List of Santa Clara 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.
Regular bus service[]
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, 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 | Notes | Major Destinations | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20
|
East-West | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Sunnyvale Caltrain Station |
Weekdays | Line 20 |
|
Downtown Sunnyvale, North Santa Clara, Mission College, Milpitas BART |
21
|
East-West | Palo Alto Caltrain Station |
Santa Clara Caltrain Station |
Daily | Line 21 |
|
Santa Clara Caltrain, Santa Clara University, Downtown Sunnyvale, Downtown Mountain View, San Antonio Caltrain, Palo Alto Caltrain |
22
|
East-West | Palo Alto Caltrain Station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 22 |
|
Stanford University, Santa Clara Caltrain, Santa Clara University, 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 |
|
De Anza College, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Alum Rock Light Rail |
25
|
East-West | Cupertino De Anza College |
San Jose Alum Rock Transit Center |
Daily | Line 25 |
|
De Anza College, Valley Medical Center, Fruitdale Light Rail, Tamien Station, Alum Rock Light Rail |
San Jose Valley Medical Center Some trips | |||||||
26
|
East-West | Saratoga West Valley College |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 26 |
|
West Valley College, Westgate Mall, Downtown Campbell/Light Rail, Pruneyard Shopping Center, Curtner Light Rail |
27
|
East-West | Campbell Winchester Transit Center |
San Jose Kaiser Hospital San Jose |
Daily | Line 27 |
|
Winchester Light Rail, Princeton Plaza, Oakridge Mall, Blossom Hill Light Rail, Cottle Light Rail, Kaiser San Jose |
31
|
North-South | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
San Jose Evergreen Valley College |
Weekdays, Saturdays | Line 31 |
|
Eastridge Mall, Evergreen Valley College |
37
|
East-West | San Jose Capitol Light Rail |
Saratoga West Valley College |
Weekdays | Line 37 |
|
Capitol Light Rail, Winchester Light Rail, West Valley College |
39
|
North-South | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
San Jose The Villages |
Daily | Line 39 |
|
Eastridge Mall, Evergreen Valley College |
40
|
East-West | Mountain View Caltrain Station |
Los Altos Hills Foothill College |
Daily | Line 40 |
|
Mountain View Caltrain, Shoreline Amphitheater, Foothill College |
42
|
North-South | San Jose Santa Teresa Light Rail |
San Jose Evergreen Valley College |
Weekdays | Line 42 |
|
Evergreen Valley College, Santa Teresa Light Rail |
44
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Daily | Line 44 |
|
Milpitas BART, Great Mall, Downtown Milpitas, Milpitas Kaiser |
47
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Daily | Line 47 |
|
Milpitas BART, Great Mall, Downtown Milpitas, Milpitas Kaiser |
51
|
North-South | Mountain View Moffett Field |
Saratoga West Valley College |
Weekdays | Line 51 |
|
Moffett Field, Downtown Mountain View, De Anza College, West Valley College |
52
|
North-South | Mountain View Caltrain Station |
Los Altos Hills Foothill College |
Weekdays | Line 52 | Mountain View Caltrain, Downtown Mountain View, Foothill College | |
53
|
North-South | Sunnyvale Caltrain Station |
Santa Clara Caltrain Station |
Weekdays | Line 53 |
|
Downtown Sunnyvale, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Caltrain |
55
|
North-South | Santa Clara Old Ironsides/Great America station |
Cupertino De Anza College Most trips |
Daily | Line 55 |
|
Old Ironsides Light Rail, Downtown Sunnyvale, Reamwood Light Rail, California's Great America, De Anza College |
56
|
North-South | Mountain View Lockheed Martin |
San Jose Tamien Station |
Daily | Line 56 |
|
Lockheed Martin Light Rail, Hamilton Light Rail, Tamien Light Rail |
57
|
North-South | Santa Clara Old Ironsides/Great America station |
Saratoga West Valley College |
Daily | Line 57 |
|
Old Ironsides Light Rail, Mission College, Westgate Mall, West Valley College |
59
|
North-South | San Jose Baypointe Light Rail |
Santa Clara Westfield Valley Fair |
Daily | Line 59 |
|
Baypointe Light Rail, Old Ironsides Light Rail, Mission College, Santa Clara Caltrain, Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair |
60
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
Campbell Winchester Light Rail |
Daily | Line 60 |
|
Milpitas BART, Metro/Airport Light Rail, San Jose International Airport, Santa Clara Caltrain, Santa Clara University, Downtown Campbell, Winchester Light Rail |
61
|
North-South | San Jose Berryessa BART Some trips |
Campbell Good Samaritan Hospital |
Daily | Line 61 |
|
Berryessa Light Rail, Berryessa BART, Civic Center |
San Jose Sierra & Piedmont Some trips | |||||||
64A
|
North-South | San Jose McKee & White |
San Jose Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail |
Daily | Line 64a |
|
McKee Light Rail, San Jose State, Downtown San Jose, Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail |
64B
|
San Jose Almaden Expressway & Camden |
Line 64b |
|
McKee Light Rail, San Jose State, Downtown San Jose, South San Jose | |||
66
|
North-South | Milpitas North Milpitas |
San Jose Kaiser Hospital San Jose |
Daily | Line 66 |
|
Milpitas BART, Great Mall, San Jose State University, Snell Light Rail, Kaiser San Jose |
68
|
North-South | San Jose Diridon Transit Center |
Gilroy Caltrain Station |
Daily | Line 68 |
|
Gilroy Caltrain, San Martin Caltrain, Morgan Hill Caltrain, Santa Teresa Light Rail, Cottle Light Rail, Capitol Caltrain, Downtown San Jose |
70
|
North-South | San Jose Berryessa BART Some trips |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 70 |
|
Milpitas BART, Hostetter Light Rail, Berryessa BART, Eastridge Mall |
Milpitas Milpitas BART Some trips | |||||||
71
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
San Jose Capitol Light Rail |
Daily | Line 71 |
|
Milpitas BART, Eastridge Mall, Capitol Light Rail |
72
|
North-South | San Jose 2nd St & Bassett St |
