The following is a list of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus routes. Route numbers are classified as follows:

  • Lines 1-99 are standard local bus routes, which feature many, closely spaced stops. These lines serve a smaller area, such as connecting transit centers to the surrounding community or Downtown San Jose to nearby neighborhoods.
  • Lines 100-199 are express services and primarily operate during peak periods only. These lines operate express mainly on freeways and provide fewer stops than local services, mainly at train stations and major transfer points in Santa Clara County. These also charge higher fares than standard bus routes.
  • Lines 200-299 are school services that operate limited service to several area high schools.
  • Lines 500-599 are limited stop "Rapid" branded routes.
  • Lines 800-899 are commuter rail shuttles that operate mainly during peak periods. These lines operate of Great America ACE/Amtrak Station and serve nearby high-tech businesses and industrial parks.
  • Lines 900-999 are intercity routes operated in conjunction with other agencies.

VTA embarked on a large network redesign that was implemented on December 28, 2019. This eliminated the DASH shuttle, Almaden Light Rail shuttle, limited-branded bus service, community bus service, and many express routes but established a core frequent network and increased service on numerous local bus routes.

In 2023, VTA's bus system had a ridership of 21,419,200, or about 75,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Regular bus service

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Santa Clara VTA operates numerous bus lines that operate on most major thoroughfares throughout Santa Clara County. Several of these lines converge at key transfer points, including Downtown San Jose, several Caltrain stations between Palo Alto and Gilroy, the Milpitas and Berryessa BART stations, and most light rail stations. Some lines also provide connecting services to other transit agencies, including AC Transit, Dumbarton Express, Monterey-Salinas Transit, and SamTrans.

Included in this listing are VTA's limited-stop Rapid services, as those levy the same cash fares as regular local buses.

