In honor of National Infrastructure Week (May 16 – 23) we’re highlighting various critical transportation infrastructure projects that have been delivered throughout Santa Clara County. Transportation infrastructure enhances our local and regional economy, our quality of life, our safety, and the strength of our communities.
We begin with VTA’s light rail system! In order to serve the mass transit needs of a growing Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County received a $2 million dollar federal grant in 1982 to fund the preliminary engineering phase for the County’s first light rail line. Construction began with a maintenance facility in downtown San Jose to store, clean and repair what would be 99 light rail vehicles in VTA’s fleet. During this era, when Silicon Valley was busy connecting the world electronically, VTA was building a mass transit system crisscrossing the growing urbanized area, connecting people to jobs, education centers and growing communities.
By 1987, the County received over $253 million from the federal government to fund the County’s first light rail line. The initial track, which spanned 1.5 miles, was essential for testing the light rail vehicles as they were delivered. A 21-mile light rail line opened on April 21, 1991 to provide Santa Clara County with its first completed light rail line, connecting the suburban neighborhoods of south San Jose through downtown, and north to the industrial areas of Silicon Valley.
Today, VTA light rail stretches 42.2 miles from south and east San Jose to Campbell, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas and Mountain View, serving more than 34,000 passengers daily.
See what's next for VTA's light rail system and join the national conversation on why #infrastructurematters!
