Welcome to the VIA blog. Check back here from time to time on issues that pop up
regarding VIA. If you have any questions about VIA or want to get more information
on any subject, please feel free to send us an
e-mail. Comments received by individuals are welcomed, but will not be posted online and may not receive a reply.
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4/30/2008
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VIA Personal Trip Planner Errors
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VIA has been experiencing some technical issues with our Personal Trip Planner, occasionally resulting in an illegible error message being displayed to the end users.
We are currently working with
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4/22/2008
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Fiesta park and ride drop-off locations
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A lot of people are planning to use VIA's special event park and ride service to get to Fiesta activities, and several of them have called in to find out where they will get dropped off downtown. Below
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4/22/2008
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Editorial urges bus riding
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The San Antonio Express-News published an editorial today (" Riding bus helps many cope with cost of gas ") that calls attention to the importance of transit in the county's overall transportation
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4/21/2008
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Yet more Fiesta detours
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Beginning tomorrow, April 22 and running through Friday, April 25, Alamo Street between Market Street and Durango Boulevard will be closed. As such, more detours will happen.
Route 7 Sightseer Special
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4/21/2008
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Detour for route 534
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Construction on Wurzbach Road will take place on Thursday, April 24, and route 534 will be detoured while it is going on.
Repairs to a railroad crossing will shut down Wurzbach between Vance Jackson
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4/15/2008
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More Fiesta detours
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As preparations continue for the Fiesta parades, a few VIA routes will be on more detours.
Due to the construction of the spectator bleachers on Alamo Plaza, the contraflow lane for transit will be
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4/10/2008
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Time for Fiesta bus service
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It's that time of year!
Fiesta is upon us once again, and with the annual festival comes special event park and ride service and detours for parades. It's a busy time for the entire city, and VIA does
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4/7/2008
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Long-term detour in effect for route 21
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Due to major construction on the railroad underpass at Binz-Engleman and FM 78, route 21 Kirby/Converse will be detoured beginning today, April 7. This is a large construction project, so the detour will
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4/2/2008
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The Big Dance prompts detours
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If you are going to attend some of the Big Dance festivities associated with the NCAA Men's Final Four, you should have no problem finding them on Alamo Street just south of Market Street. But, if you
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3/31/2008
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Take VIA to the Final Four
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If you are headed downtown for some college hoops action, don't forget that VIA can take you to the Men's Final Four Weekend.
You can get all the details of the special event park and ride service
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3/26/2008
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Looking for information on the transportation forum?
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If you are looking for information on the Transportation Choices Forum on Friday, March 28 (this event is sponsored by Bexar County and the American Institute of Architects), you need to go to the
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3/26/2008
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Watch out for detours this weekend
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Two events are going on this Saturday, March 29 that will affect bus service in the downtown area. One is the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, and the other is the Cesar Chavez March for Justice
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3/25/2008
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MPO survey underway
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Beginning today, March 25, and continuing through the 28th, two teams of survey-takers will be at the Kel-Lac and Ingram transit centers to gather information from riders for the San Antonio-Bexar County
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3/18/2008
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Pssst. Want to know another secret?
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If high gas prices are making you think about riding the bus instead of driving alone, consider this: your transit trips could also help reduce air pollution.
According to the American Public Transportation
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3/13/2008
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Pssst. Want to know a secret?
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Wow! $3.15 for a gallon of gas and rising. Who likes paying that? Not our bus riders. They know the secret to saving while everyone else is spending.
The rising gas prices are
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3/11/2008
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New 30th Anniversary Videos
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We have added information on our website regarding VIA's 30th anniversary celebration . Just this morning we included on the site a couple of new videos. One is a new television commercial featuring
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3/11/2008
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Becoming a regular rider
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The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas—also known as Houston METRO—tells the story of a 13-year-old rider on its blog, Write On Metro. Barrett Ochoa of Lufkin has been riding METRO
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3/11/2008
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Parade prompts detours
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The Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas will hold its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15 beginning at 11:00 a.m. The parade will travel down Alamo Street, and detours will be in effect
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3/10/2008
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Birthday parties start 30th Anniversary celebrations
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As part of its 30th Anniversary celebration, VIA Metropolitan Transit hosted birthday parties at various transit facilities to show appreciation for the agency’s riders.
On March 6 and 7, VIA offered
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3/7/2008
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Bus stop change for route 603
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A bus stop change has been implemented for route 603 Medical Center/UTSA.
Stop number 43433 on Gus Eckert (mid-block) has been closed, and new stop number 43443 has been added on Gus Eckert in front
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3/5/2008
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Latest service changes listed online
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Another round of service changes went into effect Monday, March 3, and some riders have been asking where they can see a list of these changes. This list was published to the media February 12, and it
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3/3/2008
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Bus stop changes
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Several bus stop changes have been made to routes throughout the system with most of them being additional stops. Here is a breakdown by route number:
14 Perrin Beitel - Bus stop 59557 on Austin
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2/28/2008
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Route added to existing stop
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Another route has been added to the existing bus stop on South Frio Street at Durango Boulevard.
