List of Santa Clara VTA bus routes


The following is a list of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus routes. Route numbers are classified as follows:
VTA has embarked on a large network redesign program 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.

Regular bus service

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, 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.

Rapid bus service

Currently, the VTA operates one arterial rapid transit line, a precursor to Bus Rapid Transit service, the Rapid 522. 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.
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 , 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 .

Limited-stop service

VTA discontinued all limited stop services on December 28, 2019 as part of the network redesign program. These services operated weekdays only, mostly during peak periods. Compared to express bus services, these lines operated via expressways - most notably Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway - that provided semi-express service to industrial parks in Sunnyvale and Milpitas.

Express bus service

These services mainly operate during weekday peak periods only, operating in the following pattern:
Most of these trips operate NB or WB in the morning and SB or EB in the afternoon and evening. Exceptions to this pattern are:
VTA's Express Bus fares are higher than standard bus fares as these trips operate along many of Santa Clara County's freeways, including:
A few lines operate similar trips, with fewer stops than their stopping regular bus and light rail counterparts:
On line maps, these are colored green. Line numbers marked with an asterisk denote that the buses used on these lines are the VTA's newest suburban-style Gillig low-floor buses that have WiFi capability on board.
Due to the large subsidy per rider to operate express bus routes, VTA eliminated routes 120, 140, and 180 in the December 28, 2019 network redesign. The agency is seeking corporate partners to help cover some of the costs of operating express routes. Further network changes are expected throughout 2020 and 2021 as new partners join the VTA express bus program.

Serving Stanford Industrial Park

All trips serving Stanford Industrial Park in Palo Alto operate along Deer Creek Road, Arastradero Avenue, Hillview Drive, Hanover Drive, and Page Mill Road to and from their terminals at either:
Line NumberDirectionOrigin/DestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
101*North-SouthSan Jose
Hwy 85 at Camden Ave Park-and-Ride		Weekdays
102*North-SouthSan JoseSanta Teresa LRTWeekdays
  • Operates via Santa Teresa Boulevard, Snell Road, Highway 85, I-280
  • Also serves Snell LRT and Ohlone/Chynoweth LRT stations, as well as select stops along Santa Teresa Boulevard.
103*East-WestSan JoseEastridge Transit CenterWeekdays
  • Operates via:
  • To Stanford: Capitol Expressway, I-680, Southwest Expressway, Fruitdale Avenue, Meridian Avenue, I-280
  • To Eastridge: I-280, Parkmoor Avenue, Race Street, Fruitdale Avenue, Southwest Expressway, I-680, Capitol Expressway
  • Also serves Capitol Expwy & Story Rd and Fruitdale Ave & Southwest Expwy stops.
104*East-WestSan JosePenitencia Creek LRTWeekdays
  • Operates via | Morrill Avenue, Main Street, Calaveras Street, Highway 237, US-101, Charleston Road, Alma Street
  • Also serves Great Mall/Main Transit Center, Downtown Milpitas, select stops in south Palo Alto, and Palo Alto V.A. Hospital.

Serving Moffett Industrial Park

All trips operating to Moffett Industrial Park serve Crossman LRT station, Borregas LRT station, and Lockheed Martin Transit Center.
Line NumberDirectionOrigin/DestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
121North-SouthGilroy
Caltrain Station		Weekdays
  • Operates via Monterey Highway, Butterfield Road, US-101, Great America Parkway, Lawrence Expressway
  • Also serves San Martin Caltrain, Morgan Hill Caltrain, Old Ironsides LRT station, and Reamwood LRT station.
122*North-SouthSan JoseSanta Teresa LRTWeekdays
  • Operates via Santa Teresa Boulevard, Snell Road, Capitol Expressway, US-101
  • Also serves Snell LRT station and select stops along Santa Teresa Boulevard, Snell Road, and Capitol Expressway.
185*North-SouthGilroyCaltrain StationWeekdays
  • Operates via Monterey Highway, Butterfield Road, US-101, Middlefield Rd., Shoreline, Charleston, San Antonio
  • Serves Middlefield LRT

Serving Downtown San Jose

Line 168 serves Downtown San Jose, operating to and from San Jose Diridon Transit Center.
Line NumberDirectionOrigin/DestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
168*North-SouthGilroy
Caltrain Station		Weekdays
  • Operates via Monterey Highway, Butterfield Road, US-101, Highway 87, E San Carlos Street, 1st Street, 2nd Street, Santa Clara Street
  • Operates AM peak towards San Jose Diridon and PM peak towards Gilroy.
  • Also serves San Martin and Morgan Hill Caltrain stations, as well as several LRT stations in Downtown San Jose.
  • For service between Morgan Hill Caltrain and Downtown San Jose, including Downtown Morgan Hill, Santa Teresa LRT, and Capitol Caltrain, as well as for midday, weekend, and holiday services, see Line 68 above.

