VIA Metropolitan Transit

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VIA Metropolitan Transit serves the city of San Antonio, Texas as well as its surrounding municipalities.

History

VIA Metropolitan Transit began operations in 1978 after voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund the service. It is the successor to the San Antonio Transit System.

For the majority of its existence, VIA has only used propane-fueled buses. They did not order their first diesel-fueled buses until 2000.

Routes

VIA operates 6 different types of routes; Metro, Frequent, Skip, Express, VIVA, and Primo. The routes are numbered from 2-660.

Metro (Purple) routes serve specific residential areas and usually run every 30-60 minutes.

Frequent (Red) routes are similar to Metro routes, but run every 15 minutes through most of the day.

Skip (Green) routes serve frequently-traveled roads but have fewer stops to reduce travel times.

Express (Orange) routes run along major highways in San Antonio and are designed for quick travel between Downtown San Antonio and specific residential area, transit centers, or military bases.

VIVA (Turquoise) routes are specially designed Skip routes that serve local tourist attractions and landmarks, such as museums, shopping districts, and the Missions.

Primo routes are Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines that serve the heaviest traveled corridors using articulated buses and 40 foot buses. VIA plans to expand Primo service to other corridors in future decades.

Fares

Local: $1.30

Express: $2.60

Transfers: Free

Day Pass: $2.75

VIAtrans (Paratransit) Service: $2.00

31-Day Pass: $38

7-Day Pass: $12

Semester Pass (for K-12 and College Students): $38

Transit Bus Roster

Active

Fleet
Number(s) 		Thumbnail Build
Date 		Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
261-324 VIA Metropolitan Transit 317-a.jpg 2005 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL ZF 5HP592C
  • Currently being retired
325-338 VIA Metropolitan Transit 337-a.jpg 2006 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL ZF 5HP592C
339-375 VIA Metropolitan Transit 352-a.jpg 2008 New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL ZF 5HP592C
376-405 VIA Metropolitan Transit 379-a.jpg 2010 New Flyer DE40LFR Cummins ISL Allison EP40
hybrid system
  • Used on express routes only.
  • First order of diesel-electric hybrid buses.
  • Feature cushioned seats and reading lamps.
  • Recently repainted into the new red livery.
406-420 VIA Metropolitan Transit 409-a.jpg 2016 New Flyer XN40 Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B400R
421-691 VIA Metropolitan Transit 421-a.jpg 2016-2017 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport ISL G Voith D864.6
  • Part of a 5 year agreement for up to 500 buses to replace the aging diesel fleet.
692-735 VIA Metropolitan Transit 731-a.jpg 2018 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
736-757 VIA Metropolitan Transit 756-a.jpg 2020 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
758-785 2022 Gillig Low Floor 40' CNG
(G31D102N4) 		Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
  • First Gillig buses for VIA
  • First buses in the fleet to include USB charging ports underneath the seats
  • Order of 29 out of 113 buses
  • Currently on delivery
801-806 VIA Metropolitan Transit 801-a.jpg 2020 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
  • LFX styling.
  • Feature cushioned seats and reading lamps.
850 VIA Metropolitan Transit 850-a.jpg 2000 NABI 40-LFW
(040.05) 		Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Only remaining active NABI in fleet.
  • Used to issue new tap ID cards for future fare payment.
947-950 VIA Metropolitan Transit 947-a.jpg 2010 NABI 40-LFW CNG Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B400R
  • First order of CNG buses.
951-966 VIA Metropolitan Transit 955-a.jpg 2012 NABI 60-BRT CNG Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B500R
  • First order of articulated buses.
  • Used exclusively for the Primo (Route 100) service.
967-969 VIA Metropolitan Transit 967-a.jpg 2013 NABI 60-BRT CNG Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B500R
  • Purchased for fleet expansion when service was added to the city of Leon Valley.
970-987 VIA Metropolitan Transit 978-a.jpg 2018 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
  • LFX styling.
  • Primarily used on routes 102 and 103.
988-989 VIA Metropolitan Transit 988-a.jpg 2020 Nova Bus LFS Natural Gas Cummins Westport L9N Voith D864.6
  • LFX styling.
  • Primarily used on routes 102 and 103.

