VTA has rejected a proposal to create a direct bus line between De Anza and Foothill Colleges due to a lack of evidence of enough ridership. DASB, Associated Students of Foothill College, and the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees had all endorsed the proposal earlier this year.

Instead, VTA suggested that the college district could investigate providing a direct shuttle between the two campuses.

Student Trustee Elias Kamal, one of the proposal’s proponents, said it is disappointing since we have many dual-enrolled students and thousands of regular bus riders ever since the Eco Pass program started. “Regardless, I’m hoping we can work with the District and college administration to explore options of providing a shuttle or other forms of intercampus transportation,” Kamal said.

VTA noted that there used to be a line between the two colleges that was discontinued in 2009. At that time, there were 55 students who boarded at Foothill, and 20 that rode all the way to De Anza per day.

The analysis acknowledged that there is likely an increase in demand for cross-college travel, but even if there was a 10 times increase from the 2009 levels, that would only be around eight students per trip, which is not enough for a dedicated line.

Foothill College is on the edge of the county’s urban area, and places along the proposed route would not have enough demand for ridership either according to VTA.

“My hope is that this doesn’t discourage students and that we continue advocating for more accessible and sustainable forms of transportation through organizations like TRANSITion and DASB on campus,” Kamal said.