Valley Transportation Authority

Santa Clara County’s Valley Transportation Authority provides bus, light rail, and ACCESS paratransit services, along with transportation planning and improvement projects throughout the county. This article explains how to plan a trip, identify the right route or station, understand fares and transfers, request accessible transportation, and reach the appropriate VTA office. It also covers information to prepare before booking paratransit, reporting a service problem, recovering a lost item, or requesting public records.

Valley Transportation Authority in Santa Clara County

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, commonly called VTA, is an independent special district. Its responsibilities extend beyond operating public transit. As the county’s congestion management agency, VTA handles countywide transportation planning and participates in the design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements. It also promotes transit-oriented development.

VTA provides services throughout Santa Clara County, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale. The agency also participates as a funding partner in regional rail services. Those partnerships are distinct from the bus, light rail, and paratransit services VTA provides.

The official Valley Transportation Authority website brings together trip planning, schedules, routes, fares, maps, event service, and agency updates. For a routine ride, the trip planner and route information are the most relevant starting points. For an eligibility application, lost item, maintenance concern, or records request, use the service-specific process described below.

Bus Routes and Light Rail Lines

VTA’s bus and light rail route directory allows riders to look for a route by name or number and distinguish among light rail, frequent, local, express, and shuttle services. Matching the route number and endpoints matters because services may reach similar destinations while following different paths.

Three Light Rail Lines

The Blue Line runs between Baypointe and Santa Teresa. The Green Line runs between Old Ironsides and Winchester. The Orange Line runs between Mountain View and Alum Rock. These endpoints help identify the appropriate line, but riders should also review the stations and connections needed for their particular trip.

Printed and online light rail schedules show major timepoints rather than every station. Trains stop at stations when an onboard customer requests the stop or someone is waiting to board. A station’s absence from the abbreviated schedule does not mean the train bypasses it.

Local, Rapid, and Express Buses

Rapid services include Route 500 between San Jose Diridon and Berryessa BART, Route 522 between Palo Alto Transit Center and Eastridge, Route 523 between San Jose State and Lockheed Martin via De Anza, and Route 568 between Gilroy Transit Center and San Jose Diridon. Other routes serve colleges, hospitals, transit centers, neighborhoods, and employment destinations.

For example, Route 60 connects Milpitas BART and Winchester Station via San Jose’s airport. Route 68 connects San Jose Diridon and Gilroy Transit Center. Routes 23 and 25 both connect De Anza College and Alum Rock, but Route 23 travels via Stevens Creek while Route 25 travels via Valley Medical. The shared endpoints do not make these routes interchangeable for intermediate stops.

Express Routes 101, 102, 103, and 104 serve Stanford Research Park from different starting points. Express service has separate adult fare requirements, so a rider choosing an express bus should review both its route and the applicable fare before boarding.

Trip Planning, Maps, and Schedules

The VTA Trip Planner provides access to trip-planning and schedule information. Customer Service agents can also provide a customized trip plan and answer questions about VTA programs and services. This assistance is useful when a trip involves several connections or when the route directory alone does not resolve which service to take.

VTA’s system and connection maps include a main system map, Downtown San Jose map, South County map, and a light rail-to-bus and other transit connections map. The countywide bikeways map is available in English and Spanish. A map helps establish where services connect; a schedule provides timing information for the ride.

Timepoints and Early Rapid Departures

Bus schedules also show major timepoints rather than every stop between them. Do not assume that an intermediate stop is absent from the route simply because it does not appear as a separate schedule entry.

Rapid buses on Routes 500, 522, 523, and 568 may depart up to five minutes earlier than the published schedule when traffic allows, except at the start of the trip. VTA advises riders to arrive at their stop five minutes before the scheduled time. Arriving exactly at the printed time can therefore be too late for a Rapid bus.

Holiday Service and Office Closures

VTA buses and light rail operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Transit service hours and customer-service office hours are separate. A holiday transit schedule does not mean that a staffed office or telephone agent is available that day.

Service Alerts and Stop Changes

The VTA Service Alerts page organizes notices by route name or number, route category, and station alerts. Notices can involve temporary stop closures, permanent closures, relocations, or reroutes. Route pages also display alerts at the top, and VTA offers email subscriptions for route alerts.

