AT A GLANCE
• The proposed pilot would apply to VIA’s five highest-ridership routes, representing 25% of total ridership.
• The program would run for six months, potentially beginning July 1, 2026.
• VIA has been asked to submit a written implementation plan by March 11, 2026.
• Fares currently make up about 5% of VIA’s operating budget.
• VIA must outline its top five concerns and propose mitigation strategies.
The Proposed Fare-Free Pilot Would Apply to Via’s Five Busiest Routes, Which Account for Roughly 25% of Total Ridership
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has formally requested that VIA Metropolitan Transit provide a written plan detailing how a six-month fare-free pilot program could be implemented on the agency’s five most-used bus routes — corridors that together account for approximately 25% of total ridership.
In a February 16, 2026 letter to VIA President and CEO Jon Gary Herrera, the Mayor asked VIA to outline how such a pilot could be structured, including a potential July 1, 2026 start date.
The request follows a VIA update presented to the Mayor and City Council on February 11.
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Focus on High-Ridership Corridors
The proposed pilot would not apply systemwide. Instead, it would target the busiest routes in VIA’s network — the lines that carry the highest number of daily riders across the city.
By focusing on these corridors, the pilot would directly impact one in four VIA riders, making the proposal one of the most significant potential service shifts in recent years.
Financial and Operational Questions
In her letter, the Mayor asked VIA to identify its top five concerns with implementing a fare-free pilot and to provide proposed solutions to mitigate those issues.
The letter also notes that fares currently account for roughly 5% of VIA’s operating budget. The Mayor requested three options to offset that revenue if fares were suspended on the selected routes. If the City Council approves the use of Telecom Tax revenues, VIA may only need to offset approximately 3% of its operating budget.
Any proposed offsets, the Mayor wrote, should not impact progress on the Green or Silver Lines.
Council Support for Exploration
“There has long been interest in moving to a fare-free system,” Mayor Jones said. “My ask to VIA on how a 6-month pilot program may work in practice moves us one step closer to helping our most cost-burdened neighbors with their transportation needs.”
Councilmembers Ric Galvan (District 6), Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (District 2), and Edward Mungia (District 4) voiced support for further exploration of the pilot, citing equity, access to employment, healthcare, and relief for working-class families.
VIA is expected to submit its written plan by March 11. City leaders will then evaluate whether and how to move forward with the proposed fare-free pilot on the city’s highest-ridership routes.
Read the Mayor’s letter to VIA below.
