Annual SAMCo event celebrated VIA’s Past, Present and Future
VIA Metropolitan Transit President & CEO Jon Gary Herrera declared that the state of transit is promising and there’s something big on the move during the annual address to the San Antonio Mobility Coalition.
Local and regional elected, business and civic leaders came together today at the Boeing Center at Tech Port for the 2025 State of Transit luncheon, an annual event hosted by the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo) in partnership with VIA Metropolitan Transit.
This year’s theme, “Something BIG Is on the Move,” underscored major milestones and unveiled bold plans for the future of public transportation in the greater San Antonio region.
“It is clear that VIA is growing — growing opportunities, growing connections and growing our region’s economic potential,” said Herrera, the event’s keynote speaker. “Our expanded transit network breaks through barriers of distance and time, linking talent to opportunity.”
The program underscored VIA’s ongoing transformation and growth as the agency works to meet the evolving needs of the San Antonio region. Highlights included progress on major initiatives such as the VIA Rapid Green and Silver Lines and the Better Bus Plan, both designed to deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable service for customers today and into the future.
“We have an opportunity to make game changing events. These Green and Silver Lines are those game changing events,” said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai in his remarks. “We’re helping shape a more connected inclusive future for our community.”
VIA Board Chair Laura Cabanilla also unveiled VIA’s new vision and mission during her remarks, reflecting the agency’s current identity and future direction:
“The reality is that our region’s economy depends on the people who depend on VIA. We’re making mobility easier — and that benefits everyone. It starts with our vision: to be the driving force for our community’s growth and success. That’s followed by our mission: to take you to what matters most. But it’s our commitment to you, our riders, that matters most: count on VIA, every ride.
The annual State of Transit is a signature event in SAMCo’s Transportation Leadership Series. It serves as a regional platform for discussing transportation priorities and progress, aligning public- and private-sector efforts to improve mobility across all modes.
VIA has played a central role in that progress, operating 75 bus routes, VIA Link on-demand services and Park & Ride options that serve more than 1,200 square miles across Bexar County.
PHOTO AT TOP: VIA Board Chair Laura Cabanilla discussed the current state and future of public transportation in the greater San Antonio region during the State of Transit at the Boeing Center June 20, 2025.