SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 10, 2016) – The VIA Metropolitan Transit family is growing. “Prímo” and “Safety Sofie,” two new VIA mascots, debuted Saturday during a community event on Centro Plaza at VIA Villa. Their arrival was announced during a birthday-themed celebration that was open to the public and marked the first successful year of service at the Plaza, VIA’s state-of-the-art transit hub that opened in November of 2015.
The VIA family additions were welcomed by familiar faces from the area’s mascot community, including H-E-Buddy, Bexar County Bibliotech’s Techolote, LeeRoy the Trinity Tiger, San Antonio College’s Gnome Ranger, and many others. Prímo and Safety Sofie join “Buster the Bus” in representing the region’s public transportation provider at schools, community events, and celebrations.
Buster, VIA’s premier mascot, debuted in 1981 and became a beloved symbol in San Antonio and Bexar County, visiting with thousands throughout his decades of service to promote the benefits and ease of using public transportation. With his cousin Prímo and their friend Safety Sofie on the job, Buster now has help with this important work.
“There is renewed excitement for VIA’s mascot program with the arrival of Prímo and Safety Sofie, who are ready to get out in the community and continue the good work that Buster pioneered,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “VIA mascots are a beloved tradition and an important part of our continued efforts to champion public transportation in our growing region.”
VIA mascots are available for public appearances, including school visits, community events, special functions, and other neighborly gatherings to share information about riding VIA and build awareness of public transportation programs and services. For more information, visit VIAinfo.net or call (210) 362-2389.
VIA Metropolitan Transit provides regional multimodal transportation options that connect our community to opportunity, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout our region. VIA serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 90 routes. In 2015, VIA provided 42.2 million rides across the region. 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.