Here's more from almost 10 years ago...
VTA's Take One on Tasman West opening.
Tasman West commemorative ticket
VTA system map just before the opening of the Tasman West line (large file). Shown on the map is line 20 from Milpitas to San Antonio Shopping Center. Also on the map are other lines that were discontinued during the next few years after the Tasman West opening.
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And that was pretty much the high point of VTA ridership, and no wonder. They cut quite a lot of service, and cut off quite a lot of people from access to their network. Vanished routes that I noticed from inspecting that map include the 24, 50, 34, 56, 59, a significant piece of the 23, and there's probably more. I suspect that's why even when employment recovered, ridership never did. Light rail and BRT may be great and all, but not very useful if the majority of the riders can't get to them, and the lines don't go where the riders want to go, or get there fast enough.
One more historical question: what was service on the 300-series expressway buses like back then? Now there are a number of routes with only one or two trips (321, 328, 122, 101, 182). Was it always like this, or is this the result of a series of service cuts, with the next step being total elimination?
Line 24 was eliminated before the dot-com bust. That line was actually 23 between Downtown San Jose and De Anza College. From there, the bus took 280 to Los Altos and then to California Avenue Caltrain. That line has few passengers on the 280 section.
The limited stops and expresses always ran during rush hours only.
Arcady: CT/TA started with Line 300 (Alum Rock/White to Palo Alto) operated 20 during peak and 30 minutes during the day.
Line 301 (Downtown - De Anza Col.) by passed Valley Fair, operated 20 minutes during 6-9:30am and 2-5:30pm.
Line 302 (S. San Jose - North SJ/Hwy237) travelled along Monterey/First Street.
Line 303 (Downtown SJ - Almaden Valley), operate 20 minutes during peak.
Line 304/304A (S. San Jose - Mountain View) Two lines were a conversion from Express 142 and 144. 304A, later became 305, the rout sign could not properly display 4 digits.
Line 321 - (Easridge - Locheed), this was a conversion/merge of Expresses 123 and 124.
Line 328 - (Almaden - Locheed), conversion/merge of Expresses 127 and 128, discontinued 129.
Line 330 - (Almaden - N. SJ), very similar to discontinued 129.
Line 345 - (Eastridge - Mountian View) conversion of Express 145
Line 350 - Almaden - Locheed/Mt. View - route may have operated on Lawrence - trying to capture former Express 126 similarities. I think this route was in service less than 6 months.
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Line 340, the current 140 was to convert after Tasmen East was implemented.
accountablevta: Line 24 was later renamed 23A, with 8 extended trips in each direction beyond De Anza during peak. Line 24 actually had ridership, but operationally, the route was too long and awkward to schedule adequate recovery time for drivers. So, most drivers experience 40-minute layover. Also, the focus was on Stevens Creek - with a base of 15 minute service. Consultants felt that Line 24 should not service Foothill, riders could use Line 23 and then transfer to Line 35 or 52.
In January 2008, VTA terminated all Line 23 schedules at De Anza, leaving fragmented service between De Anza and San Antonio. Operationally, it wasf expensive to operate Line 23 in the area were the relief is at the extreme end of the of the line.
arcady:
Lines 304/304a combined operated 10 minutes during peak (13 trips).
Line 301, 302, and 303 offered atleast 6-8 trips.
Line 321 offered 4 trips.
Line 345 offered one trip.
After 2000, they keep them to about 3 hours of service spaced about 30-45 minutes of service.
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