VIA Link - Let link move you

HOW IT WORKS

VIA Link Logo Banner
Convenient, app-based rideshare for any budget.
Book a ride for just $1.30 on the VIA Link app. Choose from multiple stops, so you can get where you want faster.
VIA Link Image
VIA Link Book

 

Graphic: Download on the App Store Graphic: Get It On Google Play

Book a ride when you need it — now or up to 7 days in advance with the app, ONLINE or by phone at (210) 655-LINK.

VIA Link Meet
VIA Link Pay
VIA Link Ride
VIA Link Link
BOOK YOUR RIDE

NOW WITH FIVE ZONES

NACO PASS 
Service Hours:

Every day: 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Usually available within 20-30 minutes.

Main Transfer Point:
Naco Pass

Connecting Bus Routes:
9, 14 and 502

NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE  Service Hours

To/From VIA Link Naco Pass Zone: Weekdays,  5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

To/From VIA Randolph Zone: Weekdays, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Available within 30 minutes: Weekdays, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Available within 60 minutes: Weekdays, all other times

RANDOLPH 
Service Hours

Every day: 5 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Usually available within 20-30 minutes.

Main Transfer Point:
Randolph Transit Center

Connecting Bus Routes:
8, 17, 21, 502, 505, 509, 552, and 632

NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE  Service Hours

To/From VIA Link Naco Pass Zone: Weekdays, 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

To/From VIA Randolph Zone: Weekdays, 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Available within 30 minutes: Weekdays, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Available within 60 minutes: Weekdays, all other times

MADLA 
Service Hours

Every day: 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Usually available within 20-30 minutes

Main Transfer Point:
Madla Transit Center

Connecting Bus Routes:
51, 102, 103, and 524

MAINLAND 
Service Hours

Every day: 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Usually available within 20-30 minutes.

Main Transfer Point:
UTSA, Northwest Vista College, Mainland

Main Transfer Point:
64, 88, 93, 501, 603, 609, 610, and 620

DOWNTOWN 
Service Hours

Every day: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Usually available within 10-15 minutes.

Main Transfer Point:
Centro Plaza, Ellis Alley

Main Transfer Point:
17, 24, 25, 26, 46, 62, 66, 68, 75, 76, 89, 93, and 100

VIA Link is the convenient way to connect to shopping, restaurants, work and more in your neighborhood.

Transfer from Link to a bus for seamless connections outside the zone.

Link - East on-demand service
Link - faster service
Link - only $1.30

How to Ride

What Riders are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

VIA Link is transit service when you need it. It’s an innovative program designed to provide on-demand transit in the Northeast, Northwest and Southside San Antonio areas. VIA Link is a ride-sharing program where people may share a ride with as many as four other people. Like Uber or Lyft service, customers can request a trip through a convenient app and can begin and end a trip anywhere within the zone or connect with the regular VIA bus service to continue their trip.

It’s not a door-to-door service, rather operates in a network of designated stops within the service area. Stops could include existing VIA stops or shelters, as well as other locations set up for VIA Link.

A VIA Link vehicle will pick up customers at their chosen pickup point, which often may be an existing bus stop and take them anywhere within the zone.

The vehicles are operated by RideCo, however, they are branded with VIA Link markings as well.
Fares are the same as regular VIA bus service, but frequency and reliability have improved.

Hours vary by Zone

♦ Naco Pass Zone – Every day, 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

♦ Randolph Zone – Every day, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

♦ Madla Zone – Every day, 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

♦ Mainland Zone – Every day, 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

♦ Downtown Zone – Every day, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The VIA Link fare is the same as regular VIA bus fares and reduced fares. That’s $1.30 per trip, with free transfers. Reduce fares for seniors, students and military apply.

If you have a VIA bus pass it will work with all modes of transportation, if you have a single ride and buy a transfer then you will be able to transfer between bus service and VIA Link service.

Additional Information

VIA Link service offers shorter wait times and better reliability in the service area. Pickup wait times are normally between 20 and 30 minutes (some waits may be shorter or longer) from time of reservation.

On-demand trips mean you can access service when you need it, instead of having to plan your trip around a bus route schedule.

Service is provided in a van that will make short trips within the service area. Riders can’t hail a VIA Link vehicle from the curb, like they would a bus. Trips must be scheduled in advance. Riders must plan a separate bus trip to complete any trip outside the zone.

Fares are the same as VIA’s current fares and the same VIA code of conduct, service policies and regulations will apply.

Your ride booking will specify a time window of 10 minutes for pick-up. We advise you to reach your pick-up point 5 minutes before your pick-up window. As it gets closer to the time of your ride, we will send you an updated ETA. You will also receive a notification when your vehicle has arrived. Updates are sent via SMS and the <b>VIA Link app</b>. Furthermore, you have the option to use the mobile app to track your vehicle’s location in real-time as it comes to pick you up.

You will receive a notification when your vehicle has arrived to pick you up. As a courtesy to your co-riders, the driver will only wait for up to 1 minute. In order to stay on schedule, the vehicle will depart if you do not show up within the 1 minute waiting period.

When you book a ride with VIA Link you are making a commitment to the system and the driver as a schedule is created to accommodate your trip. If due to some reason you are not able to take the ride, we advise you to cancel as soon as possible.

Excessive last-minute cancellations or no-shows can result in the suspension of your user account.