Read the affected location and the start and end dates rather than relying only on the alert title. A notice may apply to one stop, several routes sharing a stop, or a limited period during an event or construction activity. Some notices remain in effect until further notice. A route can continue operating while the particular stop you intended to use is closed.

For a trip with a connection, review the relevant alerts for each VTA route involved. This is especially useful where multiple services share transit centers or corridors. A familiar route number does not establish that every usual boarding location is available for the planned trip.

Fares, Payment, and Transfers

The official VTA fare information distinguishes adult, adult express, senior and disabled, and youth fare categories. Adults are ages 19 through 64, seniors are age 65 or older, and youth fares apply to ages 5 through 18. Children younger than five ride free.

VTA accepts contactless plastic or mobile Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover bank cards for adult transit fares. Riders paying cash should have exact change ready when boarding. Clipper cards are tagged on the reader next to the bus farebox.

Clipper Transfers and Daily Accumulation

A single ride paid with Clipper includes two hours of free transfers across VTA buses and light rail. The Clipper Day Pass Accumulator limits the amount a rider pays with Clipper cash to the price of a Day Pass for local rides that day. After the rider pays the equivalent of a Day Pass, further local rides that day are free.

An adult transferring from a local bus to an express bus must pay a $2.50 surcharge. For adult Clipper card users, that surcharge must be paid with Clipper cash loaded before tagging on the express route. The same card must be used for the local and express portions. Youth and senior, disabled, or Medicare riders transferring to express service do not pay that surcharge.

VTA has regional transfer agreements, but those policies are separate from its two-hour transfers across VTA buses and light rail. Riders connecting to another operator should consult the regional transfer information available through the fare page rather than assuming the VTA transfer rule covers the entire journey.

Monthly Passes and Light Rail Tickets

Monthly passes cover the calendar month purchased; they are not rolling 31-day passes. They are sold from the 16th of the preceding month through the 15th of the pass month. For example, a July pass is available from June 16 through July 15.

The eight-hour Excursion Pass is for light rail only. It is sold at light rail station ticket vending machines, costs the same as two single rides, and is valid for eight hours from purchase. It should not be mistaken for a bus-and-light-rail pass.

Light rail operates on a proof-of-payment system. Riders must possess validated fare while on the system, and fare inspectors conduct checks. Under VTA’s fare policy, purchased passes are nonrefundable, and lost or stolen Day Passes and Monthly Passes are not replaced.

Discount Documentation and School Programs

To qualify for senior, disabled, or Medicare fares, riders must present an accepted document. These include a Medicare card, Regional Transit Connection Discount Card or valid card from another California transit provider, DMV disabled license plate registration, DMV disabled parking placard printout, or proof of age 65 or older. A valid picture identification may also be required. Youth riders may be asked for valid picture identification, and a Youth Clipper card automatically converts to an adult card on the holder’s 19th birthday.

The Class Pass Program allows Santa Clara County teachers in kindergarten through grade 12 to request free VTA bus and light rail field trips for students, teachers, and chaperones. Each teacher may receive up to two class passes per school year. Applications must be submitted at least three weeks before the trip for consideration and processing; approved passes and itineraries are sent two weeks before the scheduled trip.

Stations, Parking, and Boarding Access

VTA’s parking, transit center, and station directory identifies locations, wheelchair boarding availability, parking capacity, and airport parking where applicable. It also directs users to paid parking information for locations such as Berryessa and Milpitas transit centers.

Several names have separate bus and light rail entries. These include Alum Rock, Capitol, Curtner, Lockheed Martin, Santa Teresa, and Winchester. Select the entry for the service you intend to board instead of treating a shared place name as a single boarding location.

Parking capacity and airport parking capacity are different figures in the directory. For example, a location’s total parking capacity should not be read as the number of airport parking spaces. Review the location-specific information before planning a trip around parking availability or a particular transit connection.

All VTA buses have exterior racks that accommodate up to three bicycles. Rapid 522’s long blue buses can carry three bicycles on the front rack and two inside the rear portion of the bus.

Accessible Bus and Light Rail Service

VTA’s accessibility information covers boarding assistance, mobility device securement, service animals, stop announcements, and other policies. Bus and light rail vehicles and facilities incorporate accessibility features such as lifts, ramps, and station or stop designs that support boarding.

