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Politics & Government

VTA Targets New Demographic with Free Wi-Fi and Shorter Commutes

Starting Monday, 20 new express buses, which the VTA hopes will attract more tech professionals, will be phased into service.

Traffic congestion and long commutes are notorious in Silicon Valley. But starting this Monday, Jan. 9 the VTA is hoping to woo more drivers off the road with the introduction of 20 hybrid electric Express Buses to its fleet—all equipped with new amenities such as free wi-fi, high-cushioned back seats, and reading lights.

“We’re targeting the younger and tech-savvy market,” said VTA general manager Michael Burns, standing at the side of a polished black-, white- and red-colored Express Bus.

The express buses, displayed in the VTA’s Operation Division in San Jose Thursday, along with 70 regular service hybrid buses, were acquired with an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant and California Proposition 1B funding. It totaled $61.2 million.

With the increase in service, some of the routes are also expanding: Express Bus Line 120 will offer extended routing from the Fremont BART to the Shoreline area in Mountain View, according to VTA spokeswoman Brandi Childress.

The buses will continue to cost $4 a ride, and will save VTA money in operational costs since they are cheaper to maintain than diesel buses, added Burns. They bring the total number of express buses to 40.

In 2011, the VTA reached to companies such as Google—which utilizes an expansive, wi-fi enhanced shuttle service for employees—for feedback. In doing so, they adjusted the schedule and eliminated little-utilized stops.

“Now we have later runs so that we can reach a segment that has more flexibility in their work day,” said Childress, pointing to tech workers who trickle in the office past 9 or 10 a.m. “We’re looking to target workers who wouldn’t normally consider public transit.”

Wi-fi and quicker bus service will both be effective at reaching a broader demographic of riders,  said Chris Zhang of the Friends of the Cupertino Transit System, a local advocacy group which is looking to bring the same features to a Cupertino-specific bus system.

“Most of the time people don’t want to take buses because they don’t want to wait,” he said.

Yet local software engineer Abhishek Bansal, 26, remained skeptical that some of the changes would reign in more riders.

“It’s a good ad-on, but free wi-fi is not a big deal anymore since most [tech professionals] have Internet access on their smartphones or tablets,” he said.

Still, he said, some of the buses leaving at a later time, and traveling quickly from one highly populated area to another, would be a draw for those who previously felt the wait for a bus was too long.

Now that there’s no noisy alternators or rear door on the buses—only front ones—passengers can enjoy a quieter bus ride, said Michael Hursh, deputy director of operations at the VTA. Furthermore, the electricity on the hybrid buses no longer comes from alternators.

“It’s all about attracting new riders,” said Hursh. “We’re especially looking towards riders with a long commute, such as those from Gilroy or Fremont.”

Added Greta Helm, VTA’s chief external affairs officer, “If we can match the comfort of a car, this is a much more attractive option.”

The new buses will service Line 102- South San Jose to Palo Alto, which is the one that comes closest to Los Gatos, according to VTA spokeswoman Brandi Childress.

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For Los Gatos residents wanting to access the express service, the line will connect to the Winchester Light Rail Line which takes commuters to North County, she said.

This line will operate with the new express vehicles. An additional morning trip will be added leaving Santa Teresa Light Rail Station at 5:49 a.m., and a new afternoon trip will leave Hansen and Page Mill at 3:25 p.m. The stop at Santa Teresa and Lean will no longer be observed. Other minor schedule changes will be made.

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Correction: This story has been revised. An earlier version gave the incorrect amount the buses will cost, which were acquired with ARRA and Proposition 1B funding. The story also gave the wrong amount of the adult express fare, which is $4. Everybody makes mistakes ... even us! If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, give Local Editor Sheila Sanchez a ring at 408-391-8725 or shoot her an e-mail at sheila.sanchez@patch.com.

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