Valley Transportation Authority officials look poised to eliminate VTA bus service between Menlo Park and the Santa Clara Valley, but some of the Menlo Park residents who rely on Route 22 service to get across county lines aren’t going down without a fight.
Eight Menlo Park residents took to the streets Aug. 24 to protest the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s proposal to cut Route 22 bus service to and from Menlo Park starting next year.
The 22 route loops from Eastridge Mall in San Jose to the Menlo Park train station, but VTA officials, as part of system-wide changes to the bus network, are proposing that the route go no farther north than the Palo Alto Caltrain station.
The VTA board is expected to vote on the changes, including cutting Menlo Park service, on Aug. 30. The meeting is set to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chambers at 70 W. Hedding St. in San Jose.
VTA staff said some 400 people a day board the bus in Menlo Park compared with thousands of riders at other stops, and Menlo Park riders can still take San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) buses to the Palo Alto train station and then hop aboard the 22 bus.
But riders say the two transportation districts don’t synchronize their schedules, making transferring a tricky, and often time-consuming, process.
“Anyone with a car is just going to say forget it, and start driving to work instead of taking public transportation,” said Mal Schoen of Menlo Park, a frequent rider holding a “Save the 22” sign at the protest. “We need to do everything we can to get people out of their cars, and cutting bus service does the opposite.”
Mr. Schoen added that he does not drive, leaving him without a direct connection to various places across county lines.
Mayor Kelly Fergusson, with the unanimous support of the City Council, sent a letter urging VTA officials to maintain Route 22 service to Menlo Park. She has not received any response, she said.
