The San Antonio City Council recently voted to allocate funds to help improve the city's public transit service, VIA Metropolitan Transit.

A $4.3 million investment from the City’s General Fund in the FY18 budget will significantly cut wait times on nine VIA routes and along five heavily-traveled corridors by May 2018.

“As we prepare to welcome roughly 1 million more people to our region over the next two decades, VIA will continue to be a good steward of its resources while building a stronger transit system to improve mobility and accessibility,” VIA President/CEO Jeff Arndt said.

Recent events impacting local gasoline supplies helped shed light on the real need for efficient and attractive public transportation choices.

VIA provides service to an area the size of Houston’s Metro Transit system but is funded by a one-half cent sales tax, compared to other major transit authorities in Texas which receive a full cent. Building a better bus system requires a greater investment of dollars but also a vision for a more sustainable future.