SAN ANTONIO — A new advanced rapid transit line will soon be coming to San Antonio.
The Silver Line will connect the west side, starting around Our Lady of the Lake University, to the east side at the Frost Bank Center.
"The Silver Line was put out there as early as 2019 as part of the effort of the work that (former Mayor) Henry Cisneros and his group did and presented," said Jeffrey Arndt, CEO and president of VIA Metropolitan Transit. "So the Silver Line was always the next line."
On Tuesday, Bexar County commissioners agreed to fund the last portion of the $289.2 million project by contributing $100 million from existing funding.
"The beauty of this proposal is that it negotiated not to put a financial burden on the homeowner or taxpayer," said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai.
Since 2004, a percentage of sales tax earmarked for transportation projects has been collected and saved. To use the funding, other dollars, federal or otherwise, need to also be contributed to the project.
"We would never cross the finish line and we wouldn't receive any federal funding unless we had shored up that gap," Arndt said.
VIA will be contributing $42 million of its own funding that also comes from sales tax dollars. The federal government will be contributing $146.7 million. By the end of the fiscal year, the county would have $92 million saved out of the $102 million it will be contributing.
"Based on our future projections, it's our hope, my hope, that we'll be able to deliver the entire $102 million to VIA by this time next year," said David Smith, Bexar County manager.
The VIA Rapid Silver Line will be very similar to the already funded Green ART Line that's already funded and will connect San Antonio's north and south sides.
"It's more than a bus stop. It's about economic development," Sakai said. "The monies we're putting in is substantial and the beauty of this is we're partnering with the federal government. This is not going to be the last partnership we have with the federal government. They're excited to know about the projects that happen here in our community; they're even more excited when they see us work together. "
Two existing bus routes service those areas to a certain extent. Route 24 goes down Houston Street, past Frost Bank Center, and ends downtown at Centro Plaza. Route 25 goes from to the west side, but to make it to Our Lady of the Lake University, 25 continues the route and switches bus numbers to 75.
Neighbors in the area where the Silver Line would go through have mixed reaction.
Some told KENS 5 any reduction on commute time through public transportation would be a step in the right direction. One neighbor said they didn't believe it'd be much faster than existing bus lines that already come through the area every 15 minutes.
"Typically we're estimating about 25% less time and increased reliability, which you cannot discount, and increased frequency, which makes the total travel time less because the wait for the bus is less," Arndt said.
An additional $2 million were contributed by the county so fares would be free for the first year that the Rapid Transit Green line and the Rapid Transit Silver lines would be operating.
The Silver Line is projected to start servicing San Antonians in 2029.
The community is being asked to give feedback to VIA on the proposal and will have four community conversations that are scheduled for September. For more information, click HERE.