Line Number Direction Terminals Days of Operation Schedule Information Major Destinations Notes
20
East-West Milpitas
Milpitas station
Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale station
Weekdays Line 20 Downtown Sunnyvale, North Santa Clara, Mission College
21
East-West Palo Alto
Stanford Shopping Center
Santa Clara
Santa Clara Transit Center
Daily Line 21 Palo Alto Transit Center, San Antonio station, San Antonio Center, Downtown Mountain View, Downtown Sunnyvale, Santa Clara University
22
East-West Palo Alto
Palo Alto station
San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Daily Line 22 Stanford University, San Antonio Center, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, SAP Center, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Eastridge Mall
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • For a limited-stop version of this service, see Rapid 522.
23
East-West Cupertino
De Anza College
San Jose
Alum Rock Transit Center
Daily Line 23 Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • For a limited-stop version of this service, see Rapid 523.
25
East-West San Jose
Valley Medical Center (short turn)
San Jose
Alum Rock Transit Center
Daily Line 25 San Jose City College, Fruitdale station, Tamien station
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Service west of Valley Medical Center operates at half frequency
Cupertino
De Anza College
26
East-West San Jose
Westgate Center
San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Daily Line 26 Downtown Campbell, Pruneyard Shopping Center, Curtner station
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Weekday service south and west of Westgate operates at half frequency
Saratoga
West Valley College (select weekday trips)
27
East-West Campbell
Winchester Transit Center
San Jose
Santa Teresa station
Daily Line 27 Downtown Los Gatos, Good Samaritan Hospital, Princeton Plaza, Westfield Oakridge, Blossom Hill station (light rail), Cottle station
31
North-South San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
San Jose
Evergreen Valley College
Weekdays, Saturdays Line 31 Eastridge Mall
37
East-West San Jose
Capitol station (light rail)
Saratoga
West Valley College
Weekdays Line 37 Winchester Transit Center
39
North-South San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
San Jose
The Villages
Daily Line 39 Eastridge Mall, Evergreen Village Square, Evergreen Valley College
40
North-South Mountain View
Mountain View station
Los Altos Hills
Foothill College
Daily Line 40 San Antonio Center, Googleplex, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Downtown Mountain View
Los Altos
San Antonio Rd & Lyell St (Sundays & holidays)
42
North-South San Jose
Santa Teresa station
San Jose
Evergreen Valley College
Weekdays Line 42
44
North-South Milpitas
Milpitas station
Milpitas
McCarthy Ranch
Daily Line 44 Great Mall, Alder station
  • Two lines form a two way loop around Milpitas BART.
  • Route 44 operates via Great Mall, Alder station, and McCarthy Blvd
  • Route 47 operates via Park Victoria Dr, Calaveras Blvd, and Downtown Milpitas
47
North-South Line 47 Downtown Milpitas, Milpitas Kaiser
51
North-South Mountain View
Moffett Field
Cupertino
De Anza College (short turn)
Weekdays Line 51 Downtown Mountain View, El Camino Hospital
  • Service between De Anza College and West Valley College operates at half frequency
Saratoga
West Valley College
52
North-South Mountain View
Mountain View station
Los Altos Hills
Foothill College
Weekdays Line 52 Downtown Mountain View
53
East-West Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale station
Santa Clara
Santa Clara Transit Center
Weekdays Line 53 Downtown Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Kaiser, Santa Clara University
55
North-South Santa Clara
Old Ironsides station
Cupertino
De Anza College
Daily Line 55 Downtown Sunnyvale, Reamwood station
  • Select weekday northbound trips deviate from Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd to serve Fremont High School via Fremont Ave, Hollenbeck Ave, and Remington Dr
  • For a limited-stop version of this service, see Rapid 523.
56
North-South Sunnyvale
Lockheed Martin Transit Center
San Jose
Monterey Rd & Old Tully Rd
Daily Line 56 Apple Park, Westgate Center, Hamilton station, Tamien station
Sunnyvale
Fair Oaks Ave & Tasman Dr (Weekends & holidays)
57
North-South Santa Clara
Old Ironsides station
Saratoga
West Valley College
Daily Line 57 California's Great America, Levi's Stadium, Mission College, Westgate Center
  • Part of the Frequent Network
59
North-South San Jose
Baypointe station
Santa Clara
Saratoga Av & Stevens Creek Bl
Daily Line 59 Old Ironsides station, California's Great America, Levi's Stadium, Mission College, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair
60
North-South Milpitas
Milpitas station
Campbell
Winchester Transit Center
Daily Line 60 Metro/Airport station, San Jose International Airport, PayPal Park, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown Campbell
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Serves San Jose International Airport, boardings free at airport terminals
61
North-South San Jose
Sierra Rd & Piedmont Rd
Campbell
Good Samaritan Hospital
Daily Line 61 Berryessa station (light rail), Berryessa/North San José station, San Jose Civic Center, San Jose City College
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Bidirectional Loop around Bascom Ave & Union Ave to Good Samaritan Hospital
64A
North-South San Jose
McKee Rd & White Rd
San Jose
Ohlone/Chynoweth station
Daily Line 64A McKee station, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, SAP Center, San Jose Diridon station, Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, Westfield Oakridge
  • Combines with 64B to form Frequent route 64 north and east of San Jose Diridon
  • Replaces discontinued Almaden Shuttle light rail line
64B
San Jose
Almaden Expwy & Camden Ave
Line 64B McKee station, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, SAP Center, San Jose Diridon station, Princeton Plaza, South San Jose, Almaden Valley
  • Combines with 64A to form Frequent route 64 north and east of San Jose Diridon
  • Evening and weekend/holiday trips operate between Almaden & Camden and San Jose State
66
North-South Milpitas
Dixon Rd & Milpitas Blvd
San Jose
Santa Teresa station
Daily Line 66 Milpitas station, Great Mall, San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, Capitol station (Caltrain), Snell station
  • Part of the Frequent Network
68
North-South San Jose
Diridon station
Gilroy
Gilroy station
Daily Line 68 Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Capitol station (Caltrain), Cottle station, Santa Teresa station, Morgan Hill station, San Martin station
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • For a limited-stop version of this service, see Rapid 568.
70
North-South San Jose
Berryessa/North San José station (short turn)
San Jose
Capitol station (light rail)
Daily Line 70 Hostetter station, Eastridge Mall
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Service north of Berryessa/North San José station operates at half frequency
Milpitas
Milpitas station
71
North-South Milpitas
Milpitas station
San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Daily Line 71 Eastridge Mall
  • Part of the Frequent Network
72
North-South San Jose
2nd St & Bassett St
San Jose
Monterey Rd & Senter Rd
Daily Line 72 Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, South San Jose
  • Part of the Frequent Network
  • Route 72 operates via McLaughlin Ave
  • Route 73 operates via Senter Rd
73
Line 73
77
North-South Milpitas
Milpitas station
San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Daily Line 77 Berryessa/North San José station, Eastridge Mall
  • Part of the Frequent Network
83
North-South San Jose
Ohlone/Chynoweth station
San Jose
Almaden Expwy & McKean Rd
Weekdays Line 83 Westfield Oakridge, Almaden Valley
  • Operates in a one-way clockwise loop south of Via Valiente.
84
North-South Gilroy
Gilroy station
Gilroy
St. Louise Hospital
Daily Line 84 Gilroy Outlets
  • Lines form a two way loop around Gilroy station.
85
North-South Daily Line 85 West Gilroy
86
North-South Gilroy
Gilroy station
Gilroy
Gavilan College
Weekdays Line 86
87
North-South Morgan Hill
Civic Center
Morgan Hill
Burnett Ave at Sobrato High School
Weekday Peak Periods Line 87 Morgan Hill station
89
North-South Palo Alto
California Avenue station
Palo Alto
V.A. Hospital
Weekdays Line 89 Stanford Research Park

