Alum Rock–Santa Teresa is a light rail

Light rail

Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...

 route operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...

 (VTA). The Alum Rock–Santa Teresa route is one of three existing VTA light rail routes. The other two light rail routes are the Mountain View–Winchester line and the Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden line. On system maps, the line is represented as the Blue Line; however, unlike many other transit systems, VTA personnel does not refer to the line by its color, much less refer to it as Line 901 on official documents.

Route description

The Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line starts from Alum Rock Transit Center station in East San Jose

San Jose, California

San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...

, travels north along Capitol Avenue (which changes names twice along the route—Great Mall Parkway and Tasman Drive). It then turns south at First Street, traveling through downtown San Jose. Then after brief turns onto West San Carlos Street and Woz Way

Steve Wozniak

Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...

, the route travels south in the median of State Route 87

California State Route 87

State Route 87 , locally called Highway 87 or the Guadalupe Freeway, is a north–south state highway entirely within San Jose, California, United States. Its name was changed from Guadalupe Parkway in 2004 after its entire constructed length was upgraded to a freeway...

. The final leg of the route runs south along the median of State Route 85

California State Route 85

State Route 85 is a freeway which connects Mountain View and southern San Jose. The entire freeway is named the West Valley Freeway. The majority of the route is also named the Norman Y. Mineta Highway, with the exception of the portion of Highway 85 passing through Saratoga which is named the CHP...

 to its terminus at the Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa (VTA)

Santa Teresa is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is the southern terminus of VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line...

 station in South San Jose. The route is approximately 24.2 mi (39 km) long and takes approximately one hour and ten minutes for the entire trip.

Owl service

From February 2000 to April 14, 2003, VTA operated all night train service with light rail vehicles (commonly known as "owl service") on a 70 minute frequency. VTA light rail was the only light rail service in the United States to operate 24 hours a day. The owl service was curtailed in 2003 as a result of mounting deficits.

Construction history

The Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line is a culmination of three separate construction projects that have gradually expanded the light rail system. Its specific pathway, and the fact that it shares part with the Mountain View–Winchester line, is the result of reroutes that occurred after the Tasman East/Capitol and Vasona extensions to East San Jose and Campbell

Campbell, California

Campbell is a city in Santa Clara County, California, a suburb of San Jose, and part of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Campbell's population is 39,349...

, respectively.

Original Guadelupé line

This light rail route contains the entire original Guadalupé line opened in April 1991 from Tasman

Tasman (VTA)

Tasman is a light rail station operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. It is located in San Jose, California at First Street and Tasman Drive...

 station to Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa (VTA)

Santa Teresa is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is the southern terminus of VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line...

 station. The stations between Tasman and Convention Center

Convention Center (VTA)

Convention Center is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the median of West San Carlos Street between Market Street and Almaden Boulevard. It is directly in front of the San Jose Convention Center...

 are also served by the Mountain View–Winchester line.

Tasman West extension and Tasman East extension first phase

The Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line also contains parts of Tasman West extension opened in December 1999 from Tasman

Tasman (VTA)

Tasman is a light rail station operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. It is located in San Jose, California at First Street and Tasman Drive...

 station to Baypointe

Baypointe (VTA)

Baypointe is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, California. This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line....

 station. The first phase of the Tasman East extension opened in May 2001 between Baypointe and I-880/Milpitas

I-880/Milpitas (VTA)

I-880/Milpitas is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2001 as part of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension.-History:...

 stations.

Tasman East/Capitol extension

On June 24, 2004, the 8.3-mile (13.4-km) Tasman East/Capitol extension was opened, incorporating 8 new stations. This extension runs from the I-880/Milpitas

I-880/Milpitas (VTA)

I-880/Milpitas is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2001 as part of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension.-History:...

 station east along the Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas, then into East San Jose on Capitol Avenue to Alum Rock Transit Center on Alum Rock Avenue. This extension brings service to the Great Mall of the Bay Area

Great Mall of the Bay Area

The Great Mall of the Bay Area is a large outlet shopping mall in Milpitas, California built by Ford Motor Land Development and Petrie Dierman Kughn in 1994, then acquired by Mills Corporation in 2003, and is now owned by the Simon Property Group since April 2007.-History:Formerly a Ford...

 in Milpitas

Milpitas, California

Milpitas is a city in Santa Clara County, California. It is a suburb of the major city of San Jose, California. It is located with San Jose to its south and Fremont to its north, at the eastern end of State Route 237 and generally between Interstates 680 and 880 which run roughly north/south...

. The total cost of this extension was $432.9 million.

