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VTA light rail shutdown after operator tests positive for COVID-19
Jesse Gary reports.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority halted light rail service after a worker tested positive for COVID-19.
Transit unions posted a memo sent by the VTA, that a light rail operator trainee tested positive.
VTA announced that it took swift action, and shut down service at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Six trains were running at the time, and the transit agency made sure that no passengers were stranded onboard trains or at station platforms.
Operators were told to shelter-in-place and would be instructed later on whether to self-quarantine or take a coronavirus test.
All trains will now be thoroughly cleaned.
VTA said that it had several sanitized trains ready to go for such a scenario, but for now, only buses are running.
Ridership on light rail trains has dropped 82% since Santa Clara County instituted a stay-at-home order earlier this month.