SAN ANTONIO (June 23, 2026) — VIA Metropolitan Transit has reached a major environmental milestone for the VIA Rapid Silver Line, its second Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) line. The VIA Rapid Green Line is currently in construction with service expected to begin in April 2028.
The agency was notified that the Silver Line received environmental clearance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The determination, conducted as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) process, is a critical milestone that allows VIA to move forward with the project.
“VIA Rapid is about more than moving people efficiently,” VIA Board Chair Laura Cabanilla said. “It’s about connecting every part of our city to opportunity and driving long-term economic development, growth and investment along these corridors in a way that strengthens our city for years to come.”
The milestone builds on years of community engagement and technical planning, reflecting VIA’s commitment to delivering modern transit solutions that support economic mobility and regional growth.
“This is an important step forward for the Silver Line and for San Antonio’s transit future,” VIA President & CEO Jon Gary Herrera said. “With NEPA determination in place, we are one step closer to delivering a fast, reliable east-west connection that links customers to what matters most — jobs, education, health care and each other.”
VIA is seeking a Small Starts Grant Agreement from the FTA Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. VIA received funding through the FTA’s CIG New Starts Grant Agreement in late 2024 for the VIA Rapid Green Line.
The VIA Rapid Silver Line will operate as a 7.3-mile corridor east-west from the Frost Bank Center on the East Side to General McMullen on the West Side, intersecting with the Green Line downtown and connecting to the broader VIA system. Once complete, the corridor will run with 15-minute or better frequency, feature 18 new stations, pedestrian and transit-priority improvements, and frequent all-day Silver Line service with off-board fare payment and synchronized traffic signals to improve safety, accessibility, reliability and travel times.
The VIA Rapid Silver Line is currently advancing through final design, including detailed engineering and project planning, as well as the FTA’s CIG Small Starts Agreement process. Construction is anticipated to begin following completion of remaining federal approvals and funding commitments.
VIA Rapid is a key part of VIA’s voter-approved Keep San Antonio Moving Plan and will transform mobility across San Antonio through high-frequency, high-capacity service. VIA began receiving voter-approved sales tax funding earlier this year and is leveraging it to improve service systemwide, along with construction of the VIA Rapid Green Line.
More information about the VIA Rapid Silver Line is available at KeepSAmoving.com/SilverLine.
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About VIA Metropolitan Transit
Guided by its vision to be the driving force for our community’s growth and success, VIA provides safe, reliable transportation options that put opportunity within reach for millions of passengers each year. The agency surpassed 30 million trips in 2024 and is driven by its mission to take you to what matters most. VIA began operation in 1978 and today serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 75 routes, with complementing VIAtrans paratransit service and VIA Link on-demand options. Work is now underway on VIA Rapid, a new high-quality, modern transit service that’s fast, accessible, safe and reliable. The Green Line, set to launch in 2028, will run north-to-south, connecting neighborhoods and businesses from near the San Antonio International Airport, through downtown and to the historic missions area on the South Side. The Silver Line, expected to be operational a couple years later, will connect the East and West sides through downtown. Through its promise that customers can count on VIA, every ride, the agency’s services help keep our community connected.
