Santa Cruz downtown to San Jose Airport via public transit
 

My husband will be attending a conference in a Downtown Santa Cruz hotel. He is reluctant to rent a car. I know it is possible to go from Santa Cruz to SJC airport by public transit. I found this website BUT I find the directions somewhat confusing.

http://www.scmtd.com/en/riders-guide...to-sjc-airport
"<i>Take Amtrak Highway 17 Express Northbound from Santa Cruz to the Downtown Transit Center, 2nd Street, San Jose (allow approximately 60 minutes travel time)
Cross over the light rail tracks (watch for trains), then continue through the alley to 1st Street. (approximately 5 minutes travel time)
On 1st Street take the VTA Light Rail - Mountain View or VTA Light Rail - Alum Rock to the Metro Station
Cross 1st Street to the glass gazebo bus stop
Stops are announced on the train (allow approximately 20 minutes travel time)
Wait for the VTA #10 Eastbound Bus/ Airport Shuttle (the destination sign will read Santa Clara Transit Center)
This will take you to the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) and makes stops at Terminals A and B
The Shuttle is free and runs approximately every 15 minutes (allow approximately 10 minutes travel time)</i>"

So, I found the Hwy 17 Express bus route: http://www.vta.org/routePrint?route=970
And he's to get off at the San Jose downtown transit center. Is that the same as the "Diridon Transit Center" on the map (in the link above)?

From there, he needs to walk over to 1st Street, then take the Light Rail. Which stop is that where he boards the Light Rail? Then the light rail will take him to the Airport/Metro Station. From there, he switches to the SJC airport shuttle.

Does he buy tickets separately? (one ticket for the Hwy 17 bus; one ticket for light rail)

I'm trying to convince him to rent a car, but I am researching public transit options for him and he can decide what to do. I will also ask him to check with the hotel to see if there are SJC airport shuttles/car service that will provide transportation for him.

TIA!

P.S. on VTA's fare website I found this
http://www.vta.org/getting-around/fares

Will the $12 "Express Day Pass" cover his entire journey?

The wording is confusing because the "Downtown Transit Center" on 2nd street really isn't a transit center, just a central location downtown where a lot of buses and light rail trains cross paths. 1st and 2nd streets are 1-way (1st goes north, 2nd goes south). This is the reason that he will have to get off the Hwy 17 bus on 2nd and walk over to 1st - to get the train going north toward the airport. This station is called Santa Clara Fountain Alley connects 1st and 2nd streets between the stations.

The Hwy 17 bus also serves the Diridon Transit Center, and you can pick up light rail their also - I think they are directing people to 1st/2nd street (Santa Clara station) because more trains go through there and it's likely less of a wait to get the light rail train.

For the fare, he can get a transfer from the Hwy 17 bus to the VTA lighrail if he buys a day pass for the Hwy 17 bus. Otherwise he'll need a ticket for the light rail too, which is $2:

http://www.scmtd.com/en/fares/fares

Thanks for explaining, november moon! Now it makes much more sense. It will be the Santa Clara light rail station (at 1st st) where he will be catching the LR to the Airport station.

Now DH is reconsidering the "no rental car" decision. He still has several months to decide, but at least I can tell him how to take the public transit if he wants.

If it helps, the drive is pretty simple - you get on Hwy 17 in SC, drive over the hill, Hwy 17 becomes I-880 in San Jose (name change only, same road) and takes you straight to the airport.