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VIA Metropolitan Transit

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Coordinates: 29°26′34″N 98°29′58″W / 29.44278°N 98.49944°W / 29.44278; -98.49944
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29°26′34″N 98°29′58″W / 29.44278°N 98.49944°W / 29.44278; -98.49944

VIA Metropolitan Transit
A VIA bus operating as Route 501 at the UTSA terminal
FormerlySan Antonio Transit System
ParentCity of San Antonio and Bexar County
Founded1977
Headquarters123 N. Medina St.
San Antonio, Texas
United States
Service areaGreater San Antonio
RoutesTotal: 95
Prímo: 3
Frequent: 19
Standard: 73
Stops5984
HubsPark & Ride: 10
Transit Center: 9
FleetBus: 511
Paratransit: 138
Daily ridership84,000 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[1]
Annual ridership25,132,300 (2023)[2]
Fuel type
  • CNG
  • Electric
Chief executiveJeffrey C. Arndt
Board ChairFernando Reyes
Websiteviainfo.net

VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority (referred to as VIA Metro or simply VIA) is the mass transit agency serving San Antonio, Texas, United States, and its surrounding municipalities. It began operation in 1978 as a successor to the San Antonio Transit System. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 25,132,300, or about 84,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

In addition to the city of San Antonio, VIA serves many other Bexar County municipalities, including Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, Converse, Kirby, Leon Valley, Olmos Park, Shavano Park, and Terrell Hills. While VIA does not directly serve some Bexar County municipalities such as Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park, Live Oak, Selma, Schertz, Universal City and Windcrest, many of them are within driving proximity of outlying park-and-ride facilities.

History

[edit]
VIA's original logo, used until 2014

VIA was created in 1977 when the citizens of Bexar County voted in favor of a one-half cent sales tax to fund the service. Subsequently, VIA purchased transit assets from the City of San Antonio and began operations in March 1978, taking its name from the Latin word for "road". In 2004, city voters in San Antonio approved the formation of the Advanced Transportation District. This quarter-cent sales tax expanded and improved VIA operations.[3]

VIA has received several accolades from the American Public Transportation Association, most notably the award for Best Transit System in North America in 1990, as well as several of APTA's safety awards in multiple years.[3]

VIA added a limited-stop bus service known as Prímo to the Fredericksburg Road corridor on December 17, 2012.[4] Designated as Route 100, it connects the South Texas Medical Center to Downtown San Antonio. The route had connected the main campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio to its downtown campus using an extension from the Medical Center to the UTSA Main Campus, as well as a second extension that ran from the Medical Center to the nearby independent city of Leon Valley[5] until January 2017 (when the extensions were split into Route 101 which later became Route 501 in January 2019). An expansion of Prímo to Zarzamora Street opened in January 2019 and an expansion to Military Drive opened in late August 2019, additionally VIA is looking into other corridors to which to add improved bus transit in the coming decades.[6]

In March 2020, fares on all VIA services were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fare suspension was set to last until April 1, 2020, but was later extended until the end of May 2020.[7][8] On April 6, 2020, VIA implemented temporary service changes, including temporarily suspending some routes, implementing capacity limits on buses, and changing their fleet to Saturday service hours.[9] On April 27, 2020, VIA implemented further temporary service changes, including suspending additional routes and further decreasing frequency.[10] Fare collection continued on June 1, 2020,[11] and capacity limits were later removed on June 1, 2021.[7]

Services

[edit]

VIA operates over 500 wheelchair accessible buses on 75 bus routes, serving the entire city of San Antonio and most of Bexar County. About 36 million trips are made on VIA every year.[3] The bus routes are separated into Frequent, and Standard Service types. VIA additionally provides special event service from its Park & Ride locations to events such as San Antonio Spurs basketball games at the Frost Bank Center, selected annual Fiesta San Antonio activities, and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.[12] VIA also offers "VIATrans" paratransit services for disabled travelers.

Fares for VIA have remained relatively modest during its existence. At its inception in 1978, fares were 25¢ for most routes. Fares for most fixed routes during 2006 were 80¢, and a monthly bus pass was $20, much lower than most other transit systems in the country. On January 1, 2007, basic fares were raised to $1, and monthly pass prices were raised to $25. Basic fares increased to $1.10 and monthly pass prices were raised to $30 on January 1, 2009.[13] On March 1, 2014, the basic bus fare was $1.20; day passes were $4 and a 31-day pass was $35.[14] As of January 1, 2016, the base fare is $1.30, express fares are $2.60, day passes are $2.75, 7-day passes are $12, and 31-day passes are $38.[15] Children 4 years old and under ride fare-free.[16] On November 9, 2019, transfers became free and can be requested when paying to board the bus. To transfer from a local to an express bus, the difference of the service must be paid. One-day, seven-day and 31-day passes are accepted on all routes except for VIATrans and Special Event Service.

