VIA staff members organized a strategic workshop called “Visioning for Success.” The workshop was held in September 2007 and was facilitated by Scott Polikov. As a result of this workshop, the VIA Board of Trustees and staff members revised the VIA vision and mission statements as well as goals and objectives. Formal adoption by the Board is pending.

VIA implemented many service revisions last year, all for the purpose of enhancing the riding experience.

New service to high growth areas. As this region continues to grow geographically and economically, the need for public transportation extends into areas that have been historically unserved. VIA has expanded bus and VIAtrans service into some of these high-growth areas in 2007, including the following:

• Bandera Road and Loop 1604 – VIA started a new route (608) to serve the Bandera Pointe commercial area.
• Fort Sam Houston, USO – A new express route (16) was started to serve military personnel at Fort Sam Houston who wish to visit the USO downtown on Saturdays.
• Blanco Road and Loop 1604 – An extension of route 2 was added to serve numerous retail and residential developments.
• Military Highway and Loop 1604 – VIA started a new route (97) to serve new commercial development.
• HEB Distribution Center – A portion of route 630 was extended to the Rittiman Road and IH-35 area to serve some 5,000 workers.
• Stone Oak Parkway and Sonterra Boulevard – Route 648 was extended along Sonterra Boulevard to Stone Oak Parkway to serve a burgeoning medical service area.
• Converse – Weekend service on route 21 was extended to include the entire route to the City of Converse.
• Madla Transit Center – Some routes (51, 520, 550/551) have been extended to provide service to the Senator Frank L. Madla Transit Center and Training Facility.
• Mission del Lago – Route 42 was modified to serve Mission del Lago and the area of U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604.
• Loop 410 and Pleasanton Road – Route 44 was extended to the area of Loop 410 and Pleasanton Road.
• Streetcar Service – The Yellow Streetcar route was reworked to provide frequent connections to peripheral parking at the Alamodome.

Service enhancements. VIA also made general enhancements to give riders more options and more frequent service.

• Entire span of service was increased to start one hour earlier (4:00 a.m.) and end one hour later (1:00 a.m.).
• Daily frequencies were increased for routes 603 and 613.
• Saturday frequency was increased for route 632.
• Route 14 received additional 15-minute service on Saturdays for increased capacity and schedule adherence.
• Route 44 was split to eliminate the large loop. Service is now covered by the new route 43 and the modified route 44.
• Daily frequency on route 76 was improved; extended peak.
• Daily frequency on route 615 was improved; peak only.

Improved reliability and accessibility. Several other route changes were made to improve schedule adherence and make the system accessible to larger numbers of people.

• Route changes were made to routes 21 and 602 to save time for a better schedule.
• Route changes to routes 9 and 20 improved accessibility to larger trip generators.
• Additional service was added to routes 21, 36, 90, 505, 509, 551, 602, and 604 to increase schedule adherence.

Ridership for the system has been up for the entire fiscal year, due in large part to increased gasoline prices and improved transit services. In October 2007, 3.91 million passenger trips were carried on VIA, making it the largest total for any month dating back to at least October 1996. Ridership has been rising since then, and overall ridership for FY 2008 is up 8.85 percent as of April.

Part of improving the overall riding experience is the addition of new and improved passenger facilities and amenities. Work has progressed on several properties in the last year, and riders can expect more comfort and convenience in the years to come.

West Side Multimodal Center. Work continues on the West Side Multimodal project, which has been in the planning and evaluation stages for many years. The latest site feasibility study began in February 2007, and a technical advisory committee was formed to oversee the procurement and study. In July 2007, the VIA Board of Trustees adopted the preferred alternative recommended by the study and directed staff to proceed with the project implementation. Acquisition is underway for two properties needed for the project.

South Texas Medical Center Transit Center. VIA has secured a property at the intersection of Medical Drive and Babcock Road to develop as the new South Texas Medical Center Transit Center. This location will also serve as the northern terminus for Bus Rapid Transit when it begins operation in 2012.

Senator Frank L. Madla Transit Center and Training Facility. A new transit facility was opened in the area of IH-35 and Zarzamora Street, the first of its kind on the South Side. The facility includes an information center with an air-conditioned waiting area, a ticket window, vending machines, restrooms, and real-time bus arrival displays, and there is a training center for new VIA bus and van operators next door. The facility was dedicated to the memory of the late Senator Frank L. Madla to honor his efforts to promote public transportation in San Antonio.

North Star Transit Center. The final design for this new facility at the intersection of Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue was completed in April 2008. Actual construction should start in the fall with an anticipated completion date in summer 2009.

Shelters and superstops. The number of new bus shelters being installed system-wide has increased from 324 to 408. An additional seven superstops were also erected.

Downtown Information Center. Progress continues on the development of the new location for VIA’s Downtown Information Center. The new 2,100 square foot facility at the intersection of Commerce Street and Flores Street should be finished by October 2008.

Downtown Information Center. Progress continues on the development of the new location for VIA’s Downtown Information Center. The new 2,100 square foot facility at the intersection of Commerce Street and Flores Street should be finished by October 2008.

Bus rapid transit, or BRT, is being explored as an option for improving travel along the Fredericksburg Road corridor, and several significant steps have been taken to advance the proposal.

In partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of San Antonio, VIA obtained an agreement on the tasks and funding strategies for implementation of the BRT project. Additionally, funding will come from the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Fredericksburg Road Microsimulation Model study that will help facilitate traffic simulation and analysis in the corridor.

A general engineering contractor was selected to oversee the development of the BRT line, and VIA is proceeding with the environmental assessment and preliminary engineering phase. VIA also selected two companies to work on the branding for the BRT line, and another company was chosen to assist with the transit-oriented development aspects of the project.

A project management team was also formed to work on selecting propulsion systems, fare collection equipment, and maintenance facility upgrades necessary for the implementation of bus rapid transit.

Several advancements were made to reduce VIA’s environmental impact, and the agency’s efforts were recognized by different organizations.

• E10 ethanol fuel was adopted for use in all gasoline-powered engines.
• B5 biodiesel was adopted for use in all diesel-powered engines.
• An alternative fuels report was presented to the Board of Trustees.
• 217 buses were retrofitted with fuel filling systems to reduce spills.
• A bus engine retrofit program was started to reduce emissions.
• New buses received and put into service are considerably cleaner than the buses they replaced.
• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ, inspected VIA’s
• The San Antonio Water System gave VIA high marks for its storm-water runoff efforts.
• The State Energy Conservation Office recognized VIA as one of the top five public agencies in Texas for energy conservation and air-quality improvement efforts.
• The Chicago office of the American Lung Association recognized the VIA fleet as one of the cleanest in the nation.

VIA works closely with the community to improve its reach and the services it provides. To make public transportation more accessible to greater numbers of people, VIA enters into partnerships with local public and private entities.

H-E-B Pass Sales. VIA has entered into an agreement with H-E-B to make VIA’s passes available for sale at the company’s grocery stores. In December 2007, VIA passes went on sale in 28 H-E-B stores, and VIA advertised the availability of the passes with interior bus cards and exterior bus ads.

Bexar County EZ Ride program renewal. VIA renewed its agreement with the Bexar County Commissioners Court to allow all county employees to ride the bus without paying a fare. The County pays VIA for the trips taken and promotes the rides as an employee benefit.

New participants in the EZ Ride program. Using the Bexar County agreement as a model, VIA expanded the EZ Ride program to include the City of San Antonio, the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

In May 2007, VIA launched a new version of its Web site. Several new features were included on the site, including the Online Store, a Commute Savings Calculator, a “How to Ride” video, and other videos that help riders learn more about VIA. The interactive system map was greatly improved with the redesign, and the Personal Trip Planner was also reworked to make planning bus trips easier and more informative.

The redesigned Web site earned VIA an award from The American Public Transportation Association, or APTA. VIA was presented with the award in the “Internet Home Page” category at the AdWheel ceremony held during APTA’s October 2007 annual meeting in Charlotte.

In the past year, VIA has implemented some changes that take advantage of the latest in technology to improve bus and van operations.

Laptop computers. All field supervisors received laptop computers. These computers give supervisors the ability to monitor bus and van service in real time so they can make adjustments as needed. Supervisors can also complete and save operator-related documentation, disseminate information via e-mail, and update detour lists instantly.

Video cameras. An on-board video camera surveillance system is being installed on VIA’s paratransit van fleet, and soon all buses will have the cameras as well.

Trapeze Ops Software. Bus operations staff members were involved in the development of the Trapeze Ops Software system, which will allow for more efficient assignment of work for operators and more efficient payroll processing.

VIA’s Facility Maintenance department undertook a number of initiatives to improve the riding experience and to reduce costs for the agency, including the following:

• A pressure-washing program was started to help keep high-traffic bus stops clean.
• In-house labor was used for remodeling carried out on many offices and conference rooms.
• In-house labor was also used to install the Simme bus seats that are mounted to bus-stop poles.
• The installation of new bus shelters and Simmer bus seats were absorbed without an increase in route maintenance labor.
• Parts-cleaning operations were moved to an outdoor site, thus reducing the heat load and environmental risk within the maintenance garage.
• The floor surface of the Kel-Lac Transit Center was replaced.
• Passenger amenities along the downtown service corridors were relocated to facilitate improvements to Main Plaza.

VIA received good news on several financial fronts in the previous year.

Annual pension financial audit. The VIA Pension Plan received a clean audit opinion without adjustments.

Status of reserve balances. All reserve balances are at prescribed levels.

Grant initiatives. VIA received several grants to help pay for improvements that will benefit riders and the larger community, including:

• 5307 Federal Transit Administration Formula grant – Total amount: $25,275,739. Federal share: $20,220,591.
• 5309 Federal Transit Administration Discretionary grant – Total amount: $3,243,100. Federal share: $2,594,480.
• Bus rapid transit – $4,900,000.
• Job Access/Reverse Commute – $3,090,000.
• Transit Security Grant Program (for security cameras and proximity doors) – $377,067 plus another $220,095 awarded later.
• Emissions Reduction Incentive grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality – $104,093.

An annual goal for VIA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program of 20.7 percent was adopted. It is anticipated that 6.37 percent of the goal will be attained by race-neutral measures and 14.33 percent by race-conscious measures.