Beginning Monday you may have seen some colorful, bright buses on the streets of San Antonio. They’re part of three new bus lines called VIVA. The goal is to connect riders with top attractions throughout the city.
Outside the DoSeum, San Antonio's children’s museum, mass transit staff are wearing colorful VIVA sunglasses and waving fans next to huge balloons.
They’re celebrating three new bus lines. VIVA Culture will take riders to the city’s museums, parks, theaters and galleries. Riders can go to the Mission Trail on VIVA Missions, and VIVA Centro connects downtown from Alamo Plaza to Market Square.
District 3 City Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran says adding the new bus lines will reduce congestion and help the environment.
"It gives more freedom that people can get up and get going and not have to worry about finding parking, how much will it take, is it safe. That’s important, especially for world class cities to have good public transportation options and mass transportation options," she says.
Jeffrey Arndt is VIA’s president and CEO. "We’re trying to make it simple for people to travel within the community. This is not just a route that’s designed just for visitors or conventioneers, although it’s great for them," he says.
Jesus Resendez is one of those natives Ardnt is talking about. He took a regular bus to the Alamo today, but is interested in checking out the VIVA lines. He says he already goes to the Pearl, Southtown and the Blue Star complex, stops on the VIVA Culture line.
"San Antonians don’t come downtown a lot, so this is really convenient for them to get to know the city a little bit more," Resendez says.
The VIVA routes will run seven days a week and cost the same as standard bus trips. And, Resendez says, these buses are cute.