High school, college, and trade students are able to purchase a semester pass for $38 with proof of enrollment. Upon boarding, students must display valid VIA-issued IDs, or school IDs with stickers for the semester. Students, faculty, and staff attending or working for the Alamo Colleges District, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas A&M San Antonio, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the University of the Incarnate Word can ride the bus for free by showing their school-issued goMobile pass as part of VIA's U-Pass program.[17]

Bus service types

[edit]

The color of a route is assigned by its average off-peak frequency. Some routes contain portions of their route which operate at lesser service types. Additionally, some routes operate with increased frequency during certain parts of the day (e.g. Route 90 is every 30 minutes outside of the hours of 9 am - 3 pm but is classified as a Dupain colored Standard Service).

Service Type Service Color Service Description
Prímo Red Prímo Service is the designation for a special skip-stop service. These routes run along heavy ridership corridors throughout the city, operating every 15 minutes or less.
Frequent Frequent Service is the designation for routes which operate every 20 minutes or less.
Standard Cyan Cobalt Blue Standard Service routes of this color operate every 30 minutes.
Dupain Standard Service routes of this color operate every 40 - 60 minutes, with some routes having sections that run during peak hours only.
Butterbrot Standard Service routes of this color operate at a frequency greater than 60 minutes.

Special event service

[edit]

VIA runs special service for major events in San Antonio, ranging from sporting events such as UTSA home football games, San Antonio Spurs home games, the annual Valero Alamo Bowl, and events such as the Monster Jam, Fiesta San Antonio, and The Texas Folklife Festival. Park & Ride Service is usually offered from the Randolph, and Crossroads Park/Rides as well as the Frank Madla Transit Center. The cost for the service is $1.30 one way, $2.60 round trip with discounts for students, children 5-11, seniors 62+, and persons with disabilities.

[edit]

On May 4, 2019, VIA launched a new ride-share service in the Northeast San Antonio area which promised more frequent service reliability as well as more flexible drop off points compared to traditional fixed route service.[18]

This service was later expanded to the Northwest Side in 2021, the South Side in 2022, southeast of Randolph Park & Ride in 2023, and Downtown in 2024 to also include The Little Runner, which shuttles UTSA students between the UTSA Downtown Campus and its surrounding parking lots.[19]

Zone Name Area Date Launched Retired Bus Routes
Naco Pass Zone North of Wurzbach Parkway in Uptown Central, Northeast Lakeview College May 4, 2019[20] 640, 641, 642[20]
Mainland Zone Southeast of Loop 1604 in the Northwest Side and Far West Side October 2, 2021[21] 605, 660
(October 25, 2021)[22]
606
(May 16, 2022)[23]
Madla Zone South of Loop 410 in the South Side August 8, 2022[24] Service to Palo Alto College on Route 524, 672[25]
Randolph Zone West of Walzem Rd. in the Northeast Side, Northeast Lakeview College October 23, 2023[26] 629, 630[27]
Downtown / The Little Runner Zone Centro San Antonio Public Improvement District (PID)[28][29] September 2, 2024[30]

Keep San Antonio Moving

[edit]
The proposed alignment for the Green and Silver ART lines as of August 2, 2024

The public with a 68% vote approved the Keep San Antonio Moving in October 2020.[31]The plan has three primary projects:[32]

  • VIA Advanced Rapid Transit (ART), a bus rapid transit system. The first route, the Green Line, planned to run north-south along San Pedro Avenue between San Antonio International Airport and through Downtown to the Missions area, is planned to start construction in 2025 and planned to be opened for service in 2027. A second route, the Silver Line, planned to run east-west through Downtown between Frost Bank Center and the area near Our Lady of the Lake University to General McMullen Drive, is currently in the design phase and projected to open in late 2029.
  • Better Bus, a service improvement plan that will expand service to areas currently not served by buses, increase service so that all routes run every 30 minutes or less during all hours of service, increase service and operating spans on key bus routes and better integrate the bus network with VIA Link.
  • VIA Link expansion, expanding the aforementioned rideshare service to improve coverage in neighborhoods and suburban cities within VIA's jurisdiction so that over 80% of jobs and the population are within half a mile of transit.

Governance

[edit]

VIA is governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, all of whom have two-year terms.[33]

Ten of the trustees are appointed by the various governmental entities in Bexar County—the City of San Antonio appoints five members, the Bexar County Commissioners Court appoints three, and the mayors of the suburban cities acting in concert appoint two. The appointed trustees then elect a chairperson as the Board's eleventh member.[33] The current President and CEO is Jeffrey C. "Jeff" Arndt.[34]

Current routes

[edit]
Typical VIA bus stop signage

The following is a list of VIA's routes as of the service changes on August 19, 2024.[35] Many routes that travel through Downtown San Antonio or change directions at a major transfer point continue with a different number; this route pair is also indicated.[36]

Radial routes

[edit]

Radial routes are numbered from 1–99, providing service to Downtown and travel along major streets.