You cannot change your existing ride-booking. However, you can cancel your ride and book a new ride that suits your pick-up location or destination.

If you are passenger with bike, you can book a seat with Regular(bike) option.

If you are Accessible needs passenger, you can book a seat with Accessible option. You also have the option to add up to 3 seats for any companions traveling with you.

Other passengers can book up to 5 seats with Regular option.

Do note that all passengers in 1 booking need to travel at the same time and get picked up and dropped off at the same stops.

Yes. At the end of a trip, mobile app customers will be invited to rate their ride and submit comments about VIA Link.

Drivers and Safety Information

VIA has partnered with RideCo for its VIA Link pilot. RideCo is working with zTrip to provide trained drivers for quality on-demand service.

As with all VIA operators and contracted operators, all drivers must pass a background check and complete appropriate training. Additional screenings, such as drug and alcohol testing, will also be performed.
VIA Link drivers are employed or contracted by RideCo and zTrip.

As with all VIA operators and contracted operators, all drivers must pass a background check and complete appropriate training. Additional screenings, such as drug and alcohol testing, will also be performed.

Yes. Vehicles are operated by a contractor who performs background checks on their drivers, provides training, and does drug and alcohol testing.

All vehicles must comply with safety and accessibility requirements.

How to Use VIA Link

Book trips with the VIA Link mobile app (Apple App Store or Google Play), on the web, or by phone. Pay cash upon boarding the vehicle, or pre-pay through VIA’s goMobile App.

You can book a trip on VIA Link website page, however you will not receive automatic alerts about the status of your trip as you would when using the mobile app.

When you make reservation, you will be able to choose from a list of options for the pick-up and drop off times that bests suits your schedule.

Trips may be scheduled as little as 30 minutes and up to 7 days in advance.

Trip can be cancelled with the VIA Link app, online, or by phone.

Choose a date or time in advance. Bookings can be made on-demand up to 7 days in advance.

You have the option to book for multiple days with the same pick-up and drop off schedule.
For patrons without a computer, smart phone or ability to use the app, you can call (210) 655-Link [5465] to schedule your trip through a reservation center. The reservation center will be able to give you a vehicle arrival time, along with confirming your pickup and drop off location. You may also visit the VIA Link website to book a trip.

The service can also get you to a transfer point where you will have access to a regular VIA bus route that will get to your destination. You also may ride a regular VIA bus to the nearest transfer point and transfer to VIA Link to complete your trip.

Riders must be 12 years old and up to ride alone. Riders 11 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible person 12 and older. VIA’s reduced fares for children will apply.

VIA Link can provide service to destinations within the service zones and to other designated service areas such as UTSA, Northwest Vista College (see maps).
If your destination is outside its designated VIA Link zone, you may schedule a trip to one of the nearest transfers points listed below and transfer to other VIA bus routes.

Naco Pass Zone:

Naco Pass Transfer Point (Naco Pass at Uhr Lane)

Mainland Zone:

Mainland (adjacent to Walmart Supercenter)
UTSA (Oval past Peace Circle)
Northwest Vista College (Near Mountain Laurel Hall Entrance)

Madla Zone:

Madla Transit Center (1584 Cantrell, 78221)

Randolph Zone:

Randolph Transit Center (9400 IH 35 North, 78233)

Downtown Zone:

Centro Plaza (900 W. Houston St., 78205)
Ellis Alley (212 Chestnut St., 78202)

The VIA Link service operates on a stop-to-stop model and drivers cannot deviate from these stops. The stops are selected based on proximity to popular destinations while assuring safety for the customer and the driver. Note that VIAtrans customers with disabilities have to register with the VIA Link service to receive curb-to-curb service.
VIA Link service is designed to adjust to service needs in the area to keep wait times low.

Special Requests

Some VIA Link vans are equipped with bike racks that would be available by request when you book your trip.
Car seats are not required under Texas law on VIA Transit vehicles; however, you may bring your own car seat to use on a VIA Link vehicle. Please let us know you’re bringing a car seat in the special instructions area when booking your trip on the mobile app.

If you are bringing a car seat, make sure you reserve an extra seat in the vehicle so it can be secured, so your space is reserved, etc.
VIAtrans continues to operate within the zone and VIAtrans customers ride free upon presentation of their VIAtrans ID. Boarding a VIA Link vehicle will be treated like boarding the bus.
VIA Link will have accessible vehicles for patrons who need them. At the time of booking, you will need to request on the app or on the phone that you need an accessible trip.

Service animals and pets allowed on VIA vehicles will also be allowed on VIA Link trips. See VIA’s Code of Conduct for details.

Items allowed on VIA vehicles will also be allowed on VIA Link trips. See VIA’s Code of Conduct for details.

If you are carrying a particularly large package or object, you may want to book an extra seat to ensure you will have room to take it on the VIA Link vehicle.

Although you can hold smaller objects in your lap or put them on the floor, they must not interfere with the safe and speedy on-boarding and off-boarding of fellow passengers or block access and prevent use of unbooked or unpaid seats.
To talk to someone about a concern or ask a general question about VIA Link, call our Customer Service GO Line at (210) 362-2020 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Customers can submit concerns to VIA 24 hours a day, 7 days per week through the VIA Comments Form.

If you have question about the status of your current VIA Link ride, call the VIA Link dispatch line at (210) 655-LINK.