In addition to route 68 Guadalupe Frequent , the inbound trips of route 93 IH-10 Crossroads/UTSA Express
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2/26/2008
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The benefits of trees
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With the announcement that 110 more trees will be placed at VIA bus stops , it bears pointing out that VIA has planted literally hundreds of trees since 1999. These trees help provide shade for bus riders
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2/21/2008
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Satisfaction survey under way
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VIA is conducting a satisfaction survey at its busiest bus stops beginning today, February 21. These surveys will be distributed directly to riders, and it will continue through most of March.
If you
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2/19/2008
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Bus stop change at Blanco Road and Loop 410
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A temporary bus stop was placed on the access road of Loop 410 (outside the loop) just past Blanco Road to serve route 551, the counterclockwise rotation of the Looper. This stop has been closed. The
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2/8/2008
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New bus stop on route 641
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A new bus stop (#53847) has been set up on route 641. This new stop is now open, and it is on O'Connor Road on the northbound, Knoll Creek branch of the route.
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2/5/2008
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Lost and found
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Think you left something on a VIA bus? Want to find out if it was turned in?
Call 362-2006.
Items that are turned in by VIA employees or security personnel are kept in the Lost and Found office
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1/29/2008
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Property in Medical Center eyed for transit facility
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At a press conference January 29, San Antonio City Councilwoman Diane Cibrian joined Heriberto "Eddie" Herrera, chair of the VIA Board of Trustees, in announcing plans for a new transit center in the
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1/22/2008
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VIA staff ready to come to your neighborhood
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Would you and your neighbors like to get more information about what VIA is doing in your area? You can get that and more just by calling and setting up a presentation.
There are many changes in store
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1/10/2008
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30 years of VIA
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In March 1978, VIA Metropolitan Transit took over transit system assets from the City of San Antonio and began operations. This year, VIA will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and riders can expect to
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12/28/2007
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Downtown celebration prompts detours
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Thousands of people are expected to be at the city's New Year's Eve Celebration, and several VIA bus routes will be detoured in the downtown area to accomodate the festivities. These
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12/26/2007
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Alamo Bowl prompts detours
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On Saturday, December 29, the Alamo Bowl will be held downtown, and some of VIA's bus routes will be detoured in the vicinity of the Alamodome beginning at 3:15 p.m. To find out if any of these detours
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12/21/2007
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Holiday schedules
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This is just to remind you that VIA buses will be on holiday schedules for Christmas. The buses will run on a "Saturday" schedule for Monday and a "Sunday" schedule for Tuesday. Look over the news release
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12/19/2007
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Windcrest reminder
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Just to remind riders, VIA Metropolitan Transit will no longer provide bus or VIAtrans service to the areas annexed by Windcrest between Walzem Road and Eisenhauer Road as of January 1, 2008. If
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12/14/2007
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Calling all long-time riders
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On March 6, 2008, VIA Metropolitan Transit will celebrate 30 years of providing public transportation to the San Antonio area. The celebration will last all year as VIA marks the occasion with special
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12/13/2007
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Non-standard park-and-ride locations
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In the midst of the holiday season, college football comes to San Antonio in the form of the Alamo Bowl. This year's game will showcase the Texas A&M Aggies and the Penn State Nittany Lions, and it will
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12/6/2007
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Rider Reader for Winter 2008
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The new Rider Reader is out. In this issue, learn how to use the bicycle racks on VIA's buses, and find out information on the Class Pass program and the Classroom On Wheels.
Look for the Winter Rider
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11/29/2007
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Windcrest covered by E-N
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Pat Driscoll of the Express-News covers the issue of the Windcrest annexation and the effect it is having on bus and paratransit service in the area. ( Link to article here .)
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11/27/2007
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VIA's service area
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A rider alert issued November 26 called attention to the fact that some changes are coming to VIA services along IH-35 between Walzem and Eisenhauer roads . These changes are necessary because the City
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11/21/2007
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Holiday schedules in effect
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Don't forget, VIA buses will be running on holiday schedules for the Thanksgiving holiday. Read the press release to get all the details.
Stephen "Andy" Scheidt, Public Information Coordinator
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11/8/2007
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Marathon prompts detours
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On Sunday, November 11, the 33rd Annual Marathon will go through downtown San Antonio, and most bus routes that run through the area will be detoured.
The marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m. and is scheduled
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11/8/2007
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More options now available for sharing the ride
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Many people are already taking advantage of VIA's vanpool service, and now VIA has teamed up with other agencies to offer greater flexibility in sharing the ride to work.
