VIA Link Service Reaches Northeast Lakeview College

VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT NEWS RELEASE

VIA Link Service Reaches Northeast Lakeview College
Expansion approval paves the way for new transit options in more areas

SAN ANTONIO (June 26, 2024) – VIA will begin offering VIA Link service to Northeast Lakeview College in August, expanding the on-demand transit option and making it fare-free to students and faculty at the Alamo Colleges District campus.

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the expansion Tuesday. The City of Live Oak is de-annexing a portion of the Alamo Colleges property at Northeast Lakeview so VIA Link transit services could be offered to students, faculty and staff.

Live Oak is not one of 14 member cities in the VIA service area. The de-annexation was necessary to open the campus to service. Northeast Lakeview was the only Alamo Colleges campus outside the service area.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 19, VIA customers can travel between the Northeast Lakeview College campus and the Randolph and Naco Pass VIA Link zones. The campus will have two drop-off/pick-up locations: one at PaluxyHall and the other at Kruse Circle.

VIA Link is available at the same fares as VIA bus service — $1.30 full fare per trip. Discounts apply, including VIA’s U-Pass program that makes access to all VIA services, including VIA Link, free for students, faculty and staff.

VIA Link trips can be booked through the VIA Link app, online at VIAinfo.net/Link or by phone at (210) 655-Link [5465]. Each van can seat up to five passengers and can accommodate individuals who have a mobility impairment. Vehicles with a bike rack can be requested during trip booking.

Below are the hours of operation for the two zones, including service to Northeast Lakeview:

VIA Link Randolph: 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
VIA Link Naco Pass (Northeast zone): 5 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily

MORE ABOUT VIA LINK

VIA Link service replaces fixed routes in designated zones with more frequent service for the same fares as regular bus service. VIA currently operates the rideshare service in four distinct zones around the region. Customers can book trips using a free app, online portal, or by phone. They're usually picked up within 10-20 minutes of booking — an improvement from the current wait times on bus service — and can track and rate their rides. Passengers can travel anywhere in the zone or to convenient transfer points to connect with the full VIA system. The flexibility provides better frequency and decreased travel times, minimizes walking distances, and offers more pick-up and drop-off locations.

Expanding on-demand service is part of VIA’s Keep SA Moving plan that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2020. It’s part of a plan to provide smart transit options, using technology and partnerships for better service. Learn more at VIAinfo.net/LINK and download the VIA Link brochure, or call (210) 362-2020. The VIA goMobile+ app is available on Apple and Android smartphones. Visit VIAinfo.net/goMobile for more information.

About VIA Metropolitan Transit
VIA provides safe, reliable transportation options that put opportunity within reach for millions of passengers each year. VIA began operation in 1978 and today serves 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, operating seven days a week on 77 routes, with complementing VIAtrans paratransit service and VIA Link on-demand options. VIA’s family of services help connect our community, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout the region. In 2020, voters approved funding for VIA’s Keep SA Moving plan,in support of projects designed for a modern mass transit system in San Antonio and Bexar County. Visit VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.