Santa Clara VTA chips away at operator shortage

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) welcomed 20 new bus operators who recently graduated from an intensive nine-week program and are ready to help fill a chronic shortage of operators at the authority.

The graduation took place Aug. 10, 2022, at Santa Clara VTA’s Chaboya Bus Division.

Santa Clara VTA says it has recently augmented efforts to recruit drivers, increasing the number of training classes offered to fill driver shortages that affect the level of transit service the authority can provide. The agency is chipping away at the shortage, with 70 vacancies in November 2021 reduced to 40 vacancies currently.

The new graduates are also participating in an 18-month apprenticeship program which allows them to earn 18 college credits from Mission College as they work.

Five of the new bus operator graduates have plans to enter Santa Clara VTA’s Light Rail Operator training program, a job that is also experiencing a shortage of operators.