There’s been much ado about bus schedules recently, because the times are changing. Here’s what it means for bus routes that run through Willow Glen:

As part of its continuing effort to provide improved transportation service to the public, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will enter a new era of bus service beginning January 14, 2008. …

[Central San Jose] Routes with 15 minute or better service frequency include Lines # 10, 22, 23, 25, 26, 60, 61/62, 64, 66, 72, 73, 180/181 and 522. Other routes in the area with increased frequencies are Lines # 63 and 82. Additional significant impacts include New Community Bus Line 11 and the discontinuation of Routes 36 and 85.

Essentially, bus service through Willow Glen will increase slightly in frequency, without any significant service deletions. In some cases, much-publicized “increased frequencies” only occur on portions of the full route … many outside of WG.

VTA Bus #25 runs along Willow Street, east to Alum Rock, or west to Valley Medical Center and De Anza College. Service frequency increases to every 15 minutes on weekdays, for buses between Alum Rock and Valley Medical Center, including WG. Beyond VMC, frequency remains at every 30 minutes.

VTA Bus #26 runs along Curtner Avenue, east to Eastridge Shopping Center, or west to Campbell and further north to Lockheed in Sunnyvale. Buses through WG will not change in frequency; Service frequency east of the Curtner Light Rail station increases to every 15 minutes on weekdays. Weekend service to downtown Sunnyvale is discontinued (you weren’t going much anyway).

VTA Bus #37 runs from Capitol Light Rail, along Hillsdale Avenue, Camden Avenue, and then along smaller streets all the way to West Valley College. WVC is a new destination for Bus #37, and “new” community buses will be making each run. This line now runs weekdays only.

VTA Bus #63 runs along Meridian Avenue, south to Almaden Valley, and north to Downtown and SJSU. Runs every 30 minutes Mon-Sat; every 60 minutes on Sunday

VTA Bus #64 runs along Lincoln Avenue, south to Almaden Valley, and northeast to Downtown and Alum Rock. The route east of Downtown San Jose is changing — and shrinking — but the service frequency is increasing east of downtown. There are no changes to this route directly affecting Willow Glen, and the special WGHS spur will remain; the service changes are at the extreme ends of the line.

VTA Bus #65 skirts WG, and will now be a “Community Bus” line, running from Kooser & Meridian, along Camden and Leigh to Parkmoor & Lincoln, and north to Downtown. Runs every 60 minutes on weekdays only.

VTA Bus #82 runs through WG along Minnesota Avenue, Newport, and Pine (and sometimes WGHS), north through Downtown SJ to 1st & Julian, or west to Westgate Shopping Center. Buses will run on First/Monterey instead of 7th Street, and some of the route will be replaced by the new VTA #11. This bus will run every 30 minutes, seven days a week.

To see which buses might work for your daily transportation needs, check out the nifty interactive map (we’re in “Sector G”), or a map of Bus Routes surrounding WG (in PDF). For a complete review of system changes, VTA has published a “New Bus Service” update online.

For other interesting perspectives on VTA bus service, check out the VTA Riders Union and the VTA Watch websites.