Purple Line (VTA)
| Company type | Light rail shuttle service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Defunct | 2019-12-28 |
| Fate | Replaced by bus route 64a |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California , United States |
Area served | Southern San Jose, California |
| Owner | Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) |
Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden—often referred to as the Almaden Shuttle—was a brief light rail service managed by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in the southern region of San Jose, California, consisting of three stops. The same corridor was also served by VTA bus route 13, which paralleled the light rail line. In late 2019, VTA proposed discontinuing the shuttle, and on December 28, 2019, it was officially supplanted by bus route 64a.
Although depicted in purple on VTA system maps, the agency’s personnel did not officially label this route as the Purple Line or Line 900 in their documentation. The transit system’s other two lines included the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line and the Mountain View–Winchester line. Twice each day, a train from the Alum Rock–Santa Teresa line operated through service from yards located south of Gish station to cover the Almaden Shuttle segment, arriving early in the morning and returning after the last evening trip.
History
Constructed simultaneously with the original Guadalupe line, the Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden branch commenced operations in 1991. Spanning approximately 2.3 miles and predominantly single-tracked except at terminal points, this branch was mainly served by the Almaden Shuttle. Limited rush hour trains providing through service to downtown were discontinued in 1993.
The alignment traces the former Southern Pacific Railroad’s Lick Branch right-of-way, which historically supported New Almaden’s mercury mining operations and later a lumber yard before freight activity ceased in 1981.
Ridership levels on the Almaden Shuttle remained low throughout its operation. During the economic downturn following the dot-com bubble burst, VTA considered terminating this service in 2003 and 2004 due to overlapping coverage by bus route 13 and budget constraints. Had it been canceled, it would have been notable as the first federally funded light rail line built after 1980 to be discontinued. Ultimately, VTA maintained shuttle operations while reducing parallel bus routes.
In April 2008, all three stations underwent temporary closure for upgrades designed to facilitate level boarding at every door. The possibility of ending service arose again in 2009, with options including limiting operations to weekends only.
By 2019, prior to launching the new Mountain View–Alum Rock Orange Line, the Almaden Shuttle’s map color was changed from orange to purple. VTA’s draft plan that year recommended discontinuing Ohlone/Chynoweth–Almaden service in favor of introducing Route 80 bus service; ultimately, this line was replaced by bus route 64a as of December 28, 2019.
Station stops
| Station | Other lines | Transfer to |
|---|---|---|
| Ohlone/Chynoweth | Template:Rcb | VTA: Alum Rock–Santa Teresa LRT, 13 |
| Oakridge | VTA: 13 | |
| Almaden | VTA: 13, 64 |
- Notes
Station facilities
Bicycle stations were available at all stops; additionally, both Ohlone/Chynoweth and Almaden stations provided park-and-ride amenities.
References