Officials from VIA, Northeast Lakeview College and the City of Live Oak celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 25, new VIA Link service that now connects the Northeast Side college campus with two nearby VIA Link zones, providing more mobility options to students, faculty and staff.
VIA launched the service in August, when the fall semester began.
“Each day, thousands of people utilize VIA bus service, paratransit service — and now, VIA Link service — to travel safely to see their doctors, to visit loved ones, to attend workforce training, to go to their jobs, to shop at the grocery store — and to access education,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt told the audience. “In 2019, VIA launched our first VIA Link Zone on the Northeast Side, not too far from here, and in the past five years, we’ve expanded to five zones, including a new Downtown Zone that began operations earlier this month.
“And, beginning this semester, VIA Link now connects passengers here, to the Northeast Lakeview College campus — home of the mighty Nighthawks!”
Arndt thanked Dr. Veronica Garcia, president of the college and Live Oak Mayor Mary Dennis, noting the hard work from all three entities that resulted in more transit for the college community. Dr. Garcia and Mayor Dennis echoed the sentiment, saying said the transportation option was years in the making.
The service expands the on-demand transit option, with fare-free rides for students and faculty at the Alamo Colleges District campus.
VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the expansion earlier this year and the City of Live Oak de-annexed a portion of the Alamo Colleges property at Northeast Lakeview so VIA Link transit services could be offered. Live Oak is not one of 14 member cities in the VIA service area. The de-annexation was necessary to open the campus to service. Northeast Lakeview was the only Alamo Colleges campus outside the service area.
Riders can travel between the Northeast Lakeview College campus and the Randolph and Naco Pass VIA Link zones. The campus has two drop-off/pick-up locations: one at Paluxy Hall and the other at Kruse Circle. VIA Link is available at the same fares as VIA bus service — $1.30 full fare per trip. Discounts apply, including VIA’s U-Pass program that makes access to all VIA services, VIA Link included, free for students, faculty and staff.
VIA Link trips can be booked through the VIA Link app, on the VIA Link Page or by phone at (210) 655-Link [5465]. Each van can seat up to five passengers and can accommodate individuals who have a mobility impairment. Vehicles with a bike rack can be requested during trip booking.
Daily hours of operation in the Randolph Zone are 5 a.m.–10 p.m., and in the Naco Pass Zone from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Top Photo (from left): VIA expanded VIA Link service to Northeast Lakeview College in August. VIA President and CEO Jeff Arndt (from left), Director of Communications Josh Baugh, Director of Business/Supplier Diversity DBE Liaison Officer Maurice Bridges, Chief Administrative Officer John Clamp, Planning and Development Support Specialist Melissa De La Fuente, Rideshare Administrator Kim Muñoz, Business Community Outreach Specialist Richard Martinez, and Live Oak Mayor Mary Dennis (far right) were among those who took part in ribbon-cutting ceremony September 25, 2024, to mark the launch of the rideshare program to the Live Oak campus.