Public Transit Gets Wi-Fi and Concierge

In an attempt to lure more employees of high-tech companies to use public transit, the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority has proposed buses with wi-fi, reclining seats, and even a concierge to coordinate dry-cleaning services.

1 minute read

March 2, 2011, 12:00 PM PST

By Victor Negrete


From Good Magazine:

The idea is that the Silicon Valley commuter is "a different animal. This (is) a person who wouldn't give up convenience of a car unless they could trade it in for something even more useful. They knew that they'd have to make public transportation look like a tech-friendly luxury-a service that could help them be even more efficient during their commute. Brute Labs proposed perks like reserved seating, wi-fi, gourmet snacks, and a concierge that could coordinate dry cleaning and postal services."

Also, writes Alissa Walker, "they proposed several changes to the routes themselves, creating more of a hub-and-spoke system that would get employees nearer to major tech campuses, where they could then ride their bikes the rest of the way. The routes for these changes, they said, could come from tech companies like Google, who could analyze transit and ridership data and help maximize efficiency."

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 in GOOD Magazine

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

An Ariel view of Ocean Parkway, a busy six-lane highway

This road in NYC is infamously dangerous — and Mamdani can't fix it

New York City's Ocean Parkway is known for reckless driving, but the power to implement safety measures lies with the state rather than the city.

5 seconds ago - Gothamist

People walking in Denver next to a red bus.

One of Denver’s busiest corridors to gain BRT

The project will span 18 miles and contain 74 bus rapid transit stations.

October 29 - Transportation Today News

People board an orange bus in Seattle.

275,000 bus trips are at stake on Seattle's ballot

If passed, the Seattle Transit Measure would trigger a 0.3% sales tax and raise an average of $138 million per year to maintain and expand Seattle’s bus services.

October 29 - Seattle Times