SAN JOSE, Calif. — The State of California is planning to provide $20 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to help the agency recover from the May shooting in which nine VTA light rail workers were killed by another employee.
The San Jose Spotlight reports the funding — included in budget bills making their way through the state legislature — is intended to help the agency provide mental health resources to workers and their families and to resume light rail service. The light rail system has not operated since the May 26 shooting [see “San Jose-area light rail system could be shut down for months …,” Trains News Wire, June 2, 2021].
State Sen. Dan Cortese, a former VTA board member, said the money would go directly to the VTA, which will decide how to distribute it between personnel and capital needs.
The money will also fund improvements at the Guadalupe Rail Yard, site of the shootings. The VTA is considering replacing the building where the shooting occurred, but county supervisor and VTA board member Cindy Chavez said that would require additional state funding.
“This is a very important location, and so making sure that location is hardened and protected long term is going to be very important so that employees feel safe going back to work,” Chavez said.
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