DIRECT SERVICE. FEWER STOPS. FASTER TRIPS
Express Service offers direct connection to downtown from six locations.
VIA ReadAlong – November 2018
VIA’s EXPRESS Service makes faster trips with fewer stops from six convenient locations throughout San Antonio. Your commute doesn’t have to include fighting traffic and paying for parking. VIA Express Service is a convenient, non-stop ride into heart of the city. Service begins as early as 4:30 a.m. on some express routes, and every diesel-electric Hybrid Express bus is equipped with plush, reclining seats, overhead storage racks, personal reading lights and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Plan your next trip at on Trip Planning page, or use VIA’s goMobile app STONE OAK PARK & RIDE – 22139 US Highway 281 RANDOLPH PARK & RIDE – 9400 IH-35 North MADLA TRANSIT CENTER – 1584 Cantrell Dr KEL-LAC TRANSIT CENTER – 7183 U.S. Highway 90 W CROSSROADS PARK & RIDE – 151 Crossroads Blvd UNIVERSITY PARK & RIDE – North Loop 1604 W and IH-10 W • VIA’s VIAtrans van fleet will have a new home and service bay with the help of a Federal Transit Administration Grant awarded in September to improve bus infrastructure and operations. VIA will use the money to construct an operating and maintenance paratransit facility. The new facility will have on-site parking for up 175 vans, space for maintenance, and new security features. • VIA will purchase more battery-electric buses thanks to a Federal Transit Administration grant. The FTA’s Low or No-Emission Grant program will help replace eight diesel buses and further reduce emissions from the VIA fleet. VIA’s first electric buses were introduced in 2013. A conversion to compressed natural gas buses is ongoing and will help reduce emissions by 97 percent. VIA’s Special Event Park & Ride Service provides convenient transportation to UTSA Roadrunner Football games at the Alamodome and San Antonio Spurs basketball games at the AT&T Center. Fare is just $5 roundtrip. Visit our Park & Ride page to Park, Ride, Cheer for your team! NOVEMBER HOME GAME SCHEDULE: UTSA ROADRUNNERS SAN ANTONIO SPURS 11.03 | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS By Raúl Flores Fennis Dembo has worn many uniforms. As a member of his high school basketball team that reached the state tournament, a player in the NCAA Men’s National Tournament, and part of the 1989 Detroit Pistons team that claimed the NBA Finals Championship. Today, he’s part of the VIA team, with a longer roster and an even bigger impact on the community. “I’m part of the VIA team and this is my uniform,” Dembo said, pointing to his royal blue VIA Operator shirt. He joined VIA in 2016. “I’ve been part of a lot of teams, where you contribute this and contribute that. Wearing the blue shirts, that’s our jersey now.” Dembo was a star athlete at San Antonio’s Fox Tech High School and earlier this year was inducted into the San Antonio Independent School District Sports Hall of Fame. While at the University of Wyoming, he became the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and guided the team to the Sweet 16 of the 1987 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. He gained national attention when he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But after a successful college career, being drafted by the Pistons, and one season in the NBA, Dembo left the court and eventually found himself looking for new direction. “I wasn’t mature enough to realize the hard work required to achieve what you want,” he said. “I wasn’t willing to put in that hard work. Now I understand those things; relying on friends and family, persevering and overcoming obstacles, and putting in the required work. Something good is at the end of that road.” For Dembo, basketball was his life, but walking away from the game taught him more about real life than he could have imagined. “That’s when it all paid dividends for me,” he said. “Working here and there, digging ditches, and $8-an-hour jobs, it was all part of the process. Now working here at VIA, we serve a community. You see everyday people, hardworking people who rely on VIA.” Dembo’s face lights and his smile beams when he talks about VIA riders. “We take so many things for granted,” he said. “I’m humbled that I get to provide a very significant and important service. I’m proud to be working at VIA, to be part of this team.” VIA’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Operating and Capital Improvements Budget for Fiscal Year 2019. It keeps fares at current levels and improves the customer experience with increased service frequency, a new transit center, two new Prímo routes, and smart transit initiatives that make riding easier. View a detailed list of the 2019 Budget Highlights. BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS VIA will provide complimentary public transportation on Election Day, Nov. 6. Show your valid voter registration card to the bus or van operator when boarding to ride fare-free anywhere VIA goes on regular bus and VIAtrans paratransit service. VIAtrans customers should schedule their trip in accordance with VIAtrans policies and procedures. Call (210) 362-2020 for more information. Bus routes and information centers will operate on a special schedule in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 22 and 23. For assistance in planning trips with VIA, visit VIAinfo.net, call (210) 362-2020, or plan trips and purchase passes with the VIA goMobile app. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Seniors (ages 55 or older) can enjoy complimentary rides to and from the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. The transportation includes regular line service and VIAtrans service for registered patrons. Call (210) 362-2020 for more information. On Friday, Nov. 23, multiple VIA bus routes will be on detour due to street closures during the H-E-B Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony held in Travis Park. Pecan Street will be closed beginning at 8 a.m., Nov. 23, and Navarro Street will be closed starting at 2 p.m. Routes 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 82, 88, 90, 95, 96, and 97 will be affected. Visit our Service Alerts page, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for service updates. VIA riders have the chance to participate in a short customer survey taking place aboard fixed-route buses throughout the system. The study is being conducted by ETC Institute and looks at how people use transit to travel in the San Antonio area. Your responses will help us understand transit riders’ travel patterns and transportation choices. Survey takers will be wearing a blue vest and official surveyor badge. If you have questions about the survey, contact us at (210) 362-2020. 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
VIA Express is the way to go
SIX CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
TWO NEW GRANTS
ARE GREAT NEWS
NOVEMBER PARK & RIDE SCHEDULE
11.10 | FIU
11.24 | North Texas
11.04 | ORLANDO MAGIC
11.10 | HOUSTON ROCKETS
11.18 | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
11.21 | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
11.30 | HOUSTON ROCKETS
Driving the Lane
with VIA’s Fennis Dembo
VIA BUDGET KEEPS FARES LOW, SERVICE UP
• No fare increase
• New Primo Service
• Service Improvements on Culebra, Bandera, S. Flores and Pleasanton
• Brooks City Base Transit Center Opening
• Solar Lighting System in 250 Next-Gen Shelters
• Improve customer service and experience with technologyRIDE VIA TO VOTE NOV. 6
HOLIDAY BUS SCHEDULE
• Bus routes – “Sunday” schedule
• Information line, (210) 362-2020 – CLOSED
• All information centers – CLOSED
• Bus routes – “Saturday” schedule
• Information line, (210) 362-2020 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Downtown Information Center – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• All other information centers – CLOSED
SENIORS 55+ RIDE FARE-FREE TO JIMENEZ DINNER
SERVICE DISRUPTION FOR TREE LIGHTING
PASSENGER SURVEY ON-BOARD
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
Instagram: VIAtransit