The route number also encodes the general direction the bus travels away from downtown:

  • Route 2 travels northbound
  • Route 25 travels eastbound
  • Route 44 travels southbound
  • Route 76 travels westbound
Route Route Name Terminals Major Destination Points Route Pair Service notes
2 Frequent Service
Blanco
Frequent 		Loop 1604 & US 281 ↔ Pecan & St. Mary's
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound) 		34
  • Trips provide an hourly extension to the Loop 1604 & US 281 terminal
Sir Winston & Parliament
3 Frequent Service
San Pedro
Skip 		North Star Transit Center ↔ Centro Plaza 76
4 Frequent Service
San Pedro
Frequent 		North Star Transit Center ↔ St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)

Commerce & Bowie
(northbound)
  • North Star Transit Center
  • Downtown
 28
5 Standard Service
McCullough San Antonio International Airport ↔ St. Mary's & Pecan
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound) 		36
7 Standard Service
US 281 Stone Oak / Brooks
Express 		Stone Oak Park & Ride ↔ Brooks Transit Center
  • Stone Oak Park & Ride
  • San Antonio International Airport San Antonio International Airport
  • Downtown
  • Brooks Transit Center
  • Weekday service only
  • Service to Brooks Transit Center operates during peak hours only
Navarro & Villita
8 Standard Service
North
St. Mary's 		Randolph Park & Ride ↔ St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound) 		67
  • Half of 8 buses do not continue as Route 67 on weekdays
9 Frequent Service
Broadway
Frequent 		Naco Pass ↔ Martin & Navarro
(southbound)

S. Flores & Dolorosa
(northbound)
  • Naco Pass
  • Alamo Heights
  • Downtown
 43
  • Half of 9 buses do not continue as Route 43
  • Trips alternate between traveling along Broadway and Nacogdoches
14 Frequent Service
Perrin Beitel
Skip 		Naco Pass ↔ Martin & Navarro
(southbound)

S. Flores & Dolorosa
(northbound)
  • Naco Pass
  • Alamo Heights
  • University of the Incarnate Word
  • Downtown
 44
  • Half of 14 buses do not continue as Route 44 on weekdays
17 Standard Service
IH-35
Express 		Randolph Blvd. Park & Ride ↔ Commerce & Presa
(westbound)

Centro Plaza
(eastbound)
  • Randolph Park & Ride
  • Centro Plaza
  • Downtown
 93
20 Frequent Service
New Braunfels
Frequent 		Brooks Transit Center ↔ Centro Plaza 26
  • Half of 20 buses do not continue as Route 26
21 Standard Service
Kirby / Converse Randolph Park & Ride ↔ Martin & Navarro
(westbound)

Pecan & Navarro
(eastbound) 		77
  • Final eastbound trip terminates at Foster & FM 78
Foster & FM 78
22 Standard Service
Hays Hines & Dignowity ↔ Martin & Navarro
(westbound)

Navarro & Villita
(eastbound)
  • University Health Robert Hillard Center
  • Downtown
 51
24 Standard Service
East Houston Dietrich Road Apartments ↔ Centro Plaza
25 Frequent Service
East Commerce
Frequent 		Royal View & Way View ↔ Martin & Jefferson
(westbound)

Centro Plaza
(eastbound)
  • Royal View
  • Huntleigh Park
  • Ellis Alley Park & Ride
  • Downtown
  • Centro Plaza
 75
  • Service to Royal View & Way View operates during peak hours only
Houston & Lynhaven
26 Standard Service
Martin Luther King Lone Oak Mall ↔ Centro Plaza
  • Eastwood Village
  • Alamodome
  • Centro Plaza
  • Downtown
 20
28 Frequent Service
Porter
Frequent 		Rigsby & Loop 410 North ↔ Commerce & Bowie
(westbound)

St. Mary's & Martin
(eastbound)
  • Dellcrest
  • Southcross
  • Downtown
 4
  • Trips alternate between traveling along Rice and Southcross
30 Standard Service
Rigsby Sinclair & Vista Lake ↔ Navarro & Villita
(westbound)

St. Mary's & Pecan
(eastbound)
  • Dellcrest
  • Comanche Park
  • Downtown
 90
  • Makes an extended trip to the Foster Road H-E-B Distribution facility during peak hours only
32 Standard Service
Steves Lebanon & Goliad ↔ Navarro & Villita
(westbound)

