The station was opened on May 17, 2001, as part of VTA's Tasman East light rail extension.[5]
The station has a 275 space park and ride lot situated diagonally opposite from the platform. The entrance to the parking lot has a large public art installation, a clocktower called "Gateway to the City of Milpitas."
History
Clocktower at the entrance to the station's park and ride lot
Alder originally served as the eastern terminus of the first phase of the Tasman East light rail extension on May 17, 2001, and so was originally served by trains operating directly from Mountain View.
When the station first opened, it served the southern terminus of AC Transit's 217 bus, the only such service that runs into Santa Clara County. Since then, the second phase of the Tasman East extension altered the station's service patterns, and the 217 bus now terminates at the Milpitas Transit Center.
Since 2017, VTA's plans for new routes in support of the Silicon Valley BART extension included renaming this station "Alder" after its cross-street Alder Drive.[6][7] The name change was made on December 28, 2019.[8]
.jpg){kind=small}
