STAYCATION MADE EASY WITH VIVA
Explore San Antonio on Any of VIVA’s Three Routes this Summer
VIA ReadAlong – June 2019
Summer is here and VIA has the best way to enjoy the season – without breaking the bank – is planning a VIVA Staycation. We’re celebrating three years of VIVA in June and it’s easier than ever to explore the heart of San Antonio on its three colorful routes: VIVA culture (11), VIVA missions (40), and VIVA centro (301). Plan your VIVA Staycation with the VIA goMobile app. Purchase a Day Pass for $2.75 and ride unlimited all day, or get a 7-Day Pass for just $12, and connect with some of the city’s most-visited destinations. VIVA offers daily service to take you to, or within, walking distance of museums, cultural institutions, and popular dining and shopping spots. Get the whole family and head to any of the spots along the VIVA routes. Here are just a few free destinations to put on your list: Located just south of Downtown, the district was farmland belonging to Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly known as the Alamo. By the 1860s the area was subdivided into lots and laid out with the present streets. German settlers developed the area into an idyllic neighborhood of large, impressive houses designed in the Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italianate styles. Walk the streets and view the charm, beauty and impressive architecture. The rich heritage of San Antonio is on full display at Missions National Historical Park, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2015. The Park includes the Alamo, and four other Spanish colonial missions: Concepción, with geometric and floral frescoes; San José, the largest of the bunch with a very detailed facade and Rose Window; San Juan, with its bright white church, gives you the best sense of what life was like here in the eighteenth century; and Espada, the smallest, with its historic aqueduct and dam, which are the oldest in the U.S., still in use today. Enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico at Historic Market Square, which dates back nearly 200 years. Explore El Mercado and the Farmers’ Market, with more than 100 locally owned shops in a two square block area considered one of the largest mercados outside of Mexico. Find authentic pottery, exotic curios and handcrafted works of art. Stay for the gourmet Mexican cuisine at various restaurants, or kick back at the Farmers Market Food Court, where you might get treated with some live music. VIVA Culture Connects you with museums, parks, 9 am – 8 pm VIVA Missions Takes you to the historic San Antonio 8:30 am – 5:30 pm VIVA Centro Travels through the heart of downtown from 7 am – 11 pm Weekdays VIAtrans is VIA’s transportation service option for customers who cannot utilize regular bus service due to disabilities. It is a shared-ride, curb-to-curb service that offers independence through mobility and expands access to opportunity via transit. And with the VIAtrans Online Reservations, customers can: Follow these simple steps to make your online VIAtrans reservation from one to seven days in advance from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., daily. Visit VIAinfo.net/VOS for all the details. VIA riders will soon see the completion of the new Prímo Boarding Island in front of the Kel-Lac Transit Center. The area will be used to serve Prímo Route 102 from Kel-Lac to the new Brooks Transit Center along Military Highway. The bus lanes are complete and the base for new seating walls has been installed. Work continues on the ornamental fence and landscaping and lighting work will begin soon. The new Prímo island will be completed when the new Prímo route service launches in late summer. If you’re trying public transit for the first time, VIA wants to make it as convenient as possible by the VIA goMobile app. Use these 5 easy steps and welcome aboard. Visit our How To Ride page for more information. VIA Metropolitan Transit will host public meetings to receive comments on the proposed service revisions scheduled for implementation on August 26, 2019. VIA also will conduct informal pop-up meetings to share the same information with those who cannot attend the scheduled public meetings which start at 6 p.m. on the dates and locations listed below. MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019 To view all the proposed changes, visit our Newsroom Page. VIA connects our community to opportunity, supports economic vitality, and enhances quality of life throughout our region. VIA, recognized by the Texas Transit Association in 2018 as the VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT Online: VIAinfo.net
King William
Historic District
San Antonio
Missions
El Mercado &
Farmer’s Market
theaters, art galleries and the zoo
Daily with service to Pearl until 11 pm
Missions World Heritage Site
Daily
Centro Plaza to Sunset Station
9 am to 11 pm Weekends
VIAtrans Online Reservations
Simplifies Trip BookingsThe new VIAtrans Online Reservation system that was launched earlier this year, allows registered VIAtrans customers to book trips from the convenience of their computer or mobile device.
• Book new trips
• Save favorite trips for future bookings
• View or cancel reservations
• See the location of your scheduled vehicle in real time
1. Sign in to your account using your VIAtrans Client ID and password.
2. Select “Book Trip” from the left side menu.
3. Enter your trip request details including destination, time, one way or roundtrip indication, trip purpose and add any accompanying passengers.
4. Select “Book Trip” once all the required information is entered.
5. Choose the best trip option, or “Leave Earlier,” or “Leave Later” for more trip options. You will receive a confirmation once you’ve selected and clicked “Confirm Booking.”
Works in Progress
Here is a quick update on current VIA projects
VIA BROOKS TRANSIT CENTER
Work is continuing at VIA’s newest transit center located at Brooks. Pavement and striping for the parking area in the front of the facility has been completed. Installation of the metal roof is underway, along with work on interior amenities, including the tile flooring in the restrooms. Landscaping for the transit center is nearing completion and the overall project is scheduled to be finished by late summer.
KEL-LAC TRANSIT CENTER
GETS PRÍMO ISLAND
PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL
EASIER ON W.W. WHITE
VIA has partnered with TxDOT, to implement improvements to sidewalks, curb ramps, driveways and multiple bus stops along North and South W.W. White Road between Dividend Road and E. Southcross. VIA will upgrade 25 bus stops with shelters and improve pedestrian access.
Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2019. As VIA upgrades the stops, riders should look for notices posted at each location indicating nearest alternate stop.ENTRY: An automated people counter using body tracking software and video feeds for an accurate, real-time count of passengers on the bus.
VIA Makes it Easy For First-time Riders
YOUR RIDE,
YOUR VOICE
AACOG Al J. Notzon Board Room,
8700 Tesoro Dr., 1st Floor, 78217
Get there: Routes 10, 550, and 551
VIA Metro Center, 1021 San Pedro Ave., 78212
Get there: Routes 3 and 4
Claude Black Community Center,
2805 E. Commerce St., 78203
Get there: Route 25
McCreless Library, 1023 Ada St., 78223
Get there: Route 20, 34, and 515
Safety Sofie Cares
VIA and Safety Sofie care about the safety of all our riders. That’s why we urge passengers and pedestrians to “Stay Safe. Don’t Chase.” Help spread the word about the dangers of approaching a moving bus. There’s always another bus. There’s only one you.
ABOUT VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT
Outstanding Metro Transit Authority of the year, serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 92 routes. Last year, VIA provided nearly 40 million rides across the region. VIA’s AAA bond rating reflects the organization’s sound management and financial practices. Visit VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.HOW TO REACH US
800 W. Myrtle,
San Antonio, TX 78212
Customer Service: (210) 362-2020
VIAtrans Scheduling: (210) 362-5050
STAY CONNECTED WITH VIA
Facebook: /VIATransit
Twitter: @VIA_transit
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