St. Mary's & Martin
(eastbound)
  • Brookside
  • Brooks Transit Center
  • Highland Hills
  • Texas Department of Human Services
  • Downtown
 96
34 Frequent Service
South St. Mary's
Frequent 		Brooks Transit Center ↔ Navarro & Villita
(northbound)

Pecan & St. Mary's
(southbound)
  • Brooks Transit Center
  • McCreless Marketplace
  • Juvenile Detention Center
  • Downtown
 2
  • Makes an extended trip to the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and/or the Lighthouse for the Blind Annex during peak hours only
36 Standard Service
South Presa Brooks Transit Center ↔ Navarro & Villita
(northbound)

St. Mary's & Pecan
(southbound)
  • Brooks Transit Center
  • New Braunfels State Hospital
  • Downtown
 5
  • Trips alternate between traveling along Hotwells and S. Presa
42 Standard Service
Roosevelt Navistar ↔ Navarro & Villita
(northbound)

Pecan & S. St. Mary's
(southbound)
  • Navistar
  • Villa Coronado
  • TJ Maxx Distribution Center
  • Mission Del Lago
  • Downtown
 88
  • Makes an extended trip to the Navistar Advanced Technology Center and/or TJ Maxx Distribution Center during peak hours only on weekdays
  • Serves the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind on weekdays, and during peak hours on Saturday only
Mission Del Lago
43 Standard Service
South Flores Gillette & Pleasanton ↔ Dolorosa & Flores
(northbound)

Martin & Navarro
(southbound)
  • Kingsborough
  • Bellaire
  • Downtown
 9
44 Standard Service
Pleasanton Moursund & Villaret ↔ Dolorosa & Flores
(northbound)

Martin & Navarro
(southbound)
  • Moursund @ Loop 410
  • Downtown
 14
46 Standard Service
Commercial Commercial & Gillette ↔ Centro Plaza
  • Kingsborough
  • Commercial
  • Centro Plaza
51 Standard Service
Nogalitos Madla Transit Center ↔ Navarro & Villita
(northbound)

Martin & Navarro
(southbound)
  • Madla Transit Center
  • South Park Mall
  • Downtown
 22
62 Standard Service
Kirk Clarence Tinker Dr. & Perrin Rd. ↔ Centro Plaza 89
64 Standard Service
US 90
Express 		Northwest Vista College ↔ Dolorosa & Main
  • Goes to Sea World (Main Entrance) only when the park is open to the public
66 Standard Service
Ceralvo University SW Family Health Center ↔ Centro Plaza
  • University Southwest Family Health Center
  • Downtown
  • Centro Plaza
 68
67 Standard Service
Laredo Las Palmas Shopping Ctr. ↔ Navarro & Villita
(northbound)

St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)
  • Las Palmas Shopping Center
  • Downtown
 8
68 Frequent Service
Guadalupe
Frequent 		University Family Health Center ↔ Centro Plaza
  • University Southwest Family Center
  • Las Palmas Shopping Center
  • Centro Plaza
  • Downtown
 66
  • Half of 68 buses do not continue as Route 66
75 Frequent Service
West Commerce
Frequent 		Univ. SW Family Health Ctr. ↔ Centro Plaza
(eastbound)

Martin & Jefferson
(westbound) 		25
  • Trips alternate between traveling along El Paso and Acme Rd.
76 Frequent Service
West Commerce
Skip 		Kel-Lac Transit Center ↔ Centro Plaza
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Our Lady of the Lake University
  • Downtown
  • Centro Plaza
 3
77 Standard Service
Martin Aurora & Consuelo ↔ Pecan & Navarro
(eastbound)

Martin & Navarro
(westbound)
  • Loma Terrace
  • Downtown
 21
79 Standard Service
Ruiz Ruiz & Gen. McMullen ↔ Pecan & Navarro
(eastbound)

Martin & Navarro
(westbound)
  • Rosedale Park
  • University Downtown Health Center
82 Frequent Service
Culebra
Frequent 		Ingram Transit Center ↔ Pecan & St. Mary's
(southbound)

St. Mary's & Martin
(northbound)
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Ingram Mall
  • Northside Athletic Complex
  • Southwest Research Center
  • St. Mary's University
  • Downtown
 95
88 Frequent Service
Bandera
Frequent 		Bandera & Mainland ↔ Pecan & St. Mary's
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound) 		42
  • Trips alternate between traveling along Bandera Rd. and Evers Rd.
  • Half of 88 buses do not continue as Route 42
89 Standard Service
Poplar Ingram Transit Center ↔ Centro Plaza
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • University Health Robert B. Green Campus
  • Downtown
  • Centro Plaza
 62
90 Standard Service
Woodlawn Ingram Transit Ctr. ↔ St. Mary's & Pecan
(eastbound)