Rapid bus service

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Currently, the VTA operates one arterial rapid transit line, a precursor to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, the Rapid 522[1]. This service operates along one of Santa Clara County's major commercial corridors, El Camino Real, between Palo Alto and East San Jose. It stops at 30 intersections and transit centers that provide timed and extensive connections to other bus and light rail services, a far fewer number of stops than line 22 that operates on the same corridor.

On January 6, 2014, VTA expanded the Rapid 522 hours on weekdays and Saturdays to end at approximately 10:30 pm while introducing a new Sunday schedule operating between 9 am and 6 pm.[1]

This service operates daily; for service outside of operating hours, use Line 22.

Similar to the BRT systems for which it is a precursor, Rapid Line 522 utilizes queue-jump lanes, traffic signal priority, and enhanced bus stop designs that provide riders with quicker service to and from major attractions in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and San Jose.

VTA started construction in March 2014 on the Santa Clara-Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit Project [2], which will upgrade the section of the Rapid 522 between Eastridge Transit Center and the SAP Center at San Jose to BRT service. The new BRT service will feature special hybrid vehicles with Wi-Fi on board, enhanced stations, dedicated lanes on Alum Rock, transit signal priority, electronic real-time information message signs, off-board payment and all-door boarding to speed up stops, and service every 10 minutes at peak times.

In the future, VTA has plans to upgrade the rest of the Rapid 522 route to BRT service with the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project [3].

VTA replaced Express line 168 with line 568 in October 2021 due to many passenger complaints that line 68 took too long to get between Gilroy and San Jose. Line 568 is a weekday service that has fewer stops than line 68 with quicker travel times between Gilroy and San Jose, but utilizes Monterey Road rather than using local freeways like most Express routes except for most of Morgan Hill.[2][3]

Line Number Direction Terminals Days of Operation Schedule Information Major Destinations Notes
Rapid 500
North-South San Jose
Berryessa/North San José station
San Jose
Diridon station
Daily Line 500 Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University
  • Part of the Frequent Network.
  • Replaced the DASH downtown shuttle.
Rapid 522
East-West Palo Alto
Palo Alto station
San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Daily Line 522 Stanford University, San Antonio Center, Santa Clara Transit Center, Santa Clara University, SAP Center, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, Alum Rock station, Eastridge Mall
  • Part of the Frequent Network.
  • For service to other stops not served by this line, as well as for stops along King Rd, Tully Rd, and Capitol Expwy, see lines 22 and 23 above.
Rapid 523
East-West Sunnyvale
Lockheed Martin Transit Center
San Jose
San Jose State University
Daily Line 523 Lockheed Martin, Downtown Sunnyvale, De Anza College, Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University
  • For local service along San Carlos St and Stevens Creek Blvd, see line 23.
  • For local service along Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd, see line 55.
Rapid 568
North-South San Jose
Diridon station
Gilroy
Gilroy station
Weekdays Line 568 San Jose State University, Downtown San Jose, Downtown Morgan Hill, San Martin, Downtown Gilroy
  • Serves all Caltrain stops between Gilroy and San Jose Diridon (except Morgan Hill and Tamien), and uses Monterey Rd/S First St for almost all of its route.
  • For the local route including stops along Main Av, Hale Av/Santa Teresa Bl, and Cottle Rd, as well as both the Santa Teresa and Cottle light rail stations, see line 68.

Special bus services

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Express routes

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VTA's Express Bus routes operate along many of Santa Clara County's freeways, including Highway 85, Highway 237, Interstate 280 and U.S. Route 101. These routes use suburban-style Gillig low-floor buses with unique color schemes and onboard Wi-Fi.

