SAN ANTONIO — On Monday, U.S Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recommended that 14 major transit construction projects across the country receive nearly $4 billion in federal support as part of President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request to Congress.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to support funding for 14 large projects that will expand transit for millions of Americans across the country,” said Buttigieg.
According to a press release, these projects will bring "transformative change in their respective communities by providing transit opportunities to new riders, creating jobs, and jumpstarting economic development."
San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit is among projects listed in the press release that will be supported by this action.
The President’s FY 2025 Budget request proposes $109.7 million is recommended for the proposed VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Advanced Rapid Transit North/South Corridor Project, a project that was recommended in prior budgets for funding but has not yet entered into a construction grant agreement.
This would mean the implementation of a bus rapid transit project from the San Antonio International Airport, through downtown, to Steves Avenue in the south.
It would connect key destinations along the corridor including North Star Mall, Baptist Medical Center, Missions National Historic Park, and other high-density commercial and residential areas. The project also includes 8 miles of dedicated transit lanes, stations, and the purchase of vehicles.
Additionally, the President’s FY 2025 Budget request recommends first time funding of $134.7 million for the VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Advanced Rapid Transit East/West Corridor Project.
This project would provide bus rapid transit connecting key destinations, including the Alamo, the Riverwalk, the University of Texas San Antonio Downtown Campus and downtown.
According to the press release, it would serve a corridor with a high proportion of low-income and zero-car households, older adults, people with disabilities and minority groups. It includes 5.1 miles of dedicated transit lanes, stations, and the purchase of low or no-emission vehicles.
The Capital Investment Grants (CIG) and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot programs are the Federal government’s primary grant programs supporting the new large transit capital projects across the country that are locally planned, implemented, and operated.
These efforts are a part of the president’s Investing in America agenda, backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
According to the Biden-Harris administration, the law (enacted in Nov. 2021) aims to expand and modernize infrastructure and public transit while considering other key issues such as climate change.
“Public transportation connects people to jobs, school, family, and more – and when transit reaches more people and communities, its impact is even greater,” said Buttigieg.