On-demand Service Hits Million-Rider Mark as New Zone Set to Open Downtown
VIA Metropolitan Transit, in partnership with Centro San Antonio and the University of Texas at San Antonio, is launching its new VIA Link zone, Downtown, as it celebrates two major milestones for the popular on-demand service: five years and over 1 million passengers since it launched.
The VIA Board of Trustees unanimously approved creation of the new Downtown Link zone at a special-called board meeting held Tuesday. The VIA Link Downtown/Little Runner Zone is the fifth for VIA and builds on the success of Centro’s 2023 pilot project, dubbed the “Little Runner” for UTSA’s RoadRunner mascot.
The new zone, set to launch Sept. 2, is designed to connect people who live, work, and visit the busy city center and UTSA’s Downtown Campus.
VIA Link vans will deliver service in Downtown, but unlike other VIA Link zones, bus routes will continue running and a “Little Runner” circulator, using small electric shuttles, will move students, faculty, and staff from adjacent parking lots to the school’s new San Pedro I building.
“Offering VIA Link service Downtown moves us closer to our mission of connecting the community through innovation and collaboration with partners and neighbors like Centro San Antonio and UTSA,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “VIA Link has proved to be a gamechanger, with over 1 million passenger trips — and counting. This new partnership will keep us moving in the right direction as San Antonio — and VIA — continue to grow and change.”
Trish DeBerry, President/CEO of Centro San Antonio, addressed the VIA Board Tuesday and spoke in support of the project, citing the pilot’s success and potential for the future.
“The Little Runner Pilot has provided essential data and actionable steps to advance this next evolution of the program,” DeBerry said. “These partnerships are critical as we pursue additional innovation, and electrify the overall experience locals, students and visitors have in Downtown San Antonio. We are thrilled to see VIA expand its operations with this program.”
Growing the app-based service model is part of VIA’s Keep SA Moving plan that includes innovative transit options, using technology and multimodal solutions, as well as improved bus service, and the region’s first Advanced Rapid Transit network, VIA Rapid.
The first VIA Link zone opened in 2019 on the city’s Northeast Side, now known as the Naco Pass zone. The revolutionary service provides more flexible trip options, offering transit service when and where people need it, for the same fares and discounts as regular bus service. Four Link zones are now operating, including Mainland, with service anchored by UTSA’s Main Campus on the Northwest Side; Madla, connecting points from Texas A&M University-San Antonio to the Toyota Manufacturing campus on the South Side; and Randolph, near Windcrest and Converse.
Introduced as a “smart transit” solution, it leverages technology and an on-demand model to improve the cost to operate service and offer more frequent and reliable trip options in areas where bus routes are either difficult to operate, like in suburban zones, or can be enhanced with multimodal options, as in the Downtown zone.
VIA Link’s Downtown/Little Runner zone will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The fare for VIA Link is the same as VIA’s regular bus service, only $1.30. The same low fares and discounts are available as regular VIA services, including the U-Pass.
Customers can book a ride through the VIA Link app, or by calling (210) 655-LINK (5465) and pay using the VIA goMobile+ app, a VIA transit pass, or cash. The Transit app also offers options to book complete trips, including a connecting bus or BCycle trip. Learn more at VIAinfo.net/LINK, or call (210) 362-2020.