VIA ridership climbing with fuel costs up and COVID-19 fears down

Steady gains are being seen in VIA Metropolitan Transit's (VIA) bus ridership, signaling an upward trend for transit in San Antonio, Texas.

VIA has recorded growth for several months in the first half of 2022 and tracked its largest year-over-year increase in April, with a 21 percent bump over 2021 numbers.

COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns hit every major U.S. transit agency with steep declines beginning in 2020 and some cities seeing up to an 80 percent drop in ridership. VIA maintained more than 50 percent of its ridership throughout the height of the pandemic, offering safe, reliable transportation options that include increased safety protocols and essential service models.

As communities continue to recover from the social and economic impacts of COVID-19, transit ridership across the country is growing and recent spikes in fuel costs are contributing to a rise in the need for affordable public transit that keeps people connected.

“Over the past two years, we have endured extraordinary circumstances as a community but have maintained our focus on keeping San Antonio moving forward, safely,” said VIA President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt. “Today, more than ever, affordable, reliable public transit is essential, and we are seeing more people use VIA to stay connected to work, school, doctors, groceries and each other.”