UPDATED: 11:36 a.m., March 7
VIA Metropolitan Transit (VIA) held two public meetings on Feb. 17 and 18 to showcase proposed improvements along Zarzamora Street and SW Military Drive for bus riders in south San Antonio. These improvements call for the extension of a bus rapid transit service, also known as Primo.
This can lead to faster transportation services to both Texas A&M University-SAn Antonio campuses.
The public meeting gave residents an opportunity to view and comment on the two new planned Primo expansions. One Primo route starts at the Medical Transit Center to the Madla Transit Center and the second from Kel-Lac Transit Center to the planned Brooks Transit Center at Brooks City-Base.
For students and staff of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Primo will not continue to the Main Campus but stop at the Madla Transit Center, located at the intersection of South Zarzamora Street and IH-35 South. No changes will be made to route 520 that services Palo Alto College and A&M- San Antonio.
“I’m okay with the current schedule, it’s not too bad,” psychology senior Lucy Lopez said. “There’s only about three of us that get off here in the mornings, so I can see why they don’t come by more often.”
“VIA is constantly evaluating and monitoring routes for performance and demand,” Lorraine Pulido, VIA communications manager and public information officer said. “As growth continues in and around A&M-San Antonio and Palo Alto College, VIA will monitor travel demand patterns to determine adjustments to either regular service or Primo service.”
The new Primo bus, compared to a regular VIA bus, runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), which saves on fuel cost and reduces emissions.
Primo buses have a Transit Signal Priority (TSP) device that helps reduce travel time by extending a green-light or shortens the red-light wait time at intersections. They make fewer in-between stops and arrive at stations every 12 minutes, which is faster than regular bus service.
The new South/West Corridor Transit Project will be funded by a combination of state and VIA funds, which is estimated to be $52 million, excluding the cost for the new Primo buses.
Existing local bus stops inside this corridor will be upgraded in coordination with the Primo Station stops as part of a citywide initiative to bring 1,000 new shelter stops by the end of 2017.
These next-generation stops will have additional lighting and a modular design. Primo Stations will have solar lighting, free Wi-Fi access, security cameras, and real-time arrival signs.
The shelters will incorporate public art according to the site’s location and in respect to the surrounding community. VIA will commission and fund an open call for artists.
VIA, along with their design teams, will help the city identify the locations for all the new Primo Shelters and acquisitions of small strips of property needed to place them.
VIA plans an early 2017 construction start with full Primo service to begin in the summer of 2018.
For more information on this project or to have your comments heard, email VIA at GCR@viainfo.net or visit viasmartmove.com.
Full Disclosure: Lorraine Pulido is an adjunct faculty member in the Communication Program at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