Operators provide assistance with boarding devices, and vehicles announce and display the next stop. VTA’s policies also address alternative transportation when a passenger cannot board because accessibility equipment has failed. Customer Service is the appropriate contact for questions about accessible features of regular bus and light rail service.

Accessible fixed-route service and ACCESS paratransit are distinct. A rider’s need for an accessible vehicle does not by itself establish paratransit eligibility. ACCESS certification considers the person’s functional ability to use bus or light rail.

ACCESS Paratransit Eligibility and Applications

VTA ACCESS Paratransit serves eligible individuals whose physical, visual, or cognitive disabilities prevent them from using conventional accessible bus or light rail service. It is shared-ride transportation complementary to fixed-route transit, operating within the same service area and service times. Riders can expect multiple pickups and drop-offs during a trip.

Eligibility is based on functional ability to use transit for some or all trips. It is not based on age, economic circumstances, or inability to drive. Having a disability or medical condition does not automatically establish eligibility.

Data Card and Phone Interview

The certification process begins with a one-page Data Card followed by a phone interview. Applicants’ conservators, guardians, or legal representatives must provide supporting documentation with the card. Data Card options are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and cards may be submitted by mail or dropped off at the VTA locations identified on the ACCESS page.

The interview takes approximately 30 minutes and addresses functional abilities and limitations that affect independent transit use. Eligibility staff may contact the physician or licensed professional identified on the card to validate disabilities and functional limitations. An eligibility determination letter is mailed within 21 days after the interview.

Certification, Appeals, and Mobility Devices

Determinations may grant unconditional, conditional, or temporary eligibility. Unconditional eligibility allows ACCESS use without conditions tied to the ability to take fixed-route transit. Conditional eligibility identifies circumstances affecting transit use. Temporary eligibility applies to a short-term need.

An applicant who disagrees with the determination may appeal in writing within 60 days of the date on the determination letter. All customers must reapply when their eligibility certification period ends.

Approved applicants receive a start-up kit and paratransit identification card. A valid Paratransit ID Card provides free rides on VTA local and express buses and light rail, with exclusions stated in VTA’s fare information. Mobility devices are certified during eligibility review; customers must contact Eligibility to certify a changed device.

ACCESS Reservations, Fares, and Pickup Windows

ACCESS reservations are made one to three days ahead, between 8:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m. A next-day trip must be booked before 5:00 p.m. the preceding day. Requests after that cutoff are considered same-day trips.

Have the following information ready for a reservation:

Client ID.
Travel date and requested pickup time or destination arrival time.
Exact pickup and destination addresses.
The mobility device being used.
Whether a personal care attendant or companion will travel.

Specify either a pickup time or an appointment arrival time, not both. ACCESS negotiates a 30-minute pickup window up to one hour before or after a requested pickup time. For an appointment, an earlier pickup window may be needed to support arrival on time. When scheduling multiple trips, allow at least one hour between pickup windows.

Client Accounts and Premium Trips

ACCESS establishes a client account during certification and deducts fares when trips are booked. Insufficient funds prevent completion of the booking. If the planned trip is not taken, the fare is returned to the account.

A standard one-way trip costs $4, and a standard companion fare is $4. Premium trips cost $16 and include same-day requests, second vehicles, extended service area trips, and open returns. Reservationists verify acceptance of the premium fare before booking. The ACCESS service area tool offers weekday, Saturday, and Sunday layers for evaluating an address and standard or premium service coverage.

Closing a client account terminates eligibility. A former customer who later wants to use ACCESS must reapply.

Day-of-Trip Assistance and Cancellations

The vehicle may arrive anywhere within the 30-minute pickup window. Be outside or in a place where you can see it arrive. Drivers can assist between the first exterior door and the vehicle within the limits described by ACCESS, offer an arm for stability, deploy the ramp or lift, and secure a mobility device. Riders needing additional assistance should plan to travel with a personal care attendant.

Cancel at least two hours before the pickup window begins to avoid a no-show. A pattern of no-shows or cancellations at the door may lead to suspension. ACCESS provides written notices and an opportunity to request review of a suspension.

Eligibility materials and determinations are available in accessible formats on request, including audio, large print, Braille, and electronic files. Language assistance is also available. Reasonable modifications may be requested, but requests cannot alter the shared-ride nature of the service, create an undue financial burden, or directly threaten health or safety.