Possible future expansion

A connection to BART on this line is proposed for the Montague

Montague (VTA)

Montague is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of the second phase of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension....

 station as part of the "BART to Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara" project. Future additions to this line may include a light rail station at Gay Avenue, pending funding, and an extension further south on Capitol Expressway to VTA's Eastridge Transit Center

Eastridge Transit Center

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Eastridge Transit Center is a transit bus station located at Eastridge Mall in eastern San Jose, California...

 and to State Route 87

California State Route 87

State Route 87 , locally called Highway 87 or the Guadalupe Freeway, is a north–south state highway entirely within San Jose, California, United States. Its name was changed from Guadalupe Parkway in 2004 after its entire constructed length was upgraded to a freeway...

. This extension may eventually be brought all the way around to the existing Capitol

Capitol (VTA)

Capitol is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line...

 station, with an intermediate connection to Caltrain

Caltrain

Caltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...

.

Commuter Express light rail

On October 4, 2010, the VTA has introduced a new Commuter Express light rail service on this line, currently operating between Baypointe

Baypointe (VTA)

Baypointe is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, California. This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line....

 and Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa (VTA)

Santa Teresa is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is the southern terminus of VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line...

 stations. The service operates three trips each in the morning (to Baypointe) and in the afternoon (to Santa Teresa) that calls at all stops, and it operates nonstop between Convention Center

Convention Center (VTA)

Convention Center is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the median of West San Carlos Street between Market Street and Almaden Boulevard. It is directly in front of the San Jose Convention Center...

 and Ohlone/Chynoweth

Ohlone/Chynoweth (VTA)

Ohlone/Chynoweth is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line and serves as the terminus of the little-used, stub Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden line, popularly known as the Almaden Shuttle...

 stations. It offers free WiFi access on all trains on this service.

Station stops

Transfer to Mountain View–Winchester line anywhere between Tasman

Tasman (VTA)

Tasman is a light rail station operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. It is located in San Jose, California at First Street and Tasman Drive...

 and Convention Center

Convention Center (VTA)

Convention Center is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the median of West San Carlos Street between Market Street and Almaden Boulevard. It is directly in front of the San Jose Convention Center...

.

Legend
●	Stops at this station
–	Bypasses this station
	Does not operate at this station

