(March 20, 2019) – UTSA today announced a new partnership with VIA Metropolitan Transit that provides the entire university community with free bus passes to transport them between campuses and throughout San Antonio.
Beginning with the fall 2019 semester, VIA will provide free, unlimited access to bus service anywhere in the city for current students, faculty and staff. As San Antonio’s urban serving university, the VIA U-Pass program will offer cost savings and sustainable commuting options for all Roadrunners.
“This agreement with VIA will radically change the way UTSA approaches transportation,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “The VIA U-Pass will allow students, faculty and staff to easily move between UTSA’s campuses—and throughout San Antonio—with minimal environmental impact. Given our plans to increase enrollment to 45,000 in the next decade, this is a worthy investment that takes some financial pressure off our students while supporting the city’s sustainable transportation goals.”
The program—which will be funded fully by UTSA without any student transportation fee increases—will make it easier for Roadrunners to leave their cars at home, reducing congestion on campus roads and parking lots. VIA has a wide range of routes across the San Antonio region, including route 93 and route 94 which provide convenient and quick transportation between the university’s Main and Downtown campuses.
UTSA’s campus transit system, The ’Runner, will continue to provide Main Campus transportation to and from on-campus parking lots and select nearby apartment complexes. Additionally, campus ride sharing programs are currently being explored under the leadership of UTSA’s new Vice President of Business Affairs Veronica Mendez.
University administrators first began looking into the VIA collaboration after an internal survey initiated by the Downtown Campus Task Force showed strong interest on the part of students and employees in alternative transportation options between campuses.
“The VIA U-Pass program will advance our efforts to reduce UTSA’s carbon footprint and alleviate on-campus traffic,” said Clay Haverland, UTSA assistant vice president for Campus Services. “We are excited to move into this new era of expanded transportation opportunities.”
U-Pass riders must be currently registered UTSA students or full-time or part-time paid employees of the university. To board a VIA bus, riders will use the VIA goMobile ticketing app as their credential. All VIA buses offer instant access to the Bexar BiblioTech e-library and free 4G LTE Wi-Fi, allowing students and employees to stay connected while traveling.
VIA will monitor ridership and route use by the UTSA community, with the option to adjust routes as needed.
“We aim to offer all our students a comprehensive living and learning experience,” said Sam Gonzales, UTSA vice president for student affairs. “The VIA U-Pass will make it even easier for them to pursue experiential learning opportunities and fully engage with the city of San Antonio.”
Get VIA routes and service information.
Learn more about on-campus transportation and parking.
Celebrate UTSA’s 50th Anniversary and share social media posts about the 50th using the hashtag #UTSA50.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Emerging artists work in the full range of traditional methods and materials as well as in interdisciplinary and new media. Themes range from social and cultural critique to investigations that are challenging and exquisite explorations in creative form and image.
UTSA Art Gallery, Arts Building, Main CampusJuan Vallejo’s art conveys his experience as a childhood migrant worker. Opening reception: Thurs, Dec. 5, 6–9 p.m. Free and open to the public.
UTSA Terminal 136, Blue Star Arts Complex, 136 Blue St., San AntonioPortions of Cook Road will be closed for construction related to the new Student Success Center project and Americans with Disabilities Act sidewalk upgrades.
Cook Road, Main CampusOut of the violence comes a silence, then a song. Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music and peace. A remarkable true experience, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it. UTSA partners with The Public Theater for this event. Contact the theater at (210) 458-3288 for scheduling requests.
Buena Vista Theater, Downtown CampusForty-six modular units will be delivered to Main Campus as part of the new Student Success Center project. The units will enter campus at Brennan Avenue and will travel to their final destination, south of the North Paseo Building and Graduate School and Research Building via Tobin Avenue, Bauerle Road and Devine Avenue.
Brennan Avenue, Tobin Avenue, Bauerle Road, Devine Avenue, Main CampusEnjoy two classic holiday performances. Children’s Ballet of San Antonio will present two of The Nutcracker. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church will perform a traditional Pastorela play, a morality tale about shepherds going to Bethlehem and the snares the devil uses to dissuade them. Performances are included with regular ITC admission.
UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 E. César E. Chavez Blvd., San AntonioCelebrating graduating students from the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Guest speaker: Susan Pape '86, chairman of the San Antonio Express-News.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St., San AntonioThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
