By: W. Scott Bailey | From: San Antonio Business Journal

More than three years after former VIA Metropolitan Transit CEO Jeffrey Arndt declared that an advanced rapid transit system was finally within San Antonio’s reach, the agency is set to break ground on the initial line.

VIA officials confirm that construction of the Rapid Transit Green Line is set to begin in July.

It’s a landmark moment for San Antonio and a key step in diversifying transportation options. I reported in December that the city had reached a mobility milestone as the Federal Transportation Administration had approved nearly $270 million to support the development of the city’s first advanced rapid transit corridor. 

That commitment closed the funding needed to develop a $481 million VIA Rapid Green Line that will utilize dedicated roadway, signaling and vehicles connecting San Antonio International Airport with downtown and key points south of the center city.

VIA officials said work on the initial line will begin at the southern end, near the Lone Star District, and at the northern end, near U.S. Highway 281 and Isom Road.

In November, Jon Gary Herrera was named as Arndt’s successor after the longtime chief executive’s retirement. The handoff included the ramp-up of rapid transit.

“There’s an understanding of those decisions that were made for these massive investments that we’re making to improve the system and now, being in this chair, to turn those investments into ridership,” Herrera said. 

Public transportation across the U.S. took a hit in the wake of the pandemic. VIA had 41 million passengers in 2019. In 2023, its ridership total approached 27 million.

Expanded bus frequencies and other improvements, including the rollout of rapid transit, should help VIA fill more seats.

VIA is pursuing plans and funding for a second Rapid Transit line set to connect East and West San Antonio. That line will also pass through the downtown area.

In October, VIA officials confirmed plans to develop a new transit center east of the Frost Bank Center, which will complement the agency’s Rapid Transit system.

The Green Line is expected to be operational by early 2028.