SAN ANTONIO (August 23, 2016) – The VIA Metropolitan Transit Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved the VIA Vision 2040 Long Range Plan, a blueprint for the future of public transportation in the region.

With the benefit of 18 months of community input and guidance, the plan outlines the community’s vision for transit development and underscores the importance of the region becoming multimodal to remain economically competitive as we prepare to receive an additional 1.6 million residents in the area by the year 2040.

“Shifting the focus from moving cars to moving people becomes increasingly important as the region expects to add population equivalent to the size of Austin over the next two decades. This plan provides a path forward to meet the needs of our growing region, including a better bus system, rapid transit network, and innovative solutions,” VIA President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “We thank the VIA Board of Trustees and residents and businesses across the region for their guidance and support throughout this community-driven process that supports a larger transportation vision, creates community connections, and provides access to opportunity.”

The Vision 2040 strategic plan reflects the community’s priorities and is based upon input received from 275 public meetings and events, and more than 10,000 survey responses and 6,300 individual comments. An ongoing community conversation with VIA customers, stakeholders, and residents of San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding communities helped shape the plan that calls for adaptive solutions today to meet tomorrow’s transportation needs.

VIA will continue collaborating with regional partners and stakeholders to implement the community’s vision and advance multimodal transit options for the region. The agency encourages community members, businesses and transit patrons to remain engaged and involved as this important community conversation continues. Learn more about the Vision 2040 Long Range Plan at VIAVision2040.com.

VIA Metropolitan Transit serves 14 member cities in the Greater San Antonio Region and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County. VIA operates seven days a week on 91 routes and provided more than 42 million rides across the region in 2015. VIA’s mission is to enhance the community’s quality of life by providing regional and customer-oriented public transportation that is dependable, cost-effective and enticing to more riders. VIA’s AAA bond rating reflects the organization’s sound management and financial practices. Visit www.VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on www.Facebook.com/VIATransit, www.Twitter.com/VIA_Transit, and www.Instagram.com/VIATransit.