These services mainly operate during weekday peak periods only, operating in the typical commute direction.

Due to the large subsidy per rider to operate express bus routes, VTA eliminated most express bus routes in the December 28, 2019 network redesign, except for those serving the Stanford Research Park, which funded the cost of operating the service. Fares are higher than standard bus fares.

Line Number Direction Terminals Days of Operation Schedule Information Roads Used Additional destinations
Express 101
North-South San Jose
Camden Av & SR 85 Park and Ride
Palo Alto
Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy)
Weekdays Line 101 Camden Av, Winchester Bl, Hamilton Av, Lawrence Expwy, Stevens Creek Bl, Vallco Pkwy, I-280 Winchester Transit Center, Westgate Center
Express 102
North-South San Jose
Santa Teresa station
Palo Alto
Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy)
Weekdays Line 102 Santa Teresa Bl, Snell Ave, SR-85, I-280 Snell station, Ohlone/Chynoweth station, select stops along Santa Teresa Blvd
Express 103
East-West San Jose
Eastridge Transit Center
Palo Alto
Stanford Research Park (Page Mill Rd & Hansen Wy)
Weekdays Line 103 Capitol Expwy, I-680, Southwest Expwy, Fruitdale Av, Meridian Av, I-280 Capitol Expwy & Story Rd, Fruitdale station
Express 104
East-West Milpitas
Milpitas station
Palo Alto
Stanford Research Park (Deer Creek Rd at VMware)
Weekdays Line 104 Great Mall Pkwy, Main St, Calaveras Blvd, SR-237, US-101, Charleston Rd, Alma St, Page Mill Rd Downtown Milpitas, south Palo Alto, Palo Alto V.A. Hospital
Express 121
North-South Gilroy
Gilroy station
Sunnyvale
Lockheed Martin Transit Center
Weekdays Line 121 Monterey Rd, Butterfield Blvd, Cochrane Rd, US-101, Great America Pkwy, Tasman Dr, Lawrence Expwy San Martin station, Morgan Hill station, Old Ironsides station

School tripper routes

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VTA operates a collection of routes timed specifically to serve students at local high schools. These services only operate around bell times when schools are in session.

Line Number School Served Other Destinations Schedule Information Notes
School 246
Milpitas
Milpitas High School
Central Milpitas School Trippers
School 247
Central Milpitas
School 255
Sunnyvale
Fremont High School
North Sunnyvale
  • Operates via Fair Oaks Ave
  • Bypasses Downtown Sunnyvale
School 256
San Jose
Willow Glen High School
Central San Jose, Tamien station
School 270
San Jose
Independence High School
East San Jose, Hostetter station
  • Operates via Jackson Ave between Mabury Rd and Berryessa Rd, bypassing Berryessa/North San José station
School 287
Morgan Hill
Live Oak High School
Morgan Hill, San Martin
School 288
Palo Alto
Gunn High School
Central Palo Alto
  • Afternoon trips start at Palo Alto V.A. Hospital
  • 288 operates via Charleston Rd
  • 288L operates via Meadow Dr to Louis Rd
  • 288M operates via Meadow Dr to Middlefield Rd
School 288L
Central Palo Alto
School 288M
Central Palo Alto

ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) shuttles

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The VTA, in conjunction with many private entities and high-tech companies, as well as in coordination with Altamont Corridor Express, operates free shuttles to and from various light rail stations and Great America Station to serve businesses in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and San Jose. Passengers can ride these shuttles for free as funding for these services are provided by grants from high-tech companies and business associations based in Santa Clara County, as well as from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These mainly operate weekdays only (except holidays).

All shuttles listed below originate from Great America Station and are operated in coordination with ACE train arrival times in the morning peak and departure times in the afternoon peak.

