VIA Metropolitan Transit looks to secure the city’s ⅛-cent share of sales tax in the Nov. 3 election to aid the essential workers and an economic recovery.
The Advanced Proposition District would reallocate the ⅛-cent sales tax starting in January, 2026. It was created through a joint effort from city officials and VIA’s board of trustees. The increased funding from the proposition would total $38.5 million, according to VIA.
VIA’s main goal is detailed in its flagship program called “Keep SA Moving.” It is going to help the city adjust to COVID-19 effects and the city ‘s growth, said Marisa Bono, VIA’s chief strategic officer, during a Zoom interview from October 9, 2020.
“It’s designed to respond to our changing landscape due to COVID-19, but it also serves to improve the transit mobility network that contributes to our economy and will address our population growth,” Bono said.
Based on community feedback from a 3-5 year community survey, VIA is committed to not only addressing the city’s future growth, but the requests coming from the citizens
“In order to ensure those benefits we have to look outside just traditional bus service,” Bono sad.
Mobility on Demand is one avenue VIA is looking to expand. Known as “VIA link”, it operates much like other well-known rideshare apps. One would either download the app and reserve a date and time to be picked up or make a reservation by calling the reservation hotline. The Keep SA Moving plan would be able to expand VIA link’s accessibility from 17 square miles to about 300 square miles.
VIA link offers residents the benefits of traditional ride share apps but at the cost of a normal bus fare, $1.30.
VIA is helping the city move forward with the recent addition of a new high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane traveling from eastbound lanes of I-10 from Ralph Fair Road to La Cantera.
The proposition will strengthen and fund the transportation for essential workers that rely on VIA, Bono said.
“The reality is that our riders are offering a service to this community. They’re the ones who are keeping the economy running during this pandemic, and they will continue to keep it running during recovery,” Bono said.
Computer science freshman Judith Juan Cortez is an avid VIA transportation user. Cortez’s reasons for using the bus are to help reduce carbon emissions.
“I use the bus to get around the city and explore, while also trying to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible,” Cortez said Monday, Oct. 26 as she got off the bus at the Verano Parkway stop by campus.
At the time of the interview she had not voted yet, but planned on casting her ballot soon. Her decision for or against the proposition will be an informed decision, Cortez said.
For more information about the Keep SA Moving plan, click here for a summary of VIA’s long-term plan.
