VTA Strike Impact on Student Transportation
Dear Gavilan College Community,
We want to make you aware of the ongoing VTA strike that began Monday, March 10, which has suspended bus and light rail services across Santa Clara County. This service disruption is affecting many of our students who rely on public transportation to attend classes at our Gilroy campus.
Impact on Students:
The strike has particularly affected students with disabilities, who often depend heavily on consistent public transportation. This disruption also affects students who do not have internet access or any other method of transportation. According to VTA officials, the system normally serves more than 100,000 riders each day, and many of our students are among those affected commuters who now face challenges getting to campus.
Request for Faculty Flexibility:
We ask all faculty to please be flexible with students who may be late to class or unable to attend in person due to these transportation challenges. Our Accessible Education Center (AEC) sent an email to faculty on Tuesday about this issue, but we want to reinforce the importance of understanding and accommodation during this time.
Support Available to Students:
Support programs on campus have resource cards that can be used to help students who need transportation assistance. Students can access these cards at El Centro. We are also exploring the possibility of expanding our existing transportation options should the strike continue for a longer period.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. If you have students who are experiencing transportation difficulties, please direct them to contact El Centro for assistance.
Thank you for your understanding and support of our students during this challenging time.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Pedro Avila
Superintendent/President
5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard | Gilroy, CA 95020
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