Reverse commute

Line 182, as noted above, operates counter-commute trips between Palo Alto and South San Jose, with one trip each from Palo Alto in the morning and from South San Jose in the afternoon.
Line NumberDirectionOriginDestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
182*North-SouthPalo Alto
Page Mill Rd & El Camino Real		San Jose
IBM Facility at Bailey Rd		Weekdays
  • Operates via California Avenue, Hanover Drive, Page Mill Road, I-280, Vallco Parkway, Stevens Creek Boulevard, Highway 87, Highway 85, Cottle Road, Santa Teresa Boulevard, San Ignacio Road
  • Also serves Vallco Shopping Center, Stevens Creek & Stern stop, Cottle LRT station, Santa Teresa LRT station, and the industrial areas along Via Del Oro, San Ignacio Road, and Bernal Road.

Special service

Light rail shuttles

These shuttles mainly operate to and from light rail stations around San Jose.
Line NumberDirectionOriginDestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
200East-WestSan Jose
Baypointe LRT		Mountain View
Mountain View LRT		Daily
  • Serves as Light rail substitution on late nights Mon- Sat. for Green Line.

School tripper routes

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 NumberSchool ServedOther DestinationsSchedule InformationNotes
246Milpitas
Milpitas High School		Central MilpitasN/A
  • Operates with route 247
247MilpitasMilpitas High SchoolCentral MilpitasN/A
  • Operates with route 246
256San JoseWillow Glen High SchoolCentral San Jose, Tamien StationN/A
270San Jose
Independence High School		East San Jose, Hostetter Light Rail
287Morgan Hill
Live Oak High School		Morgan Hill, San Martin
288Palo Alto
Gunn High School		Central Palo Alto
  • Operates via Charleston Rd.
  • In conjunction with 288L and 288M
288LPalo AltoGunn High SchoolCentral Palo Alto
  • Operates via Meadow to Oregon Expressway
  • In conjunction with 288 and 288M
288MPalo AltoGunn High SchoolCentral Palo Alto
  • Operates via Meadow to Middlefield
  • In conjunction with 288 and 288L

Levi's Stadium service

VTA offers pre-game and post-game express bus routes to supplement existing bus and light rail routes that already serves California's Great America theme park, which is located in the same lot as Levi's Stadium. These routes operate only when a major sporting event such as the San Francisco 49ers' games and major soccer and college football matches occur. Express routes fare apply to the following routes serving Levi's Stadium - for local routes that serve Levi's Stadium, see routes 55, 57, and 59 above.
Line NumberDirectionOrigin/DestinationDays of OperationSchedule InformationNotes
251North-SouthSouth Fremont
BART Station		Event Days Only

Altamont Corridor Express shuttles

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.
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
Line ColorDirectionOrigin/DestinationCompanies servedNotesSchedule Information
Gray Line
South Sunnyvale		North-SouthSunnyvale
Kifer Rd & Uranium Dr
  • Known internally as Line 822.
  • First PM peak trip bypasses Evelyn & Wolfe stop.
    • Green LineNorth Santa ClaraEast-WestSanta Clara
    America Center Drive
  • Known internally as Line 823.
    • Orange LineMountain View/Palo AltoEast-WestPalo Alto
    E Meadow Dr & Meadow Cir
  • Known internally as Line 824.
  • Operates via Highway 237, US-101, Shoreline Boulevard, and Charleston Avenue.
    • Purple LineWest MilpitasEast-WestMilpitas
    McCarthy Ranch Shopping Center
  • Known internally as Line 825.
  • Operates via Tasman Drive, Alder Drive, McCarthy Drive, and Ranch Drive.
    • Red LineNorth SunnyvaleEast-WestSunnyvale
    Lockheed Martin Transit Center
  • Known internally as Line 826.
  • A portion of this line operates through restricted areas inside Moffett Airfield between Mathilda Ave & Java Dr and Lockheed Martin Transit Center. A Commuter Badge requested in advance is required to access Moffett Airfield and Lockheed Martin.
    • Yellow LineSouth Santa ClaraNorth-SouthSanta Clara
    Scott Avenue at Intel
  • Known internally as Line 827.
  • Operates in a one-way loop to and from Scott Ave & San Tomas Expwy via Walsh Ave, Kifer Rd, and Great America Pkwy.
    • Brown LineNorth San Jose/Light RailNorth-SouthSan Jose
    N First St & Montague Expwy
  • Known internally as Line 828.
  • Operates in a one-way loop to and from N First St & River Oaks Pkwy via Seely Ave and Montague Expwy
  • Also serves multiple LRT stations along Tasman Dr and N First St
    • Violet LineWest MilpitasNorth-SouthMilpitas
    Lundy Ave & Commerce Dr
  • Known internally as Line 831.
  • Operates to multiple small- and medium-scale technology companies in Milpitas

    • Regional services

    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.