VTA light rail

VTA light rail
VTA light rail
	A VTA light rail train at Winchester station in February 2019
Overview
Locale	Santa Clara County, California
Transit type	Light rail
Number of lines	3
Number of stations	60
Daily ridership	14,500 (weekdays, Q4 2025)
Annual ridership	4,469,300 (2025)
Website	vta.org
Operation
Began operation	December 11, 1987
Operator(s)	Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Number of vehicles	100 Kinki Sharyo low-floor light rail vehicles
Train length	90 ft (27 m) (1 LRV); 180 ft (55 m) (2 LRVs)
Technical
System length	42.2 mi (67.9 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 750 V DC
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)
System map
System map
	(closed
	2015)
	Children's
	Discovery Museum
	San Jose
	Diridon
	Ohlone/
	Chynoweth
	(closed
	2019)
	(closed
	2019)
Key
	All stations are accessible

The VTA light rail system serves San Jose and nearby cities in Santa Clara County, California. It is operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and has 42.2 miles (67.9 km) of network comprising three main lines on standard gauge tracks. Originally opened on December 11, 1987, the light rail system has expanded since then, and currently has 60 stations in operation.

The light rail system has been criticized for being one of the least used in the United States (an average of 344 boardings per mile as of the fourth quarter of 2025) and the most heavily subsidized ($9.30 per passenger trip). VTA leaders have admitted that building light rail was a poor match with adjoining land uses. The system's average weekday daily ridership as of the fourth quarter of 2025 is 14,500 passengers and saw a total of 4,469,300 trips in 2025.