(July 26, 2012) --The new campus oval on the UTSA Main Campus, opening for bus traffic in August, will serve thousands of bus passengers each year. The VIA bus routes serving the UTSA Main Campus and two UTSA shuttle routes will use bus stops on the oval.

New bus shelters on the campus oval will provide shade for riders waiting for the bus. Sidewalks across the oval, to be completed in the fall, will provide easy access to the central campus core. And, landscaping to complement the existing native trees and enhance the pedestrian-friendly green space also will be completed in the fall.

To enhance safety, the oval will be open to bus traffic and UTSA service vehicles only. Personal vehicles will not be allowed on the oval.

Five VIA routes currently serve the Main Campus. In December 2012, VIA Primo service is expected to come to both the UTSA Main and Downtown campuses. Previously referred to as bus rapid transit, Primo will provide an upgraded service along a route from a new multi-modal station near the UTSA Downtown Campus, to the Medical Center district and then on to the UTSA Main Campus.

Primo service will have transit signal priority to speed up arrival times, on-board bike storage, free Wi-Fi and LCD information displays indicating real-time arrival information. VIA has offered the UTSA community a special introduction to the Primo buses. Look for upcoming information on a preview of the bus and its amenities on campus in early fall.

According to VIA, Primo will use modern rubber-tire, high-capacity vehicles, improved fare collection systems and controlled traffic signals to move riders more efficiently. Boarding will be at stations rather than bus stops, and riders using the premier transit service will get to their destinations faster. For more information, visit the VIA Primo website.

UTSA shuttle routes run from 7 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. In the coming academic year, for the first time, limited summer shuttle service will be offered.