River Cities Rideshare is
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10/31/2007
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Veterans Day Parade detours; plus, no holiday schedule
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On Saturday, November 10, the Veterans Day Parade will make its way down Commerce Street beginning at 1:00 p.m. During this time, VIA buses that travel down that street will be on detours, and a temporary
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10/19/2007
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VIA transit police on duty
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Late in the evening of October 18, two people were racing down San Pedro Avenue toward downtown, and a VIA Metropolitan Transit police officer was driving the other way on the street. He turned around
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10/12/2007
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Talking commuter rail, BRT
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Would you like to know more about the proposed commuter rail line that would connect San Antonio to Austin? You can log on to the official Web site of the Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District for more
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10/10/2007
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Helping clear the air in San Antonio
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The October edition of Scene in S.A. Monthly magazine includes an article by Randy Lankford that takes a look at how environmentally conscious San Antonio is. Lankford looks at efforts to help keep
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9/26/2007
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UPDATED: Construction prompts detours
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UPDATED: The detours have been postponed until Tuesday, October 2.
More detours are coming downtown, this time because of the Main Plaza construction.
Beginning September 27 October 2, Market
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9/26/2007
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Riding the bus can greatly reduce emissions
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The American Public Transportation Association, or APTA, released a study today ( news release here ) that says riding transit can be the most significant step a commuter can take to reduce greenhouse
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9/19/2007
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Jazz festival prompts detours
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Jazz'SAlive is going on in Travis Park this weekend, September 22 and 23 . Artists lined up for the jazz festival include Arturo Sandoval, Jane Monheit, Chuck Mangione, The Rippingtons, and many other
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9/19/2007
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Transit and the Urban Mobility Report
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The Express-News published an article on the 2007 Urban Mobility Report and what it means for the San Antonio region. The article , written by Patrick Driscoll, draws attention to the fact that traffic
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9/10/2007
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Routes 4 and 534 detours
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Beginning Tuesday, September 11, routes 4 and 534 will be on detours near North Star Mall.
Currently, both routes travel down West Rampart before turning onto McCullough Avenue and reaching the end
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9/4/2007
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Holiday schedules revisited
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A question came in regarding VIA's Labor Day schedule, and the rider wanted to know when bus service ended on the holiday. Basically, since VIA was on a Sunday schedule for Labor Day, the service ended
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8/31/2007
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Animals on the bus
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A rider recently asked for clarification on VIA's policy regarding animals on buses. Officially, VIA does not allow animals on buses unless they are service animals for people with disabilities or they
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8/23/2007
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Riding the bus with your bicycle
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The bicycle racks on the fronts of VIA buses have been popular ever since they were first installed in 2001. The racks give riders new links to more destinations, whether they are going to work, the store,
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8/16/2007
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Getting around with a Semester Pass
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In its Back to School 2007 special insert today, the Express-News ran an article that showed how fuel costs are affecting how college students get to school. The article ( first published July 2, 2007
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8/14/2007
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Riding the bus can help with air quality
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During San Antonio's hot summer days, the build-up of ozone near the ground can negatively affect our air quality. The Alamo Area Council of Governments does what it can to warn citizens when conditions
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8/8/2007
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VIA employees help students get supplies
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Students across the city are getting ready to go back to school, and some VIA employees took a little time recently to help needy children get the supplies they need.
On August 8, about 20 VIA workers
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8/2/2007
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Shelter, bench placement a matter of points
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A bus rider asked how he could go about requesting a shelter at a particular bus stop, and we told him that all he needed to do was ask for it and the process of evaluation would begin.
Once a request
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7/24/2007
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A little about the MPO
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In the Express-News today, there was an article about the election of San Antonio City Councilwoman Sheila McNeil as the new chair of the Transportation Policy Board for the San Antonio-Bexar County
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7/20/2007
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Still driving, after all these years
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In case you missed it, the Express-News ran an article by Patrick Driscoll about a VIA bus operator that has been on the job for 54 years. That’s longer than VIA has been in existence. The article
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7/16/2007
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Service planners get exposure in the paper
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On Sunday, July 15, the San Antonio Express-News published an informative article on VIA’s transportation service planners, the people who plot and plan new bus routes and changes to VIA’s existing
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7/9/2007
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Stay safe when you ride the bus
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When you ride the bus you can feel assured that you will not face some of the hazards that automobile drivers deal with all the time. However, you can make sure your ride is the safest possible by following
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6/27/2007
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3 million miles the safe way
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The VIA Board of Trustees recently honored the latest inductees into the One Million Mile Club and the Two Million Mile Club, recognizing these bus and van operators for their exceptional driving records.
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6/7/2007
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Finding service changes details online
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A user of VIA's Web site sent an e-mail saying that details to service changes were difficult to find online. One of the tools VIA uses to communicate details of bus route changes (in addition to bus
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6/7/2007
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Spanish How to Ride video now available
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V IA has added a Spanish version of the How to Ride page and video to the website. The link to this page is located with the How to Ride link in the bus service section ., and it can also be found
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6/5/2007
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Living downtown, riding the bus
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In the recent Newcomers edition of San Antonio Magazine , a section is devoted to the positive aspects of certain neighborhoods in the San Antonio area as told by actual residents of those locales.
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5/29/2007
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How much can you save by riding VIA?
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Do you know how much you can save by riding the bus instead of driving your car? VIA has an online calculator that can estimate your cost savings based on the car you drive, how much you pay for gas and
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