SANTA CLARA VTA RIDERS UNION P. O. Box 390069 Mountain View, CA 94039-0069 http://www.vtaridersunion.org/ NEWS RELEASE TO: Editor or News Assignment Desk or Transportation Reporter Press Contact (in alphabetical order): Eugene Bradley 24 hr. cell/pager (408)888-2208 email: eegenebradley@yahoo.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (October 10, 2005) – The Santa Clara VTA Riders Union (SCVTARU – http://www.vtaridersunion.org/), a public transit advocacy and watchdog group in the South Bay, announces a revised web page on our web site that gives San Jose Sharks fans additional public transit options to and from the HP Pavilion. The web page information comes just in time for the Sharks' home opener against Columbus on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:30pm at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. The guide, “Getting to the HP Pavilion at San Jose Via Public Transit” (http://www.vtaridersunion.org/guides/arena.html) mentions five (5) VTA bus lines and two (2) regional express bus lines stopping at or near the HP Pavilion. It also mentions use of park-and-ride lots in Santa Clara and Campbell that San Jose Sharks fans can use to transfer to buses or light rail to get to and from the HP Pavilion. To their credit, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA – http://www.vta.org/) promotes its “Sharks Shuttle” service from downtown San Jose's light rail stations to the HP Pavilion (http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_707.html) as well as the new Vasona light rail line from Campbell (). In addition, Caltrain promotes its service from San Francisco and the Peninsula to San Jose Diridon Station (http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_9_14_sharks.html), right across the street from the HP Pavilion. One example of how our guide goes above and beyond is by mentioning how Sharks fans in South San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy can take VTA's Line 68 bus directly to the HP Pavilion (http://www.vtaridersunion.org/guides/arena.html#soco). Taking the 68 bus from the southern portion of the Valley directly to the HP Pavilion means no time-wasting transfers to light rail at Santa Teresa and again in downtown San Jose for the Sharks Shuttle to the HP Pavilion. Sharks fans can get off the 68 bus at either W. Santa Clara and Delmas Streets and walk one (1) short block to the HP Pavilion's main entrance. Another example of how our guide goes above and beyond is by promoting “Park and Ride” lots for Sharks fans who must drive an automobile. The new Vasona light rail line (http://www.vta.org/projects/vasona/vasona_opening.html) features two (2) “Park and Ride” lots at the Winchester and Bascom light rail stations on Winchester Boulevard and Bascom Avenue respectively in Campbell. At these stations, Sharks fans can transfer to light rail to either the Diridon or San Fernando stations – both within walking distance of the HP Pavilion. Given the current bus driver strike at Santa Cruz METRO (http://www.scmtd.com/) which has suspended service on the Highway 17 Express Bus between San Jose and Santa Cruz, this is a good option for Sharks fans in Santa Cruz County. In addition, the parking lot at the Santa Clara Transit Center and Caltrain station is available for Sharks fans from the Peninsula and San Francisco who need to drive. After paying $1.50 to park in the lot, Sharks fans can transfer to VTA's Line 22 bus or 522 Rapid stop bus before night games. After the game, Sharks fans can take the 22 bus – which runs 24 hours/day, 7 days/week – back to their automobile at the Santa Clara Transit Center. SCVTARU advises Sharks fans of adult age to purchase a “day pass” for $5.25 which grants them unlimited use of VTA buses and light rail on game night. Sharks fans of other ages can get VTA bus and light rail fare information at (http://www.vta.org/schedules/fares.html#Fares). “With our guide, you can beat traffic on the roads while you watch the Sharks beat their opponents on the ice,” said SCVTARU Founder Eugene Bradley. ### About the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union -------------------------------------- Founded in October 2000 by Eugene Bradley, the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union is a grassroots-based organization dedicated to ensuring that elected officials improve and implement cost-effective, frequent, and reliable mass transit in Santa Clara County. Our web site is at www.vtaridersunion.org. We are based in Sunnyvale, CA. Our organization has absolutely no affiliation with, nor is endorsed by, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever. Note to Editors and News Desks: More information on SCVTARU can be found at the following URLs: http://www.vtaridersunion.org/whoarewe/who.html http://www.vtaridersunion.org/PR