VIA’s U-Pass program offers college students, faculty, and staff free trip options

Students, faculty, and staff at participating local colleges and universities can enjoy a major perk for their fall schedules—free, unlimited access to bus service anywhere in the VIA service area with the VIA U-Pass.

Through their schools’ partnerships with the VIA U-Pass program, more than 90,000 students, faculty, and staff members at the University of Texas at San Antonio  (UTSA)and all Alamo Colleges (San Antonio College, Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, St. Philip’s College, and Northeast Lakeview College), as well as students enrolled at Our Lady of the Lake University, the University of the Incarnate Word, and local tech incubator CodeUp have free access to unlimited trips on regular bus service throughout the school year, including the spring and summer sessions.

The VIA U-Pass is designed to provide convenient access to public transportation and to help address the challenges of growing student populations with limited and paid parking options on or near campus. The U-Pass does not require a student purchase. It’s provided to all students of the participating colleges and universities through their partnerships with VIA.

Students with smartphones can access the U-Pass through the VIA’s goMobile+ app. Alamo Colleges students who don’t have smartphones can board the bus by presenting their school ID card. Students at participating universities who don’t have smartphones can board the bus by presenting their ID with a VIA sticker provided by their school.

VIA offers efficient, affordable travel options and provides modern passenger perks like several frequent and direct routes, VIA Link on-demand service, and service improvements that begin Aug. 23, 2021 and will provide increased frequency, more express service for commuters, and better schedules to assure buses arrive on time.

Riders are still required to wear a mask, according to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a mandate from the federal government. VIA will continue daily and enhanced cleaning of all vehicles and encourages the community to observe good hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer.

For more information about the U-Pass, or VIA’s Semester Pass, visit VIAinfo.net. Schools interested in partnering with VIA to offer the U-Pass can call 210-362-2020.