Middle and high school students can now apply for a free VIA Semester Pass for the Spring 2026 semester, thanks to a new partnership with District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito.
The initiative, which provides VIA’s Semester Passes for students ages 12 to 18 and funded through a public-private partnership organized by the Councilwoman and former VIA trustee, was announced Dec. 8, 2025.
About 3,600 students typically purchase passes each semester. Current funding through the partnership can provide free passes for more than 5,000 students, helping remove transportation barriers for students across the region.
VIA’s Semester Pass program for K–12 students requires an application. The form is available online under the Students tab on VIA’s Reduced Fares page, or paper copies are available at Transit Centers, Information Centers and Park & Ride ticket windows. The application requires basic student information and a signature from the school principal or their designee.
“The group of students that are subscribing to the Semester Pass will be immediately underwritten by the contribution that the Councilwoman is bringing forward to this effort,” VIA President & CEO Jon Gary Herrera said.
The funding allows middle and high school students to receive VIA’s Semester Pass at no cost, but an application is still required. Beginning Dec. 20, students can complete the standard application and submit it at any location listed on the form to receive their Semester Pass without paying the normal $38 fee. Semester Passes through this initiative can be used throughout the remainder of the school year.
The primary concern driving the program is absenteeism. Gavito noted that some local school districts are seeing as many as 40% of students struggle to get to class consistently.
“Chronic absenteeism is a huge problem in San Antonio,” she said. “We have a number of high school students missing school at over 10% of the days, and so we’re trying to attack that problem. And one of the biggest barriers to get students to school is transportation.”