Customer Service and Problem Reporting

The VTA Help and Contacts page separates general feedback, maintenance reports, safety reports, lost-and-found inquiries, and public records requests. Choosing the appropriate channel helps direct the issue to the service responsible for handling it.

Customer Service agents are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Automated transit information is available 24 hours. Staffed telephone service is closed Sundays and the holidays identified on the contact page.

The River Oaks Headquarters lobby is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Downtown Customer Service Center is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Both provide Clipper products, maps, schedules, and Regional Transit Connection Discount Card applications. Downtown also handles lost-and-found inquiries. Weekend and holiday closures differ from transit operating schedules.

Lost Property and Maintenance Concerns

For a lost item, contact the main line and select option 6 to learn whether it was turned in and how to claim it. Most found items are retained for 90 days, with exceptions for cash and medication.

Bus stop or station repair, cleaning, and improvement concerns belong in the maintenance reporting channel. General ideas, suggestions, and comments about services or programs belong in the feedback channel.

Safety Reports and Public Records

VTAlerts accepts reports involving suspicious activity, unattended packages, theft, medical emergencies, safety concerns, vandalism, assaults, and other incidents identified by VTA. Reports may be submitted through VTAlerts, the online incident report form, or by calling or texting 408-610-1440.

Public records requests use VTA’s electronic Public Records Request form or the Office of the Board Secretary by mail or in person. This process is separate from trip planning, lost property, maintenance reporting, and ACCESS applications.

Transportation Projects and Construction Information

The VTA project directory supports keyword searches and filters for project category and status. It covers transit expansions, highway improvements, pedestrian access projects, and transit-oriented development. Examples include the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector, Lawrence Expressway Grade Separation, and Eastridge Transit Center Crosswalk projects.

Project information explains the underlying transportation work, while service alerts identify operational changes affecting a ride. A project page can help a resident understand construction or development near a station; the route’s alerts remain the relevant place to review reroutes and stop closures before traveling.

VTA Offices and Contact Numbers

VTA River Oaks Headquarters / Customer Service
3331 North First Street, Building B, San Jose, CA 95134-1906
Downtown Customer Service Center / Lost and Found Office
2 North Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-321-2300
800-894-9908
TTY: 408-321-2330

VTA ACCESS Paratransit — General Administration, Customer Service & Client Accounts
3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
408-321-2380

VTA ACCESS Paratransit — Eligibility Department
3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
408-321-2381

Office of the Board Secretary
3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
408-321-5680

Valley Transportation Authority FAQs

How can I check my VTA route before traveling?

Use the VTA Trip Planner to plan your trip, then review route-specific service alerts for stop closures and detours. Check each notice’s effective dates and hours; a listed alert may apply only overnight or on certain days. For trips with transfers, review every route involved so a closed stop does not leave you waiting at the wrong location.

Why might a Rapid bus leave early?

VTA says Rapid routes 500, 522, 523, and 568 may depart up to five minutes before the scheduled time when traffic allows, except at the start of the trip. Arrive at your stop at least five minutes early. The VTA route directory also explains that schedules show major timepoints rather than every stop, so an unlisted stop does not necessarily mean the route skips it.

Are transfers between VTA buses and light rail free?

A single ride paid with Clipper includes two hours of free transfers across VTA buses and light rail. Express service has additional rules: adults transferring from a local bus to an Express bus must pay a $2.50 surcharge using Clipper cash loaded before boarding, with the same card used for both rides. Youth and Senior/Disabled/Medicare riders do not pay that surcharge. Review the official VTA fare rules before choosing your payment method.

Does a VTA monthly pass last 31 days?

No. Monthly passes cover the calendar month purchased. A July pass is valid for July, even if you buy it after the month begins. Sales run from the 16th of the preceding month through the 15th of the pass month. Before purchasing, consider how many travel days remain. VTA does not refund purchased passes or replace lost or stolen Day Passes or Monthly Passes.

What should I prepare before booking ACCESS paratransit?

You must first complete the VTA ACCESS eligibility process; a disability alone does not automatically qualify you. Once eligible, have your client ID, exact addresses, travel date, mobility device, and attendant or companion needs ready. Specify either your preferred pickup time or required arrival time. Book one to three days ahead, before 5 p.m. for next-day travel, and ensure your client account has enough funds. Expect a negotiated 30-minute pickup window.