For a map of these services, click here

Line Color Direction Origin/Destination Companies served Schedule Information Notes
ACE Gray
South Sunnyvale
North-South Sunnyvale
Kifer Rd & Uranium Dr
Gray Line
  • Known internally as Line 822
  • First PM peak trip bypasses Evelyn & Wolfe stop
ACE Green
North Santa Clara
East-West Santa Clara
America Center Dr
Green Line
  • Known internally as Line 823
ACE Orange
Mountain View/Palo Alto
East-West Palo Alto
E Meadow Dr & Meadow Cir
Orange Line
  • Known internally as Line 824
  • Operates via SR 237, US 101, Shoreline Bl, and Charleston Rd
ACE Purple
West Milpitas
East-West Milpitas
McCarthy Ranch
Purple Line
  • Known internally as Line 825
  • Operates via Tasman Dr, Alder Dr, McCarthy Blvd, and Ranch Dr
ACE Red
North Sunnyvale
East-West Sunnyvale
Lockheed Martin Transit Center
Red Line
  • Known internally as Line 826
  • A portion of this line operates through restricted areas inside Moffett Federal Airfield. A Lockheed Martin Commuter Badge is required to access the restricted areas
ACE Yellow
South Santa Clara
North-South Santa Clara
Scott Blvd at Intel
Yellow Line
  • Known internally as Line 827
  • Operates in a one-way loop to and from Scott Blvd & San Tomas Expwy via Walsh Av, Kifer Rd, and Great America Pkwy
ACE Brown
North San Jose/Light Rail
North-South San Jose
N First St & Montague Expwy
Brown Line
  • Known internally as Line 828
  • Serves light rail stations along Tasman Dr and N First St
  • Operates in a one-way loop to and from N First St & River Oaks Pkwy via Seely Av and Montague Expwy
ACE Violet
East Milpitas
North-South San Jose
Lundy Ave & Commerce Dr
Violet Line
  • Known internally as Line 831

Other shuttles

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Line Number Direction Terminals Days of Operation Schedule Information Notes
SCVMC
North-South San Jose
Diridon station
San Jose
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC)
Weekdays SCVMC Shuttle

Regional services

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The VTA collaborates with other regional agencies that operate into and out of Santa Clara County with inter-agency transfers and commuter benefits. However, these lines do not use VTA's own buses nor levy VTA's bus fares; instead, these are operated by a consortium of operators, in which the agency is a participant, and the consortium sets the fares for such services.

Line Name Direction Terminals Days of Operation Communities Served Schedule Information Notes
Santa Clara County Terminal Regional Terminal
Highway 17 Express North-South San Jose
San Jose State University (weekdays)
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Metro Center
Daily San Jose, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Santa Cruz Highway 17 Express
  • Known internally as Line 970.
  • Operated by Santa Cruz Metro.
  • Jointly funded by VTA, Caltrans, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, and Santa Cruz Metro.
  • Some trips operate via Scotts Valley Rd to serve Cavallero Transit Center.
  • Some trips timed to connect with Amtrak trains at Diridon station.
  • Weekday service to San Jose State University ends at San Fernando & 5th Street and begins at San Fernando & 7th Street.
San Jose
Diridon station
Dumbarton Express
Line DB
East-West Palo Alto
Stanford University
Union City
Union City station
Weekdays Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Newark, Union City Line DB
  • Known internally as Line 971.
  • Jointly funded by VTA, AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, and Union City Transit. Administered by AC Transit and operated under contract by MV Transportation.
  • Also serves Palo Alto station, Menlo Park V.A. Hospital, and Ardenwood Park-and-Ride in Newark via Palm Av, Lytton Av, Middlefield Rd, Willow Rd, Dumbarton Bridge, and Decoto Rd.
Dumbarton Express
Line DB1
East-West Palo Alto
Stanford Research Park (Deer Creek Rd)
Union City
Union City station
Weekdays Palo Alto, Newark, Union City Line DB1
  • Known internally as Line 974.
  • Jointly funded by VTA, AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, and Union City Transit. Administered by AC Transit and operated under contract by MV Transportation.
  • Also serves Palo Alto V.A. Hospital and Ardenwood Park-and-Ride in Newark via Oregon Expwy, Page Mill Rd, Deer Creek Rd, Hillview Av, Miranda Av, and Hanover St.
Monterey-Salinas Transit
Line 59
North-South Gilroy
Caltrain station
Salinas
Intermodal Transit Center
Weekdays Salinas, Prunedale, Gilroy MST Line 59
  • Jointly funded by VTA and Monterey-Salinas Transit. Operated by Monterey-Salinas Transit.
  • MST honors through-tickets on this line for passengers connecting to and from Amtrak services in San Jose.
  • Also serves Prunedale Park-and-Ride via US-101.

References

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  1. ^ Perez, Lucas (January 2, 2014). "VTA Service Changes Take Effect Jan. 6". Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. ^ New Rapid Bus Line Unveiled Gilroy Dispatch.
  3. ^ VTA Expans Transit Access to South Santa Clara County San Jose Spotlight.