Missing the Train

About a year ago when I realized that our office was going to be moving to Sunnyvale I spent some time researching alternative means of transport in order to reduce my likelihood of either arriving at home/work in a blind rage or not actually arriving at home/work.

Luckily the Valley Transport Authority (VTA) had the answer a new Light Rail service from Campbell (next town to Los Gatos) into San Jose and then out passing within 100 yards of the office. I was delighted! It was due to open on August 12th and I felt bad that I wasn't there to cheer on the Major and other dignitaries in their cutting of ribbons and the like. However, when I got back from vacation and drove to the park-and-ride station I noticed it was pretty much empty.

"It's not working!" one VTA employee on a break (probably a very long one if it wasn't working) told me. I asked why, and was told that because it used Union Pacific Railroad Track, it either had to conform to their regulations or VTA had to apply for waivers to allow it to flaunt these regulations- They applied too late and the line was closed until "Fall". Latest info says October, but when in October is another question.

However, that didn't stop the VTA from laying on it's "Los Community Shuttle" bus from Los Gatos to the VTA Light Rail in Campbell and back right on schedule (as in- since August) .

Round and round it goes every 30 minutes, taking imaginary people from Los Gatos to the Light Rail station and back- the buses' logo proclaiming that VTA is there to protect the environment. I expect they (the VTA) will shut it down some time in October because nobody used it to get to or from the Light Rail Station!