VIA Metropolitan Transit

VIA Metropolitan Transit debuted several buses on Thursday that use Compressed Natural Gas as fuel. VIA plans to convert to an all CNG fleet of 400 buses by 2020.

VIA’s transitioning to the new buses to be more sustainable and to decrease operating costs. The current fleet of buses is 12 to 15 years old. Jeffrey Arndt is President and CEO of VIA. He says the conversion will generate an estimated annual fuel savings of $8.5 million.

Here are a few facts guaranteed to get your attention:  

The San Antonio area adds 146 new residents every day, and they’re bringing their cars.

A 50 minute drive today is expected to take 91 minutes in 2040.  

By then, 39 percent of our roadways will be severely congested all day long.

This week Texas Public Radio’s “Growing Pains” project takes a look at options for getting ahead of the traffic jam,  with a series of reports, “Stuck Behind The Wheel.” We start by looking at how San Antonio’s primary form of mass transit could be part of the solution. 

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This November, City Council delayed a vote that would support future improvements for VIA Metropolitan Transit.

While no money is expected for this fiscal year 2017, the original proposal earmarked $2.2 million of city funds in fiscal year 2018, $6.5 million the following year, then $10 million in fiscal year 2020 and each year going forward.

Although the need for funding the city's bus service is clear, why is the decision being delayed? 

VIA Bus Service will be discontinued in the San Antonio suburb of Castle Hills if voters on Saturday approve eliminating VIA in their community.   At issue is how best to spend the $500,000 dollars in sales tax money now dedicated to mass transit.