On Order

Fleet
Number(s) 		Thumbnail Build
Date 		Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
118-125 2022 Gillig Low Floor Plus
  • Order for 8 40-foot battery electric buses
  • Replacing the propane trolleys downtown
  • Expected delivery Fall 2022

Retired

Fleet
Number(s) 		Thumbnail Build
Date 		Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
77-95 1982-1983 Chance VS-24 Trolley replicas used in "Alamo Street Car" service.
96-100 1999 Optima AH-28 Propane Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R
101-114 (2nd) VIA Metropolitan Transit 114-a.jpg 2005 Optima AH-28 Propane Cummins Westport B LPG Plus Allison B300R
111-120 1980 Chance RT-50
115-117 VIA Metropolitan Transit 115-a.jpg 2012 Proterra EcoRide BE35
  • First electric buses in the fleet.
  • Only used on downtown circulator routes.
  • All retired and auctioned off in 2021.
123-129 1984 Chance RT-50
130-137 1985 Chance RT-50
138-177 1986 Chance RT-52
200-320 1977-1978 GMC RTS-01
(TH-8201) 		Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison V730
  • Bus 267 (VIN: 094) and bus 294 (VIN: 119) were bought from a private owner in late 2021 and early 2022 respectively, and are currently being restored by the South Texas Bus Preservationists at the Texas Transportation Museum in San Antonio, TX.
200-260 (2nd) VIA Metropolitan Transit 244-a.jpg 2003 NFI D40LF Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR ZF 5HP592C
321-443 1981 GMC RTS-04
(T7W-204) 		Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison V730
444-528 1984 GMC RTS-04
(T7W-204) 		Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison V730 506 was purchased by a private owner for an RV conversion project. It was not completed and was listed on Craigslist in South San Antonio, TX on 10/3/2019.[1]
529 1988 TMC RTS-06
(T70-606) 		Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V731
530-632 1988 TMC RTS-06
(T70-206) 		Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V731 1 unit (VIN: 1TUNDT2A2JR825715) was purchased by American Bus Coach Inc. and became a party limo bus numbered 105. It was spotted near Annandale, VA on 2/12/2018.[2]
633-662 1992 TMC RTS-06
(T80-206) 		Detroit Diesel 6L71TA Allison V731
663-729 (1st)
947 (1st) 		2000 Champion Solo Powered by propane fuel.
730-809 (2nd) VIA Metropolitan Transit 766-a.jpg 8/1999[3] NABI 40-LFW
(040.05) 		Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • First buses built in North America equipped with the Cummins ISL engine.
  • Some units were rebuilt using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
  • Some units were repainted into the new VIA wave livery.
810-889 VIA Metropolitan Transit 858-a.jpg 2000 NABI 40-LFW
(040.05) 		Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Some units were repainted into the new VIA wave livery.
  • 850 is the only bus still active for special duty.
890-946 VIA Metropolitan Transit 928-a.jpg 2001 NABI 40-LFW
(040.05) 		Cummins ISL Allison B400R Some units were repainted into the new VIA wave livery.
9901 1978 GMC RTS-01
(TH-8201) 		Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison V730
  • Original fleet number is 317
  • Listed for auction on PublicSurplus in October 2021.

VIAtrans pararansit

Fleet
Number(s) 		Thumbnail Build
Date 		Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
V-263 2006 Chevrolet C4500 cutaway VIN - 1GBE4V1GX6F413105
V-359 2013 Chevrolet G4500 cutaway VIN - 1GB6G5BB7D1130539

References

  1. ↑ sanantonio.craigslist.org
  2. ↑ www.facebook.com
  3. ↑ www.salvex.com
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