Do you ever wonder what it takes to move a bus stop? Especially those that are located at busy intersections or located right in front of retail establishments? Well, if you have, you are not alone.
My council office gets requests to move bus stops on occasion. Sometimes the request is moving a bus stop that has been in the same location for 30 years, after a the new adjacent homeowner wants it moved. Other times, the request involves genuine safety concerns with bus stops being to close to the intersection.
For example, at the corner of Willow/Meridian, a bus will make a turn onto Willow and then stop, which backs up traffic into the intersection creating gridlock, or causes cars to swerve around the bus blindly.
The City of San Jose does not have direct authority over the location of bus stops, that’s Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) domain. VTA folks are paid with your tax dollars however.
Let me tell you a story of VTA’s refusal to move a bus stop on The Alameda, although there is written documentation from November 10, 2004 that shows that they agreed to move the bus stop. As you might sense, a lack of common sense.
Back in 2004, during the planning review process for the new Longs Drugs store on the Alameda, a VTA representative signed off on documents that VTA would relocate their bus stop that is located in front of Longs Drugs and put it one block west on The Alameda. Longs needs to have their delivery trucks deliver in front of the store and they are not able to do so with the bus stop there. This satisfied the neighbors who wanted to prohibit loading on Rhodes Court, a residential street, and it satisfied the City Planners who didn’t want to disrupt the existing neighborhood. The new loading zone and relocated bus stop were clearly drawn on the plans for the project and discussed during the public review process.
It is the City’s responsibility to send the plans to other agencies, including the VTA, for their review and comment. The communication between the City Staff and VTA Staff resulted in signed document with the VTA saying in writing that they supported the relocation of the bus stop.
After the planning permit approval, Long’s proceeded through the Public Improvement Plan review with the City’s Public Works Department and Caltrans (since The Alameda is a state highway). The Public Improvement Plans include detailed engineering drawings of all the street improvements, including the new bus stop and the new loading zoning markings and signs. The improvement plans showed the new bus stop being designed and built to VTA standards.
In 2005, Long’s then proceeded to spend over $20,000 to construct the new bus stop during the construction of the new store. Once construction was complete, as required, Long’s contractor notified the VTA that it was time to actually relocate the bus stop. However, VTA notified Long’s that they would not authorize moving the bus stop afterall.
As a result, the Long’s store has no authorized loading area adjacent to the store as designed. The nearest loading zone is on Rhodes Court, the neighborhood street that is perpendicular to The Alameda. Therefore, delivery people must move products across Rhodes Court and up and down two ADA ramps to get to the delivery doors that are in the front of the store facing The Alameda. The lack of a convenient loading zone means that delivery trucks will park on Rhodes Court or will use limited customer parking in the parking lot which requires wheeling deliveries through the store aisles past customers to get to the storage area.
These situations discourage investment in the City and result in creating poor relationships with the community. The City wants new retail services in Neighborhood Business Districts because they add character to neighborhoods, provide some jobs which include small business opportunities and sales tax. But, when taxpayer-funded agencies don’t keep their commitments, then potential businesses ask themselves why they are investing and doing business in this community.
Long’s followed all the rules. They did everything the neighborhood, the City and the VTA wanted. They spent over $20k installing the bus stop and designed and built the store with the delivery area facing the Alameda. They wanted to be good neighbors and fit in while being an asset for the nearby community. It is very disheartening to see all this good work and what they get is a slap in a face.
If VTA wants to play fair, perhaps they should refund Longs their money spent building the new bus stop. To date, VTA has never offered to refund the cost to Longs and the bus stop has not moved.
The VTA isn’t worth the powder it would take to blow it to Hell. Every taxpayer dime they get galls me.
The stubborn and intransigent bureaucracy that is inherent in any Government program should make us extremely skeptical of the wisdom of any new government-run programs.
Pierluigi,
Please ask your colleagues on the San Jose city council who also serve on the VTA board why they allow such incompetence. In case you forgot, here are the current councilmembers serving on the VTA board:
Nora Campos, Alternate
Rose Herrera
Ash Kalra
Sam Liccardo
Nancy Pyle
Chuck Reed
Several questions for Councilmember Oliverio:
Is there a copy of the VTA’s original signing off of the bus stop move in front of Longs Pharmacy (the actual name of the store) from 2004 anywhere online? If no copy is available online, I would like to have a copy of what you have and put it online myself.