Navarro & Villita
(westbound)
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Ingram Mall
  • St. Mary's University
  • San Antonio College
  • Downtown
 30
93 Standard Service
Roadrunner
Express 		The Rim ↔ Centro Plaza
(eastbound)

Commerce & Presa
(westbound) 		17
95 Frequent Service
Fredericksburg Rd.
Frequent 		Medical Center Transit Center ↔ St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)

Pecan & St. Mary's
(northbound)
  • Medical Center Transit Center
  • Crossroads Park & Ride
  • Deco District
  • Downtown
 82
96 Frequent Service
Vance Jackson
Frequent 		Silicon & DeZavala ↔ St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound)
  • University Heights Business Park
  • Deco District
  • Downtown
 32
  • Half of 96 buses do not continue as Route 32
97 Standard Service
West Ave. The Rim ↔ St. Mary's & Martin
(southbound)

Navarro & Villita
(northbound)
  • The Rim
  • University Heights Business Park
  • Castle Hills
  • Deco District
  • Downtown
  • Trips alternate between The Rim and Silicon & DeZevala terminals
  • Makes an extended trip to Talavera Ridge Rd. during peak hours only
Silicon & DeZevala

Prímo routes

[edit]
Further information: VIA Primo

Prímo routes are high frequency skip-stop routes that operate on heavy ridership corridors. Route 100 features stations along Fredericksburg Road and Medical Drive, while Routes 102 and 103 feature enhanced bus stops with real-time arrival information. The northern portion of Route 103 also uses Fredericksburg Road's stations.

  • Prímo Bus Departing the Northbound Mary Louise Station to The Medical Center T/C
    Prímo Bus Departing the Northbound Mary Louise Station to The Medical Center T/C
  • Mary Louise Southbound Prímo Station to Downtown & Madla T/C
    Mary Louise Southbound Prímo Station to Downtown & Madla T/C
Route Route Name Terminals Major Destination Points Stations Service notes
100 Prímo Service
Fredericksburg Road Medical Center Transit Center ↔ Ellis Alley Park & Ride
  • University Hospital
  • Ewing Halsell
  • Callaghan
  • Crossroads
  • De Chantle
  • Babcock
  • Mary Louise
  • Huisache
  • Operates only at Prímo stations on Fredericksburg Road
  • Skips stops in Downtown
  • Provides courtesy stops at all bus stops between the Babcock Station and Ewing Halsell Station during Lineup Service.
102 Prímo Service
Military Kel-Lac Transit Center ↔ Brooks Transit Center
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Lackland AFB
  • South Park Mall
  • Brooks Transit Center
 No stations
103 Prímo Service
Zarzamora Madla Transit Center ↔ Crossroads Park & Ride
  • De Chantle
  • Babcock
  • Mary Louise
  • Operates only at Prímo stations on Fredericksburg road

Lineup routes

[edit]

Lineup routes are numbered from 200–299.

At 10:30pm, 11:30pm, and 12:30am, all buses that are part of a lineup route will arrive northwest of Travis Park and leave Downtown to provide riders with a final opportunity to arrive at their final destinations.

The last two digits of each route number is inherited from the number of the base route that heads away from Downtown (e.g. Route 275 inherits its route number from Route 75 instead of Route 67, as the bus leaves downtown following Route 75).

