Express Line 168

This morning, I finally got the chance to take Bus 168, the new express bus that runs between the Gilroy and San Jose Diridon Caltrain stations. VTA began operating the route on Monday. It's one of the many changes the agency recently made in an effort to improve its services.

I must admit that as I waited for the bus to arrive, I was shaking with giddy excitement. At least I think it was giddy excitement. It was a little difficult to tell with it being so cold outside.

Anyway, here are four reasons why I'm stoked about this new bus route.

1. Cost. Instead of paying $5.75 one way on Caltrain or $4.00 on the San Jose Express, Bus 168 is free, thanks to my company's participation in the Eco Pass Program. If it didn't participate, the fare would be $3.50 one way, which would still be cheaper than driving because my car drinks just over a gallon of gas each way.
2. Speed. By bus and light rail, my commute is 55 minutes. By car, it's 40 minutes. Taking the train reduces the trip time to 35 minutes, but the station is a mile from the office. The ride on Bus 168 is also 35 minutes, but it drops me off closer to work, which brings me to...
3. Proximity. From home, the bus stop is less than a mile away, within easy walking distance. From work, the bus stop is only three blocks away. It's practically door-to-door service.
4. Frequency. Unlike Caltrain, which runs three morning trains and three evening trains, with no rhyme or reason to their departure times, the VTA operates six buses each way. They run every thirty minutes, which gives potential riders a 2.5-hour commute window. For me, it will make getting to work early and leaving late very easy. Hmm... I'm suddenly feeling a little less stoked.

Add to this list the usual benefits of mass transit (less stress, better for the environment, more time to read or nap, etc.) and Bus 168 almost seems too good to be true. I hope it isn't. With any luck, enough people will ride it so the agency won't reduce service or discontinue it entirely when it makes its next round of changes and improvements.