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Ohlone/Chynoweth Closing for Platform Work

San Jose, CA—The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will temporarily close the Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail Station on Monday, July 7, 2008 to undergo modifications that will improve accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals.

When the station reopens in August, the improvements will have eliminated the eight-inch step up from the station platform to the light rail vehicle.   With no height difference between passenger platform and rail vehicle, boarding and exiting is easier and quicker.   Two other stations, Oakridge and Almaden, are currently closed for similar modifications and will also reopen in August.

While Ohlone/Chynoweth is closed for passenger service, trains will continue to pass through the station without stopping.   Only light rail passengers beginning or ending their trips at one of the three closed stations are affected by the construction.   All other light rail passengers can continue to use light rail without experiencing any service impacts.

For those passengers who are beginning or ending their light rail trip at Ohlone/Chynoweth, Oakridge or Almaden stations, substitute bus service to and from them will be provided from the Branham and Capitol stations.   The free, substitute “light rail bus bridge” runs with the same frequency as light rail, which is every 15 minutes for most of the service day.

Light rail commuters who typically access light rail by driving to one of the three closed stations can also choose to instead drive to a nearby open light rail station and board light rail there.   The Branham, Blossom Hill and Capitol stations offer 271, 511 and 971 parking spaces, respectively.

VTA Express Line 102 and Community Bus Line 13 will continue to provide service to Ohlone/Chynoweth and will not be affected by the construction.   The substitute “light rail bus bridge” will use the same bus stop area as Community Bus 13 at the western end of the transit center.   The southern pedestrian walkway across the light rail tracks will remain open in order to provide access to the Express Route 102 stop and the parking lots accessed from Santa Teresa Boulevard.

Customized trip planning services are available by contacting VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300.

Project updates are regularly posted in the “construction notices” section of VTA’s website, www.vta.org and individuals can sign up for electronic e-mail updates by sending an e-mail to community.outreach@vta.org.

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.