Route Route Name Terminals Routes Served Route Description
202 Standard Service
Blanco St. Mary's & Martin ↔ West Ave. & Jackson-Keller
  • 2
  • Travels to Blanco & Jackson-Keller via Route 2 northbound, and briefly follows Route 651 northbound to West Ave. & Jackson-Keller
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Pecan via Route 2 southbound
204 Standard Service
San Pedro / McCullough Martin & Navarro ↔ North Star Transit Center
  • 4
  • 5
  • Travels to North Star Transit Center via Route 4 northbound
  • Travels to Martin & Navarro via Route 5 southbound
209 Standard Service
Broadway / Nacogdoches Pecan & Navarro ↔ Broadway & Loop 410
  • 9
  • Travels to Broadway & Loop 410 via Route 9 northbound on Broadway
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 9 southbound on Nacogdoches
214 Standard Service
Austin Hwy / Randolph Pecan & Navarro ↔ Randolph Park & Ride
  • 14
  • 17
  • Travels to Randolph Park & Ride via Route 14 northbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 17 westbound
222 Standard Service
Hays / E. Houston Pecan & Navarro ↔ Hines & Dignowity
  • 22
  • 24
  • Travels to Hines & Dignowity via Route 22 eastbound, and continues to W.W. White & Springfield on IH-35
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 24 westbound
225 Standard Service
E. Commerce / M.L. King Pecan & Navarro ↔ Houston & Kenmar
  • 25
  • 26
  • Travels to Houston & Kenmar via Route 25 eastbound, and continues to W.W. White & Martin Luther King
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 26 westbound
230 Standard Service
Rigsby / Porter Pecan & Navarro ↔ Rigsby & W.W. White
  • 28
  • 30
  • Travels to Rigsby & W.W. White via Route 30 southbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 28 westbound on Southcross
232 Standard Service
Steves Ave / S. St. Mary's Pecan & Navarro ↔ Goliad & S.E. Military Dr.
  • 32
  • 34
  • Travels to Goliad & S. E. Military Dr. via Route 32 southbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 34 northbound
242 Standard Service
Roosevelt / S. Presa Pecan & Navarro ↔ Brooks Transit Center
  • 36
  • 42
  • Travels to Brooks Transit Center via Route 42 southbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 36 northbound on Hotwells
243 Standard Service
S. Flores / Pleasanton Pecan & Navarro ↔ Gillette & Pleasanton
  • 43
  • 44
  • Travels to Gillette & Pleasanton via Route 43 southbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 44 northbound
246 Standard Service
Commercial Pecan & Navarro ↔ Madla Transit Center
  • 46
  • Travels to Commercial & Gillette via Route 46 southbound, and continues west to Madla Transit Center
  • Travels to Downtown on IH-35 northbound, and follows Route 64 to Pecan & Navarro
251 Standard Service
Nogalitos / Kirk Pecan & Navarro ↔ Barlite & S.W. Military Dr.
  • 51
  • 62
  • Travels to Barlite & S.W. Military Dr. via Route 51 southbound
  • Briefly follows Route 524 northbound, and continues on Cupples Rd. until Kirk Place. Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 62 northbound
268 Standard Service
Guadalupe St. / Ceralvo St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Castroville & S.W. 36th
  • 66
  • 68
  • Travels to Castroville & S.W. 36th via Route 68 westbound
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 66 eastbound, and follows Route 17 eastbound within Downtown
275 Standard Service
Commerce / Laredo St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Las Palmas Shopping Ctr.
  • 67
  • 75
  • Travels to Acme Rd & Old Highway 90 via Route 75 westbound, and continues eastbound via Eldridge Ave. Briefly follows Route 75 eastbound until El Paso & Gen. McMullen, and travels southbound on General McMullen until arriving at Las Palmas Shopping Ctr.
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 67 northbound
276 Standard Service
Commerce / Kel-Lac Transit Ctr. St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • 64
  • 76
  • Travels to Kel-Lac Transit Center via Route 76 westbound
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 64 eastbound
277 Standard Service
Martin / Ruiz St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Ruiz & Gen. McMullen
  • 77
  • 79
  • Travels to Ruiz & Gen. McMullen via Route 77 westbound
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 79 eastbound
282 Standard Service
Culebra St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Ingram Transit Center
  • 82
  • Travels to Ingram Transit Center via Route 82 northbound
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 82 southbound
288 Standard Service
Bandera / Evers Rd. St. Mary's & Martin ↔ Loop 410 & Bandera
  • 88
  • Travels to Loop 410 & Bandera via Route 88 northbound
  • Travels to St. Mary's & Martin via Route 88 southbound
289 Standard Service
Poplar / Woodlawn Pecan & Navarro ↔ Ingram Rd. & Callaghan
  • 89
  • 90
  • Travels to Ingram Rd. & Callaghan via Route 89 northbound
  • Travels to Pecan & Navarro via Route 90 eastbound
296 Standard Service
Vance Jackson / West Ave. Martin & Navarro ↔ Jackson-Keller & West Ave.
  • 96
  • 97
  • Travels to Jackson-Keller & West Ave. via Route 96 northbound
  • Travels to Martin & Navarro via Route 97 southbound

Crosstown routes

[edit]

Crosstown routes are numbered from 500–599, providing service on major travel corridors that are outside of Downtown.

