Future leaders in transportation tour Santa Clara VTA

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) hosted a group of 32 high school students to get a special behind-the-scenes tour of VTA’s largest bus yard and electric bus charging system.  

The students participated in the Mineta Summer Transportation Institute, designed to educate and encourage their interest in careers in the transportation industry. A graduation ceremony was held at VTA Headquarters after their tour. 

Santa Clara VTA’s General Manager Carolyn Gonot welcomed the students at headquarters in the morning. Then, the students rode a sleek, new electric bus and headed to VTA’s Cerone Bus Division. They had a tour of bus operations, overhaul and repair, and learned about the agency’s Electric Bus Charging Microgrid project. 

After the tour, they will head back to Santa Clara VTA’s headquarters for lunch, a graduation ceremony and meet with their parents. 

During the three-week San Jose State University program, the students learned about sustainability in public transportation, participated in hands-on STEM activities, learned about environmental science and how transit impacts climate change and how to fly drones to practice aerial mapping.  

The program is free, and students can earn three college credits. 

Santa Clara VTA and the Mineta Transportation Institute have hosted this event for more than 10 years.