voters for wording/placing a $10 DMV fee for transportation projects on the November ballot

Enjoy.

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Audio of the February 4, 2010 Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board meeting in San Jose.

Issues the VTA Board approved at this meeting:

• Authorizing General Manager Michael Burns to submit an application of up to $120 million in "Jobs To Main Street" (aka Federal Stimulus II) funding
• Approving a Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for predicting future revenue and plans on how your money will be spent in upcoming years.

Our group made it know the VTA that "the future is NOW" - and that money (and focus) needs to be budgeted and spent on preserving as much service as possible.

Enjoy.

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At this meeting, the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) approved a new security firm for its transit centers and light rail stations.  The new firm is AlliedBarton, which replaces Securitas Security Services.

Also, the VTA Board of Directors approved its spending plan for the Federal  Stimulus Package money which it will lobby for at a regional transit planning meeting on February 6.

The meeting audio is nearly 2 hours long.  Enjoy.

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