VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt at the unveiling announcement.
1 min to read
VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt at the unveiling announcement.
San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit and the City of Kirby announced the completion of key enhancements at several VIA bus stop locations, including solar-powered NextGen shelters and improved sidewalk access.
The City of Kirby will be among the first in VIA’s 14 member cities to feature solar-powered lights installed in nine new VIA bus shelters. VIA’s Fleet and Facilities Division designed the innovative solar lighting components that are able to operate with exposure to about six hours of sunlight per day.
As part of the project, VIA provided crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and connections, bus stopping pads within the roadway and seven new NextGen shelters. Each of the new shelters features solar lighting and custom roof panels highlighting the City Seal of Kirby and markers along the area’s Old Spanish Trail route.
The construction work for this project also reflects VIA’s commitment to local business. A local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Industrial Construction Co., completed the construction work for the shelter pads, sidewalks and bus pads.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
