VIA Board Adopts $274M Operating Budget

VIA Metropolitan Transit announced its Fiscal Year 2023 budget keeps the agency focused on improvements for mobility in San Antonio, with service adjustments and innovations, and advancing Keep San Antonio Moving (KSAM) projects, including two Advanced Rapid Transit corridors and two new VIA Link zones.

VIA’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the FY23 Operating Budget and Five-Year Capital Plan. The total consolidated budget in FY23 is $406.6 million ($274 million operating, $132.6M capital) with no fare increases. The new fiscal year began on Oct. 1. 

Work related to VIA’s new Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) project will continue with the North/South corridor from the San Antonio Airport, along San Pedro Avenue, through Downtown and south to the Missions area, and a second corridor connecting East to West being developed, according to VIA. The agency said the project is the first in San Antonio to leverage federal dollars in the form of Capital Investment Grants and represents a key focus of VIA’s year-over-year investment increases.  

VIA’s $748.4 million Five-Year Capital Plan (FY23-27) includes $499 million, or 67% of the total, to support KSAM. It will allow for the purchase of 17 Prímo buses, 50 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, and 15 vans in FY23. From FY23-27 VIA said it will add 103 CNG buses and 139 vans. The remainder covers various facilities and other projects.

The FY23 budget was developed looking at a five-year planning horizon, according to VIA.