San Jose Monterey Hwy & Senter Rd |
Daily | Line 72 |
|
Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, South San Jose |
73
|
Line 73 | ||||||
77
|
North-South | Milpitas Milpitas BART |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 77 |
|
Milpitas BART, Berryessa BART, Eastridge Mall |
83
|
North-South | San Jose Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail |
San Jose Almaden & McKean |
Weekdays | Line 83 |
|
Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail, Almaden Valley |
84
|
North-South | Gilroy Caltrain Station |
Gilroy St. Louise Hospital |
Daily | Line 84 |
|
Gilroy Caltrain, Gilroy Outlets |
85
|
North-South | Gilroy Caltrain Station |
Gilroy St. Louise Hospital |
Daily | Line 85 |
|
Gilroy Caltrain, West Gilroy |
86
|
North-South | Gilroy Caltrain Station |
Gilroy Gavilan College |
Weekdays | Line 86 |
|
Gilroy Caltrain, Gavilan College |
87
|
East-West | Morgan Hill Civic Center |
Morgan Hill Burnett Ave. |
Weekday Peak Periods | Line 87 |
|
Morgan Hill Caltrain, Morgan Hill Civic Center |
89
|
North-South | Palo Alto California Avenue Caltrain Station |
Palo Alto V.A. Hospital |
Weekdays | Line 89 | California Ave. Caltrain |
Rapid bus service[]
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 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 | Notes | Major Destinations | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rapid 500
|
North-South | San Jose Berryessa BART |
San Jose Diridon Station |
Daily | Line 500 |
|
Diridon Station, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University |
Rapid 522
|
East-West | Palo Alto Caltrain Station |
San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Daily | Line 522 |
|
Stanford University, Santa Clara Caltrain, Santa Clara University, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Alum Rock Light Rail, Eastridge Mall |
Rapid 523
|
East-West | Mountain View Lockheed Martin |
San Jose Berryessa BART |
Daily | Line 523 |
|
Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale Caltrain, Downtown Sunnyvale, De Anza College, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Berryessa BART |
Rapid 568
|
North-South | San Jose Dirdon Station |
Gilroy Transit Center |
Weekdays | Line 568 |
|
Downtown Gilroy, San Martin, Downtown Morgan Hill, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Dirdon Station |
Special bus services[]
Express routes[]
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. The buses used on these lines are suburban-style Gillig low-floor buses that have WiFi capability on board.
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 Industrial 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 | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Express 101
|
North-South | San Jose Hwy 85 at Camden Ave Park-and-Ride |
Palo Alto Stanford Industrial Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 101 |
|
Express 102
|
North-South | San Jose Santa Teresa station |
Palo Alto Stanford Industrial Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 102 |
|
Express 103
|
East-West | San Jose Eastridge Transit Center |
Palo Alto Stanford Industrial Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy) |
Weekdays | Line 103 |
|
Express 104
|
East-West | San Jose Penitencia Creek station |
Palo Alto Stanford Industrial Park (Deer Creek Road at VMware) |
Weekdays | Line 104 |
|
School tripper routes[]
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 | N/A |
|
School 247
|
Milpitas Milpitas High School |
Central Milpitas | N/A |
|
School 256
|
San Jose Willow Glen High School |
Central San Jose, Tamien Station | N/A | |
School 270
|
San Jose Independence High School |
East San Jose, Hostetter Light Rail | Line 270 | |
School 287
|
Morgan Hill Live Oak High School |
Morgan Hill, San Martin | Line 287 | |
School 288
|
Palo Alto Gunn High School |
Central Palo Alto | Line 288 |
|
School 288L | Palo Alto Gunn High School |
Central Palo Alto | Line 288L |
|
School 288M | Palo Alto Gunn High School |
Central Palo Alto | Line 288M |
|
ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) shuttles[]
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 | Notes | Schedule Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACE Gray South Sunnyvale |
North-South | Sunnyvale Kifer Rd & Uranium Dr |
|
|
Gray Line |
ACE Green North Santa Clara |
East-West | Santa Clara America Center Drive |
|
|
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 Shopping Center |
|
|
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 Avenue at Intel |
|
|
Yellow Line |
ACE Brown North San Jose/Light Rail |
North-South | San Jose N First St & Montague Expwy |
|
|
Brown Line |
ACE Violet West Milpitas |
North-South | Milpitas Lundy Ave & Commerce Dr |
|
|
Violet Line |
SCVMC Shuttle[]
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 | Line SCVMC |
|
Regional services[]
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 | Notes | Schedule Information | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Daily | San Jose, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Santa Cruz |
|
Highway 17 Express[permanent dead link] |
San Jose Diridon Transit Center Weekends and Holidays |
Soquel Paul Sweet Drive Park-and-Ride Weekday peak periods only | ||||||
Dumbarton Express Line DB |
East-West | Palo Alto Stanford University Oval |
Union City BART Station |
Weekdays | Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Newark, Union City |
|
Line DB |
Monterey-Salinas Transit Line 55 |
North-South | San Jose Diridon Transit Center |
Monterey Transit Plaza Tyler St & Pearl St |
Daily | Monterey, Sand City, Prunedale, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Jose |
|
MST Line 55 |
Dumbarton Express Line DB1 |
East-West | Palo Alto Deer Creek Road Stanford Research Park |
Union City BART Station |
Weekdays | Palo Alto, Newark, Union City |
|
Line DB1 |
References[]
- ^ 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