VIA Metropolitan Transit

In the first segment:

The war on terror was launched 12 years ago and since has transformed many bodies of government, creating whole new agencies and expecting the cooperation of bureaucracies, foreign governments and non-state entities.

"As I told the American people we will direct every resource at our command to win the war against terrorists: every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence..."    - President George W. Bush - September 24th, 2001

VIA staff members and consultants have chosen alternative 6 as the recommended route to move forward with in the modern streetcar project.

The plan would route the streetcar along Broadway to Martin and Pecan Streets to service the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, UTSA's downtown campus, the Westside Multimodal Center, El Mercado, South Town, and many other highly desired areas in the downtown area.

But tweaks may be added to the plan.

VIA has officially unveiled a proposed streetcar route that would run east-west along the Market and Commerce Street corridors downtown.

The route, which also includes a Cesar Chavez option, was popular with many people. VIA’s Chief Engagement Officer, and former congressman, Charlie Gonzalez, said the plans knocked off the table now are routes VIA couldn’t ignore: one that passed the Alamo and another at Hemisfair Park.

VIA will unveil one of the newest proposed routes at a public meeting tonight. The plans would have the transportation system's streetcar traveling east-west down Commerce and Market Streets, and would provide connections to people at a number of stops along the popular thoroughfares.  

VIA Spokesman Charlie Gonzalez says the route addition actually came about as a result of public input from one of the early meetings.

San Antonio's streetcar project could get a popular route addition thanks to widespread support.

Two new routes have been thrown out as possibilities for the new streetcar project. They include east to west connections via Commerce and Market Streets.

VIA's Chief of Public Engagement, Charlie Gonzalez, says in the transportation authority's public meetings, there were a lot of comments about the Market and Commerce corridors.

In the first segment:

Six possible rail routes have been proposed in VIA's new streetcar proposal. $210 million is the number VIA has to work with, and according to the San Antonio Express-News only two of the proposed routes fit the bill which could ranges from $182 million to $272 million.

The new VIA smartphone app, Go VIA VIA, has a real chance at changing the landscape of transportation in San Antonio by making it easier for long-time riders and new riders to navigate the intricate maze of bus routes and schedules. (see note about new riders at bottom of post*)

Go VIA VIA has been out for Apple and Android devices since Monday, and it already has some fans and critics. The bottom line, though, is that it is far better than the old app--which wasn't interactive in any way, shape or form.

In the first segment:

With several competitive races this election cycle, the city council may see a change in composition next session.

Join Gilbert Garcia from the San Antonio Express-News, Callie Enlow, editor of the the San Antonio Current, and Texas Public Radio's Ryan Loyd as they parse the data and the candidates.

In the second segment:

In The First Segment:

The health of San Antonio is gauged each year by the San Antonio Metro Health District's annual report. Bexar County and San Antonio have never been beacons of health, but the report details the specific issues that we are dealing with locally.  

From unprecedented levels of syphilis infections to amputations from diabetes at a rate four times the national average, the city still has major health problems.

The back and forth on VIA's proposed modern streetcar continued Thursday night at a meeting to gather public input; the system is on track to launch in 2017, but many people are determined to derail the idea.

The proposed downtown system for San Antonio involves five miles of rail with one route traveling north to south through downtown, and the other east to west. Like most of the exact details involving the system, it's yet to be determined where the embedded rails and overhead powerlines would go.