New Buses, Shorter Wait Times Built in to VIA’s June Service Changes

VIA Metropolitan Transit will debut new routes and service changes in June, designed to provide more frequent service and new connections to the region’s most-visited destinations, including the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site, downtown and Pearl locations, and South Broadway’s museums, parks, shopping and entertainment destinations.

In addition to changes on existing routes, VIA will introduce its new VIVA service line, three distinct routes to serve a corridor that connects through downtown, south to the Missions, and north to the Broadway corridor.

“The goal of the VIVA service line is to enhance public transportation options in key corridors, as well as establish a new cultural marker in the heart of San Antonio,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “The routes were developed with input from VIA customers, internal and external stakeholders, and staff. They take inspiration from the people and places that celebrate San Antonio.”

VIA will debut the VIVA routes and other service changes on Monday, June 6, 2016. These include additional options for existing and new stops, shorter wait times, and increased reliability for improved travel on new, CNG-fueled buses.

All changes listed begin Monday, June 6, 2016.

• 7 Sightseer Special – Route will be replaced by the new Route 11 VIVA culture.
• 11 VIVA culture – New route will provide direct connections to Southtown, King William, Downtown, Pearl, and Broadway Reach cultural attractions. The route will provide more frequent service and will run longer hours along some segments.
• 14 Perrin Beitel Skip – Route will operate skip service from Austin Highway to Downtown.
• 22 Hays Frequent – Route will be interlined with Route 70.
• 40 VIVA missions – New route will provide direct connections between the Alamo and the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site, which includes Missions Concepción, San José, and San Juan. Route will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Service to Mission Espada will be added at a later date.
• 70 Cesar Chavez – Route will be interlined with Route 22.
• 301 Red Circulator – Route will become Route 301 VIVA centro. Modified route will provide convenient connections between Centro Plaza and St. Paul Square. Traveling eastbound from Centro Plaza, the route will use Houston, Alamo, and Market streets to reach St. Paul Square. It will return westbound using Commerce, Alamo, and Travis streets before resuming on Commerce to Centro Plaza.
• 305 Blue Circulator – Route will be discontinued. The area along this route will be served by the new Route 11 VIVA culture and Route 301 VIVA centro.
• 333 The E – Pilot period for E route ends June 4. The area along this route will be served by the new Route 11 VIVA culture and Route 301 VIVA centro.
• 614 Hidden Cove/Kel-Lac – Route will be modified to serve Pearsall Park on Old Pearsall Road. This route will no longer serve Ray Ellison Drive and a segment on Five Palms Drive.

In addition to the above service changes, the following routes will have minor schedule adjustments: 5, 9, 10, 14, 22, 30, 43, 44, 48, 79, 100, and 640.