Route Route Name Terminals Major Destination Points Route Pair Service notes
501 Standard Service
UTSA / Leon Valley UTSA ↔ Poss & Bandera
502 Standard Service
Thousand Oaks Randolph Blvd. Park & Ride ↔ North Star Transit Center 602
503 Standard Service
Huebner Crosstown Medical Center Transit Center ↔ Stone Oak Park & Ride
  • South Texas Medical Center Transit Center
  • Stone Oak
  • Stone Oak Park & Ride
505 Standard Service
Basse Randolph Blvd. Park & Ride ↔ Crossroads Park & Ride
  • Randolph Park & Ride
  • Crossroads Park & Ride
509 Standard Service
Hildebrand Crossroads Park & Ride ↔ Randolph Park & Ride
  • Randolph Park & Ride
  • Alamo Heights
  • Deco District
  • Crossroads Park & Ride
  • No Sunday service
515 Standard Service
Southcross Bynum & Military ↔ New Sulphur Springs & Southcross Ranch
  • Southcross Ranch
  • McCreless Marketplace
  • South San
522 Standard Service
Babcock Laureate & Clark ↔ Las Palmas Shopping Ctr.
  • Woodway Park
  • Medical Center Transit Center
  • Las Palmas Shopping Center
524 Frequent Service
General McMullen
Frequent 		Briggs & Somerset ↔ Crossroads Park & Ride
534 Frequent Service
Wurzbach
Frequent 		Ingram Transit Center ↔ North Star Transit Center
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Ingram Park Mall
  • Medical Center Transit Center
  • North Star Transit Center
552 Frequent Service
Loop 410 / W.W. White
Skip 		Kel-Lac Transit Center ↔ Brooks Transit Center
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Crossroads Park & Ride
  • North Star Transit Center
  • Randolph Park & Ride
  • Brooks Transit Center

Circulator routes

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Circulator routes are numbered from 600–699, providing local service within residential areas and allowing transfers to other lines at transit centers.

The route number also encodes the general area that the route serves:

  • Routes 602 and 647–651 serve the area surrounding the North Star Transit Center
  • Routes 603 and 604 serve the area north of the South Texas Medical Center
  • Routes 607–610 serve the area between the Medical Center and Ingram Transit Center
  • Routes 611–620 serve the area surrounding Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Route 632 serves the area southeast of Randolph Park & Ride
Route Route Name Terminals Major Destination Points Route Pair Service notes
602 Standard Service
North Star / Medical Center North Star Transit Center ↔ Medical Center Transit Center
  • North Star Transit Center
  • Castle Hills
  • Medical Center Transit Center
 502
603 Standard Service
Medical Center / UTSA UTSA ↔ Medical Ctr. Transit Ctr.
  • UTSA
  • University Business Park
  • Medical Center Transit Center
 604
604 Standard Service
Medical Center / University Heights Silicon & DeZavala ↔ Medical Center Transit Center
  • University Heights Business Park
  • Medical Center Transit Center
 603
607 Standard Service
Medical Center / Ingram Ingram Transit Center ↔ Medical Center Transit Center
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Medical Center Transit Center
 618
609 Standard Service
Ingram / Mainland
South Texas Medical Center 		Medical Center Transit Center ↔ Ingram Transit Center
  • Ingram Transit Center
  • Mainland
  • Medical Center Transit Center
 610
610 Standard Service
Ingram / Northwest Crossing Cliffbrier & Culebra ↔ Ingram Transit Center
  • Northwest Crossing
  • Ingram Transit Center
 609
611 Standard Service
Valley-Hi / Kel-Lac Lake Vista ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Valley Hi
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 615
  • Northbound buses travel on Morning Valley
  • Southbound buses travel on Juno Landing
612 Standard Service
Kel-Lac / Westlakes Horal & Marbach ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Westlakes
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 614
613 Standard Service
Heritage NW / Kel-Lac Fillmore & Potranco ↔

Kel-Lac Transit Center

  • Heritage Northwest
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 619
614 Standard Service
Hidden Cove / Kel-Lac Port Victoria & Trading Post ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Hidden Cove
  • Pearsall Park
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 612
615 Standard Service
Kel-Lac / Heritage Park Raven Field & Pue Rd. ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Heritage Park
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 611
616 Standard Service
Sky Harbor / Kel-Lac Old Sky Harbour & Clipper ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Sky Harbor
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Trader's Village
 617
  • Buses travel to Trader's Village during midday on weekends only
617 Standard Service
Kel-Lac / Rainbow Hills Tarasco & Horal ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Rainbow Hills
  • Westlakes
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 616
618 Standard Service
Ingram / Westlakes Horal & Marbach ↔ Ingram Transit Center
  • Westlakes
  • Ingram Transit Center
 607
619 Standard Service
Kel-Lac / Indian Creek Creek Bend & Sweet Maiden ↔ Kel-Lac Transit Center
  • Indian Creek
  • Kel-Lac Transit Center
 613
620 Standard Service
Northwest Vista College / Ingram Northwest Vista College ↔ Ingram Transit Center
632 Standard Service
Randolph / Ventura Randolph Blvd. Park & Ride ↔ FM 78 & Crestway
  • Ventura
  • Randolph Park & Ride
647 Standard Service
North Star / Harry Wurzbach Harry Wurzbach & Terrel ↔ North Star Transit Center 648
648 Standard Service
North Star / Stone Oak North Central Baptist Hospital ↔ North Star Transit Center
  • North Star Transit Center
  • Arion Business Park
  • North Central Baptist Hospital
 647
651 Standard Service
Deco District / Castle Hills West Ave. & Jackson-Keller ↔ West Ave. & Hildebrand

