FTA awards $267.8 million grant to support construction of VIA’s ART North/South Corridor

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a $267.8 million grant to support the construction of VIA Metropolitan Transit’s (VIA) new Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) North/South Corridor, also known as the Green Line. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the grant will support a 10-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line that will provide fast and frequent service, linking people in neighborhoods along the line to regional activity centers and popular tourist sites like Riverwalk and the Alamo in San Antonio.  

VIA  notes the funding represents the largest federal investment in agency history and marks the first time the agency sought the federal funding opportunity. To qualify, VIA  notes it had to demonstrate its ability to provide high-quality transit services along dedicated bus-only lanes and secure local matching funds for construction and operation of the project.  

The agency secured the local match funding via the Keep SA Moving Plan, approved by San Antonio voters in 2020 to redirect an existing 1/8-cent sales tax to the transit agency, starting in 2026. 

"The Green Line is more than just a transportation project; it’s a commitment to making travel throughout the San Antonio region more convenient and affordable and ensuring that more people have access to jobs and schools, grocery stores and doctors' offices," said U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "With the funding we're announcing today, the Biden-Harris Administration is making a vital investment in San Antonio's transit future that will strengthen the community for generations to come." 

Federal support for the project, which is estimated to cost $481 million, comes from FTA's Capital Investment Grants program, which helps communities carry out transformational transit projects.  

The Green Line will improve the transit experience for riders along one of the city's most heavily traveled corridors and connect to the San Antonio International Airport. USDOT notes the San Antonio area is experiencing explosive growth, with an additional one million residents expected by 2040. In the corridor alone, the population is expected to increase by 42 percent from 54,000 residents to 77,000. Jobs are also expected to climb by 45 percent from 108,000 to 158,000.  

"The Green Line will make life easier and better for everyone in this vibrant, fast-growing city,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “Right now, many San Antonio households are spending nearly a quarter of their income just on transportation. This new transit line will help lessen that financial burden and create a thriving environment where everyone can enjoy greater mobility and economic opportunities."  

“Today’s signing is momentous for VIA and our community. Together with the FTA, we’re now fully funded to construct the backbone of a system designed to meet the mobility needs of San Antonio, well into our evolving future,” said VIA Metropolitan Transit President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt. “The VIA Rapid Green Line will help countless residents and visitors more easily navigate our city, removing obstacles and barriers to health care, workforce development, jobs and opportunity that may have previously been out of reach. We see a future in which our customers spend less time traveling and more time doing the things that matter most in their lives.” 

The Green Line will deliver a range of benefits, including: 

• Reduced travel times: Dedicated lanes and synchronized traffic signals to ensure faster and more reliable trips.  
• Enhanced rider experience: Off-board fare collection, level platform boarding and modern stations to create a seamless and comfortable commute.  
• Improved mobility for all: The project includes upgrades to intersections, sidewalks and drainage, benefiting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. 

The project is expected to be completed by 2027.