Driver's VTA frustration may be tied to Taylor Swift shows
Q Recently I sat through three trains crossing Central Expressway. I am sure someone had a good reason to program crossing arms to come down way before any train is near, but it was unreal the length of delays it causes. With this valley having so many bright programmers, it seems the VTA wasn't able to capitalize on that talent pool.
What's it going to take to minimize delays to car traffic? It's as if the crossing arms were programmed for trains running three times the current speed. Maybe someone swapped 15 mph for 50 mph in an algorithm.
– John Jensen
A I checked with the VTA about your concerns. Current operations of this crossing were developed as part of the light rail double-tracking effort and were vetted and approved by the CPUC. The situation you describe, with closely spaced light rail vehicles, appears to have triggered the crossing gate controller logic to hold gates down for an extended period. This is to avoid having gates rapidly go up and immediately go back down, which could be confusing and also frustrating to motorists traveling through this crossing.
You sent your email about your experience at this crossing on July 28. More trains may have been traveling through here because of the transit needs of the Taylor Swift concerts at Levi's Stadium on July 28 and 29, and that could have triggered this condition more on that particular day.
Q This is regarding a question from Jim Melin about the San Jose airport's ability to fly 747 jets in and out. San Jose lengthened their runways a number of years ago to 11,000 feet, which will accommodate all sizes of passenger aircraft. You won't see 747s on a regular basis out of San Jose due to market conditions, as well as the fact that airlines are phasing out that aircraft.
– David Cordova
A And…
Q It doesn't matter how far they extend the runways at SJC. They won't be landing 747s. The 747 is obsolete and very few are left in commercial service. Within a few years, they'll all be gone. – Paul Jacobs, Saratoga
A And…
Q Boeing 747s have been landing at SJC since the first ones started flying in the '70s. The first was in June 1971 when United flew one in for display at the Air Transportation Exposition and the opening of the North Concourse.
Fry's Electronics had an N747-SP used by the Sharks for a while. It even had their logo. SJC has always been rated for the largest commercial aircraft flying (including the Airbus A380). It's just a matter of economics that has limited 747 traffic at SJC.
– David Burwell, Morgan Hill
A That's today's last word.