Shelter-in-place lifted after 'suspicious package' prompts VTA station closure
A blue-line Valley Transit Authority (VTA) light rail arrives at the San Antonio Station in San Jose, Calif., on Oct. 6, 2021. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News)
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A suspicious package in San Jose prompted the closure of a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail station Tuesday morning.
What we know:
The Karina light rail station was closed for a short time while officials investigated the scene near Karina Court and North First Street.
A shelter-in-place order in the area was lifted around 11:40 a.m.
Both directions of North First Street reopened to traffic, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said just before noon.
The bomb squad remained at the scene to investigate. The sheriff's office said around 12:20 p.m. that the scene was cleared. The suspicious container was a concrete test cylinder used by San Jose Public Works, officials said.
The VTA station shutdown came amid a difficult morning commute in the Bay Area.
Tough morning commute
A fire at a BART station in San Leandro brought service to an abrupt halt early Tuesday.
The fire was reported at about 5 a.m. on the elevated tracks and caused the San Leandro station to close, according to BART spokesman Chris Fillippi.