VIA’s latest Smart Transit Hub provides frequent service in Southeast area

VIA Metropolitan Transit celebrated the Grand Opening and Dedication of its latest Smart Transit Hub on Saturday, September 14. The new Brooks Transit Center opened for service on August 26 with new Prímo and Express routes that expand convenient, high-frequency service to one of the fastest-growing communities in the region. The Prímo 102 is part of VIA’s ongoing investment in more frequent and reliable service and the Better Bus System envisioned in its VIA Reimagined Plan.

“The rapid and dynamic growth happening at Brooks is driving growth in our region, and VIA is proud to be a part of that,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “The new Brooks Transit Center will provide convenient smart transit options and comfortable amenities for riders in the area, and the connections it provides to local bus routes, Express Service, and the new Prímo on Military Drive will promote even more development at Brooks.”

The community celebration included a dedication of the facility and the new art-in-transit installation by San Antonio artist Diana Kersey, and it marked the official partnership announcement between VIA and IKE Smart City kiosks. The program included a ceremonial ribbon cutting and release of more than 200 butterflies, inspired by Brooks Greenline Park and representing the ongoing transformation of the Brooks area and VIA.

“Transportation is a priority for us as we continue to attract new businesses and residents to the area,” said Leo Gomez, Brooks President/CEO. “The new VIA Brooks Transit Center establishes a transportation hub for the Southside, improving connectivity to and from our campus for all of our San Antonio community.”

Prímo 102 connects the Kel-Lac Transit Center along Military Drive to the new VIA Brooks Transit Center, a Smart Transit Hub with real-time, next-bus information, digital planning kiosks, ticket vending machines, free Wi-Fi, a full-service information center, free parking, electric-car charging stations, solar panels, environmentally-friendly landscaping, phone-charging ports, an IKE Smart City kiosk, public art, and much more.

The project team for the 4,300-square-foot Brooks Transit Center includes architects KAI Texas; general contractor Vertex Corporation; and civil engineers Civil Engineering Consultants. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goal for this project was exceeded.