VIA Bus - San Antonio Metropolitan Transit
San Antonio's metropolitan transit system is know as VIA. Residents and visitors alike attest to the everlasting presence of VIA and its local buses. Seen all over town from the highway to the back roads, VIA definitely has metropolitan transportation in San Antonio covered with extensive schedules and bus routes.
VIA San Antonio Bus Routes
San Antonio is the eighth largest city in the nation and having a public metropolitan transit system to accommodate the needs of its citizens is a necessity. VIA currently operates 450 buses on 86 bus routes throughout San Antonio and Bexar county. Bus routes in VIA's operation area service almost 7,000 bus stops between 5 am and midnight. VIA restructures it's route system based on ridership and demand. As San Antonio grows, VIA will continue to expand its route system and upgrade its fleet of buses to satisfy the demand of San Antonio's local bus passengers.
Shuttle Bus Service
VIA offers shuttle bus service to most all events in the San Antonio area. When an event occurs at the Alamodome or AT&T Center such as a basketball game, RV or boat show, VIA shuttle service runs during the hours of the event from various locations around San Antonio.
*Important Note- Parking at the Alamodome can be challenging with exit times taking up to an hour. Using the VIA shuttle service is highly recommended when attending events at the Alamodome.
VIA Bus Park and Ride
For people wanting to get into the city and avoid fighting traffic on their own, VIA offers a park and ride bus service. Not only does this cut down on gasoline usage and car mileage, it gives people working in San Antonio a convenient option for getting to and from work. Located throughout San Antonio, park and ride lots are visible on all sides of town and in rural areas outside the city.
VIA Trolley
The VIA bus system has operated trolleys for many years. Not to be confused with the street car type trolley, the VIA trolley is a bus that just looks like a trolley. The last VIA trolley I was on had an open air layout and I believe some of the trolleys still have the same. The trolleys are also available for charter bus service as are all VIA buses but riding the trolley can be a bit more entertaining for San Antonio bus riders.