SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 12, 2017)—VIA Metropolitan Transit and Artpace announced Thursday that VIA is the Official Transportation Partner for this year’s Chalk It Up event and will provide fare-free service on all its VIVA routes on Saturday, October 14, to support the festival.

“VIA and Artpace have created an opportunity for artists and patrons to connect as a community though public transportation and public art,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “We are proud to support Chalk It Up as part of our commitment to enhance the quality of life in our region by including local artists and art displays in the customer experience.”

VIA’s VIVA routes are fare-free every Saturday in October to encourage the community to try transit when planning outings to festivals and events in the city center. Public transit options alleviate traffic, reduce emissions, and are a convenient alternative to limited availability for parking Downtown. Chalk It Up transforms Houston Street into a colorful mosaic of street and sidewalk chalk art between Soledad Street and the San Antonio River on Houston Street. Other activities include public murals, featured and emerging artists, food trucks, and live music.

“Both Artpace Chalk It Up and VIA help make meaningful connections to our community,” said Artpace Executive Director Veronique Le Melle. “Thanks to the generosity of partners like VIA, we can continue to connect our community and youth to the world of creativity and innovation. This event helps fund renowned educational and community programs – and reinforces San Antonians’ freedom to dream.”

For more information on the VIA VIVA routes, visit VIAinfo.net/VIVA. A complete list of routes serving the downtown area is available. Plan your trip using VIA’s new goMobile app, or visit the trip planning page.

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About VIA Metropolitan Transit
VIA provides regional multimodal transportation options that connect our community to opportunity, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout our region. VIA, recognized by the Texas Transit Association in 2016 as the outstanding Metro Transit Authority of the year, serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 90 routes. Last year, VIA provided 40 million rides across the region. VIA’s AAA bond rating reflects the organization’s sound management and financial practices. Visit VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Artpace Chalk It Up
Artpace Chalk It Up is one of Artpace’s largest fundraisers of the year. Support from Artpace Chalk It Up makes possible education initiatives like the Artpace Teen Leadership Council, a nine-month, paid program designed for San Antonio-area high school students to become advocates for contemporary art and young leaders in their community.

CONTACT: Lorraine Pulido, Ph.D.
c 210-380-6895