The Cities of Cupertino and Santa Clara celebrated the service expansion of Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper, Cupertino’s affordable, on-demand rideshare service now operating in both Cupertino and South Santa Clara.
The service area expansion comes after an award of $8.5 million in grant funding from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) to expand Cupertino’s existing Via-Cupertino shuttle service into Santa Clara and move to an all-electric fleet. The shuttle service was rebranded as SV Hopper, and converted to a user-friendly, on-demand rideshare service serving Cupertino, South Santa Clara, and major transit hubs both inside and outside the service area (including El Camino Hospital, and the Mountain View and Sunnyvale Caltrain Stations).
“This milestone is a celebration of Cupertino’s commitment to innovation, partnerships, and environmental sustainability. Together, with our partners and riders, we’ve created a first and last mile solution that truly meets our community’s needs and reflects the spirit of our two cities,” said Cupertino Mayor Sheila Mohan.
Much like Uber and Lyft, rides on SV Hopper are arranged through the app, with pick-ups and drop-offs located at the nearest street corner relative to your origin or destination. With one-way fares affordably priced at $3.50 per ride, and discounted fares of $1.75 per ride offered to students, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income riders, SV Hopper provides convenient microtransit for commuters, students, and shoppers alike.
“Any way we can take cars off the road, and connect our communities to transit, shopping, or just help them get from one side of town to another, and do so in an environmentally responsible way, is a huge win for our two cities,” said Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor.
Expanded Service Area
In Santa Clara, service is provided in the southern half of the City from the Caltrain tracks to the City’s southernmost City limit, with a future Phase 2 planned expansion into the northern part of the City. SV Hopper will pick up and drop off anywhere within the service area.
About the City of Santa Clara
Located at the heart of Silicon Valley about 45 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Santa Clara truly is “The Center of What’s Possible.” Incorporated in 1852, Santa Clara covers an area of 19.3 square miles with an estimated population of 129,498. Santa Clara is home to an extraordinary array of high-tech companies, including Applied Materials, AMD, Intel, Nvidia, Oracle, and Ericsson. The City of Santa Clara is also home to Santa Clara University, California’s Great America Theme Park, and Levi’s® Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers and future host site of Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup in 2026. For more information, go to SantaClaraCA.gov.
About the City of Cupertino
Conveniently located in Santa Clara County, the City of Cupertino is just minutes away from San Francisco and other cities in the Bay Area. Known as one of the founding cities of Silicon Valley, Cupertino’s center of innovation far surpasses its moderate size of approximately 60,000 residents. Around the world, Cupertino is famous as the home of high-tech giant Apple Inc. Education, innovation and collaboration are the hallmarks nourished by the city government, the community, and businesses. Quality schools and closeness to technology jobs make Cupertino a desirable address for a highly educated and culturally diverse population. Rich in opportunity, culture and sunshine, Cupertino is a progressive and welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors. For more information, visit Cupertino.gov.