VIA launches ‘Heart of San Antonio’ campaign at Community Celebration

SAN ANTONIO (July 13, 2017) — Set against the iconic Alamo, where VIA Metropolitan Transit’s VIVA service routes converge, the transit agency kicked off a new VIVA travel season and celebrated a successful first year on Thursday with reflection and a lively Community Celebration.

The three VIVA routes, VIVA culture (11), VIVA missions (40), and VIVA centro (301) debuted in June 2016 and provided more than 360,500 passenger trips during the first year of service. Just in time for summer and San Antonio’s upcoming Tricentennial Celebration, VIA announced a new campaign to encourage residents and visitors to “Let’s VIVA! Explore the Heart of San Antonio.”

“VIVA is a young tradition but one that has already changed the way thousands of people experience San Antonio,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “With VIVA, we have a new and vital connection to the people, places, and experiences that make our city and region the true heart of Texas.”

Arndt was joined at the podium by City of San Antonio Councilman Roberto Treviño, whose District 1 includes the Downtown area, and Richard Oliver, Visit San Antonio’s Director of Partner and Community Relations. Visit San Antonio is one of many VIA VIVA partners who offer support for the routes and collaborate to promote the service. Centro San Antonio, the San Antonio Tricentennial Commission, and the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office also participated in Thursday’s celebration.

More than 34 million visitors arrive in San Antonio each year, making hospitality and tourism a major industry in the region that employs over 130,000 people and attracts thousands of local visitors to the city center daily. VIVA connects employees, residents, and visitors in the area with hotels and restaurants, museums, parks, theaters, the zoo, San Antonio Missions World Heritage sites, and various Downtown locations. VIVA runs seven days a week, with extended hours and frequent service. Regular and reduced fares apply. The best value is an unlimited VIA Day Pass for $2.75. Customers can purchase tickets and plan trips with the new VIA goMobile app. The free app is available on Apple and Android smartphones. Visit VIAinfo.net/VIVA for complete schedule information and locations served by VIVA.

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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 www.VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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