Have you talked to Mayor Reed and Vice Mayor Liccardo about this matter and the Willow/Meridian bus stop situation? They also sit on the VTA’s Board of Directors and make the final decisions on all transportation matters in the county. Ask in particular about what documentation VTA has that states they are sticking with the original bus stop in front of Longs, disregarding the agreement made with Rhodes Pl. residents and Longs on moving the bus stop.
VTA talks so much about Transit-Oriented Development
http://www.vta.org/projects/tod.html
and the need to have retail shopping, job sites, and housing along bus and rail corridors. Remember: Longs Pharmacy is only served by the 63 bus line and the 24/7 operating 22 bus line. Having that bus stop in front of Longs Pharmacy makes it convenient for shoppers to access the buses without having to cross Rhodes Place. However, what happens when agreements made by City planners, local residents, businesses and VTA move the bus stop away from the store? It makes transit access less convenient and more dangerous for shoppers, since they must now cross Rhodes Pl. and watch for vehicles rushing to and from The Alameda. An accident and a resulting lawsuit waiting to happen.
From looking at the Longs Pharmacy’s lot on Google Maps, it seems sparsely used. Up to 15 spaces on the eastern side of the parking lot should have been sacrificed to create the proper truck loading and unloading area. Having over 50 parking spaces for a pharmacy near downtown – and on a bus corridor operating 24/7 thru the 22 bus line – makes no common sense. Is it city policy to build parking for new retail development? If so, this contradicts what VTA wants to accomplish in terms of encouraging use of the bus along The Alameda as an alternative to (solo) driving. Worth bringing up to Mayor Reed and Vice Mayor Liccardo (who is also due to be the VTA Board Chair in 2010).
In the end, the VTA should have honored its written agreement to move the bus stop over. By not honoring the agreement, they have broken public trust with Rhodes Pl. residents and Longs.
synonyms for VTA—incompetence, intransigence, ineptness. Their motto is paarently: we don’t care, ‘cuz we don’t have to.
A comment about first comment, which disses VTA and would close it down. My developmentally disabled son used VTA. Would you be available to help in his transport. Send me your phone so I can call you.
I agree that VTA should honor its agreements, but don’t shut it down unless you are willing to provide an alternate capability.
Real quick…
So I’m pretty familiar with this issue. I was the chair of S/HPNA’s Planning and Land Use Committee when the Long’s Drugs plans were submitted and the deal was struck. (Credit to then Councilmember Ken Yeager for brokering the deal and getting everything in writing.) Years later I became the association’s President and as one of my first actions, provided Councilmember Oliverio with a copy of the agreement and asked for his assistance in getting this issue resolved.
I worked for years with the neighbors to get this simple little issue moving forward and even when it began impacting nearby business and demonstrably threatening the safety of both pedestrians and drivers, we heard nothing from the VTA. But that’s not where the lunacy ends with the VTA on this issue…
On it’s face it seems reasonable to create a new stop when removing one, but if you look at the map there’s an existing stop within 75 feet of where the VTA wanted the new stop to go. Here’s an overhead satellite view: http://web.me.com/jeffrogers/filechute/longsbus.jpg Does it make sense on its face, or in light of our current fiscal climate, to be placing two stops so close? I certainly don’t think so. Did the VTA waste over $20,000 of Long’s money? It sure looks that way. I asked them to simply abandon the old stop and, of course, got no response.
And there’s another issue… there was _no_ outreach to the owners of the properties adjacent to the new (then proposed) bus stop. They were caught off-guard and reacted, as many would at the lack of response from the VTA, by contacting their attorneys and demanding some sort of hearing on the issue of the new stop. That cost the property owners, business owners, more than $10,000 in legal fees just to have a conversation with the VTA.
I think this Long’s location has attempted to make the best of a bad situation in its daily operations, but the corporation, now CVS Pharmacy, needs to work together with Councilmember Oliverio’s office, the residents and adjacent business owners to demand a resolution one way or the other. Really, it’s time for the VTA to stop wasting everyone’s time and money and get this simple little thing done.
VTA, you sure make it hard, even for people who believe in public transportation, to want to fund your projects at the ballot box.