Station	Local	Express	Transfer to
Alum Rock	●		VTA: 23, 25, 45, 522
McKee McKee (VTA) McKee is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of VTA's Capitol light rail extension.-Location:...	●		VTA: 64
Penitencia Creek Penitencia Creek (VTA) Penitencia Creek is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of VTA's Capitol light rail extension.-Location:...	●		VTA: 45, 61, 104
Berryessa Berryessa (VTA) Berryessa is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of VTA's Capitol light rail extension.-Location:...	●		VTA: 61, 62, 104
Hostetter Hostetter (VTA) Hostetter is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line....	●		VTA: 70
Cropley Cropley (VTA) Cropley is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of the second phase of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension....	●
Montague Montague (VTA) Montague is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2004 as part of the second phase of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension....	●		VTA: 46, 47, 70, 71, 321
Great Mall/Main	●		AC Transit AC Transit AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area... : 217 VTA: 46, 47, 66, 70, 71, 77, 104, 180, 181, 321
I-880/Milpitas I-880/Milpitas (VTA) I-880/Milpitas is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2001 as part of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension.-History:...	●		VTA: 330
Cisco Way Cisco Way (VTA) Cisco Way is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.The station was opened in 2001 as part of the first phase of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension....	●		VTA: 140
Baypointe Baypointe (VTA) Baypointe is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, California. This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line....	●	●	VTA: 58, 140
Tasman Tasman (VTA) Tasman is a light rail station operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. It is located in San Jose, California at First Street and Tasman Drive...	●	●	VTA: Mountain View–Winchester LRT
River Oaks River Oaks (VTA) River Oaks is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. River Oaks is served by both the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa and Mountain View–Winchester light rail lines.-Location:...	●	●	VTA: 58
Orchard Orchard (VTA) Orchard is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the center median of 1st Street near Orchard Parkway. The station's street address is 3060 N. First Street....	●	●	VTA: 58, 321
Bonaventura Bonaventura (VTA) Bonaventura is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located in San Jose, California in the center median of 1st Street near Bonaventura Drive....	●	●
Component Component (VTA) Component is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the center median of 1st Street near Component Drive. The station's street address is 2540 N. First Street....	●	●
Karina Karina (VTA) Karina is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located in San Jose, California in the center median of 1st Street near Karina Court. The station's street address is 1900 N. First Street....	●	●
Metro/Airport Metro/Airport (VTA) Metro/Airport is a VTA light rail station at First Street and Metro Drive in San Jose, CA. , a shuttle bus jointly operated by VTA and the airport, provides access to San Jose International Airport from this station.-External links:*...	●	●	VTA: 10 (Airport Flyer)
Gish Gish (VTA) Gish is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California, United States in the center median of 1st Street near Gish Street. The station has a split platform. The northbound platform is located just north of Gish...	●	●
Civic Center Civic Center (VTA) Civic Center is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California on 1st Street just north of Mission Street...	●	●	VTA: 12, 61, 62, 66, 181
Japantown/Ayer Japantown/Ayer (VTA) Japantown/Ayer is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California on 1st Street just north of Empire Street...	●	●	VTA: 66, 181
Saint James Saint James (VTA) Saint James is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in Downtown San Jose, California on 1st and 2nd Streets between Saint James and Saint John Streets. The northbound platform is on 1st Street ; the southbound platform is on...	●	●	VTA: 65, 66, 72, 73, 82, 181, 304
Santa Clara Santa Clara (VTA) Santa Clara is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . Santa Clara station is served by both the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa and Mountain View–Winchester light rail lines....	●	●	Highway 17 Express Highway 17 Express The Highway 17 Express is an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach route provided by a consortium of entities that provides regional service between San Jose and Santa Cruz County in the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area... Monterey-Salinas Transit: 55, 79 VTA: DASH, 11, 22, 23, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 81, 82, 168, 181, 304, 522
Paseo de San Antonio Paseo de San Antonio (VTA) Paseo de San Antonio is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Paseo de San Antonio is served by both the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa and Mountain View–Winchester light rail lines.-Location:...	●	●	VTA: DASH, 23, 66, 68, 82, 168, 304
Convention Center Convention Center (VTA) Convention Center is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station is located located in San Jose, California in the median of West San Carlos Street between Market Street and Almaden Boulevard. It is directly in front of the San Jose Convention Center...	●	●	VTA: DASH, Mountain View–Winchester LRT, 23, 168
Children's Discovery Museum Children's Discovery Museum (VTA) Children's Discovery Museum is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The station has a center platform with two trackways...	●	–	VTA: 81
Virginia Virginia (VTA) Virginia is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . Virginia station is served by the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.-Location:Address: 362 West Virginia Street, San Jose, California...	●	–
Tamien Tamien Station Tamien Station is an intermodal passenger transportation station served by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail system, two bus routes, and the Caltrain commuter rail line. The station has two distinct elevated rail platforms – one for Caltrain, the other for light rail. ...	●	–	Caltrain Caltrain Caltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy... : Tamien VTA: 25, 82
Curtner Curtner (VTA) Curtner is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line.-Location:...	●	–	VTA: 26
Capitol Capitol (VTA) Capitol is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line...	●	–	VTA: 37, 70
Branham Branham (VTA) Branham is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line...	●	–
Ohlone/Chynoweth Ohlone/Chynoweth (VTA) Ohlone/Chynoweth is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line and serves as the terminus of the little-used, stub Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden line, popularly known as the Almaden Shuttle...	●	●	VTA: Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden LRT, 13
Blossom Hill Blossom Hill (VTA) Blossom Hill is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line...	●	●	VTA: 27
Snell Snell (VTA) Snell is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line...	●	●	VTA: 66, 102, 122, 304
Cottle Cottle (VTA) Cottle is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is served by VTA's Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line...	●	●	Caltrain: Blossom Hill Blossom Hill (Caltrain station) Blosson Hill Station is a Caltrain station located in San Jose, California. It is only served during weekday peak hour commutes. Northbound trains only stop at this station during morning commute hours and southbound trains only stop during evening commute hours.-External links:**... Blossom Hill Caltrain station is one mile away from Cottle VTA Light Rail station. VTA: IBM IBM International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...  shuttle, 27, 68
Santa Teresa Santa Teresa (VTA) Santa Teresa is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . This station is the southern terminus of VTA's Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line...	●	●	Monterey-Salinas Transit: 79 VTA: Hitachi Hitachi Hitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...  shuttle, IBM IBM International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...  shuttle, 42, 68, 102, 122, 182, 304

Notes

Station facilities

Many stops along this line have park-and-ride facilities for its passengers, as well as bike stations, including:

• Alum Rock
• Penitencia Creek
• Hostetter
• Great Mall/Main
• I-880/Milpitas
• River Oaks - also the stop for VTA's headquarters
• Tamien
• Curtner
• Capitol
• Branham
• Ohlone/Chynoweth
• Blossom Hill
• Snell
• Cottle
• Santa Teresa

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