Site of Deadly VTA Shooting Demolished

VTA has taken another step to try and move forward after last year’s tragic shooting at the Guadalupe Light Rail Yard. On May 11, the demolition of Building B began. The work is part of the healing process for VTA employees.

Building B used to house VTA’s Way Power and Signal teams (WP&S). Six of the nine employees killed during the tragic events on May 26, 2021 were killed inside Building B.

In a statement released by VTA, the agency says the removal of Building B “will allow VTA to move forward with planning long term solutions for the yard with a building that meets the maintenance and operation needs of VTA, while supporting the emotional needs of employees who experienced the tragedy that occurred at the light rail facility.”

Since the tragedy, Building B at Guadalupe has been vacant. WP&S staff within VTA have worked out of other locations at the light rail yard. WP&S employees include the teams that maintain the trackway infrastructure including the rail, overhead power lines, train signals, stations, etc.

Business still takes place in other buildings at the Guadalupe Yard. The agency still runs light rail vehicle maintenance and the Operations Control Center activities at the site on the corner of North First Street and Younger Avenue in San Jose.

It has been nearly one year since an angry VTA employee walked onto the Guadalupe Yard and opened fire on his coworkers before killing himself. The tragic events deeply impacted people around the Bay Area and across the United States.

While there are no official plans for a memorial to remember the nine employees killed on May 26, 2021 at the Guadalupe Light Rail Yard, Santa Clara County Supervisor and VTA Board Member Cindy Chavez told NBC Bay Area she hopes the redesign will include a monument for the employees.