Bus fleet

[edit]

Active fleet

[edit]
Year Manufacturer Model Length (ft.) Fuel Propulsion Fleet Series Notes
2022 Gillig Low Floor EV 40 Battery Electric 118-125 Replaced the propane trolleys downtown

Currently being tested on routes 2/34, 14/44, and 25/75

2022 Gillig Low Floor LFW 40 CNG 758-785 First Gillig buses for VIA

First buses in the fleet to include USB charging ports underneath the seats Order of 29 out of 113 buses Currently on delivery

2010 NABI LFW 40 CNG 947-950 First CNG buses in the fleet, all are used exclusively on Prímo routes.
2012–13 NABI 60-BRT 60 CNG 951-969 Used exclusively on the Prímo routes, they are mainly assigned to Route 100, and are occasionally used on Routes 102.
2016 NFI XN40 40 CNG 406-420 Previously used exclusively on VIA's now defunct VIVA service. 419 & 420 are now painted in the Prímo livery and used exclusively on the Prímo routes, while 406-418 have been repainted to match VIA's current livery and are used on all routes.
2016–2020 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas 40 CNG 421-757

801-806 970-989

Used on all routes, 970-989 are used exclusively on Prímo routes.

Historical fleet

[edit]
Year Manufacturer Model Length (ft.) Fuel Propulsion Fleet Series Notes
1999–01 NABI LFW 40 Diesel 730-946 Retired from service in 2017-2018.
2000 Champion Solo 30 Propane 663-729 Retired from service in 2008.
2003, 2004–05, 2006, 2008 New Flyer D40LF 40 Diesel 200-375 Earlier model years retired from service in 2017, remaining fleet retired from service in 2022.
2012 Proterra BE35 EcoRide 35 Electric 115-117 Retired from service in 2022.
2005 Optima Trolley Replica 30 Propane 96-114 Retired from service in 2021.
2010 New Flyer DE40LFR 40 Diesel-Hybrid 376-405 Retired from service in 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "About VIA". VIA Metropolitan Transit. n.d. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "VIA Primo". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  5. ^ Davila, Vianna (November 4, 2013). "VIA bus service changes start Monday". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "Fredericksburg BRT Route". VIA Metropolitan Transit Destination 2012. VIA Metropolitan Transit. n.d. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "COVID-19". VIA Metropolitan Transit. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  8. ^ Ibañez, David (March 20, 2020). "VIA suspends fares through April 1; riders rejoice". KSAT.com. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "VIA Service Changes Start Monday, April 6 – Here's What Riders Can Expect". VIA Metropolitan Transit. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  10. ^ "VIA Rolls Out "Essential Service" Schedule Monday, April 27". VIA Metropolitan Transit. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  11. ^ "VIA Will Resume Fare Collection June 1". VIA Metropolitan Transit. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  12. ^ "Park and Ride | Events". VIA Metropolitan Transit. n.d. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  13. ^ "New fares in effect January 1". VIA Metropolitan Transit. December 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  14. ^ "Fares & Passes". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. ^ "Fares". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Reduced Fares". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ride VIA with your new U-PASS". VIA Metropolitan Transit. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  18. ^ "VIA Link". viainfo.net. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  19. ^ "VIA Link Downtown" (PDF). viainfo.net. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Keep SA Moving: VIA Link Now Open in Northwest San Antonio". viainfo.net. October 1, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Service Changes Now In Effect as of October 25". viainfo.net. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "May 16, 2022 Service Changes". viainfo.net. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ "VIA Service Changes Scheduled for August 22". viainfo.net. August 17, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Bus Service Replaced with VIA Link South Beginning Oct. 24, 2022". viainfo.net. October 18, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "VIA Link". viainfo.net. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "Service Changes Effective January 8, 2024". www.viainfo.net. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "The Little Runner". Centro. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  28. ^ "The Little Runner". www.utsa.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  29. ^ "VIA Link Reaches Milestone and Expands Service". viainfo.net. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "San Antonio voters say yes to ATD Proposition A, yes to VIA's Keep SA Moving Plan". Mass Transit Mag. November 4, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "VIA Keep San Antonio Moving | Projects |". Keep SA Moving. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  32. ^ a b "Board of Trustees". VIA Metropolitan Transit. n.d. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  33. ^ "Executive Leadership Team". VIA Metropolitan Transit. n.d. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  34. ^ "Service Changes Effective August 19, 2024". viainfo.net. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  35. ^ "System Map" (PDF). VIA Metropolitan Transit. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
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