Thank you to the councilmember and his staff for sticking with this ridiculous issue!
Larry (#7),
My point was, in fact, to diss the VTA. They are among the most wasteful and spendthrift transportation agencies extant. Can you imagine this: of all the major U.S. cities, VTA is by far the worst when it comes to farebox recovery. The last time I looked, for every budget dollar, only 14 cents came from riders. The remaining 86 cents was subsidized by “you-know-who,” the taxpayers. I’d bet a dollar to a doughnut hole that outsourcing VTA services would save more than 50%.
Slap a lawsuit on VTA. (Longs vs. VTA) It sounds like there was an agreement. Can the city also file a lawsuit on VTA? The city approved the plan with those stipulations. Now VTA is creating a public nuisance for the people on that street.
Ok Ok Ok how about this…City of San Jose Vs. VTA and name the board of directors on the lawsuit. Nice. Sean Webby you listening??? Come on, another stupid story for you coming your way.
I just looked on Google Streetview. So listen I need four people to volunteer (bring your hoodies). Two to move the bench and two to move the garbage can. I’ll get the bus sign off the pole. We’ll set it on the other side of Rhodes. Damn. Need one more person to film this an put it on Youtube. P.O. you in???
Bus Stop Blues:
I’m sure the Attorneys will iron out the issue of the Bus Stop that Couldn’t Move.
My concern involves Bus Stops at the Valley Medical Hospital and Clinics on Bascom.
I witness some youths goofing around in and around these bus stops causing some parents to get their children out of harms way.
I later spoke to contractor friend who was being intimidated by a few young adults while working in the area. He was wearing the wrong color shirt.
The area has Medical Clinics, Rehab Centers, and the College Traning Center. I checked this informative website via Mercury News.
For the sake of the citizens in District 6, P.O please look into this. Sorry for the interuption Gentleman on your subject of the VTA. Good Luck to Longs.
I am sure Longs will prevail.
MJB (Concerned Citizens)
#7 Larry:
Curious: what do you think about the service changes VTA made as of Monday?
http://www.vta.org/news/service_changes/service_changes.html
In particular, the 22, 26 and the 55 bus lines serving Sunnyvale are of focus. If you’re concerned about all the service cuts VTA has made over the years, give me your phone # so I can help you get more involved.
#8 Jeff:
You need to present your case to the VTA’s Board of Directors. Their next meeting is August 6 at 5:30pm at the County Supervisors’ Chambers, 70 W. Hedding Street in San Jose. As this is the first full Board meeting after the summer break, you will likely have the Board’s – and VTA staff’s – full attention.
Pier,
Do former mayors or city council member get medical or retirement benefits after having served a couple terms in office? Someone was saying they do but I didn’t think so. Could you clarify this? Thanks
VTA has removed an eastbound Alameda and Stockton bus stop. Remember Line 22/522 are the busiest routes within the VTA that uses 60ft artics. Before such buses were phased into service an extensive study of all stops along Line 22 were measure for correct manueverings, some were even rebuilt/repaved. So, I suggest that the stop remain, since the next westbound stop from Longs was relocated. To ensure safety for drivers and riders, maybe specific time to share the bus stop could be achieved.
Pierluigi,
The City and VTA have developed a “Transit Oriented Development/village”,a very high density development in the area close to Cursi Drive and Meridian Ave. The TOD area is bounded by Cursi Drive,Meridian Avenue,Fruitdale Ave,and Southwest Expressway.The development is designed to discourage automobile usage, it is designed to encourage the use of public transportation.There is very little parking in this area.
The corner of Cursi and Meridian is a entry into this TOD.There is a crosswalk and electric stoplight on Meridian Avenue at Cursi.But there is no bus stop at this corner.This is also a excellent location for bus transfers, much better than the corner of Willow Street and Meridian Ave.Meridian @ Cursi Street would be a safer transfer point.
The new four story Merril Gardens Assisted Living residence is located at this corner. This would be a better location for seniors and those in a wheelchair to board the bus.
The neighborhood near the Willow and Meridian Avenue is not a dense neighborhood, the homes and lot sizes are large,most of the residents in this area do not use public transportation,some homes have three car garages.
Maybe it is time for SJDOT and VTA to re evaluate the bus stop locations?