Spotlight On: Jeffrey Arndt, President & CEO, VIA Metropolitan Transit
October 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Jeffrey Arndt, president & CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, discussed VIA’s response to San Antonio’s growth, the role of the Community Office in the VIA Rapid Green Line development, public transit’s impact on mobility, technological advancements and VIA’s future plans, including funding for rapid transit lines and the expansion of VIA Link.
How is your organization adapting to accommodate the influx of new residents and the continued growth in the San Antonio region?
San Antonio is a great place to live. A significant number of people are coming from Austin due to lower living costs. Additionally, COVID has made remote work more acceptable, allowing people to live and work anywhere. This could lead to more people moving to places like New Braunfels and San Antonio.
Shifting to transportation, unlike water and energy companies, which encourage conservation, we don’t have a structured response to capacity issues other than expanding our infrastructure. This approach doesn’t encourage people to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use. Instead, we keep widening roads, which is unsustainable.
As we continue to grow, we need to think collectively about maximizing transportation infrastructure utility. It’s essential to focus on moving people and goods efficiently, not just accommodating more vehicles. We should explore alternative ways to move people, such as public transit or carpooling, similar to how energy companies diversify their sources.
What role does the newly opened Community Office play in advancing the development of the VIA Rapid Green Line?
The importance of the rapid transit project known as Advanced Rapid Transit (ART), marks the first time that VIA and the community have come together to invest in rapid transit. We recognize that San Antonio is unique in that it currently lacks any form of rapid transit, making us one of the largest cities in America without such a system. To truly become a multimodal city and offer attractive transportation options for our entire community, we saw the need to pursue rapid transit.
One key aspect to note is that this is the first rapid transit line in our city, and not everyone has the context for what this entails. Unlike cities such as Houston with multiple transit lines, we don’t have the same level of familiarity with rapid transit. Our challenge is to effectively communicate what ART is, its construction impacts and how it can benefit individuals, businesses and neighborhoods.
To address this communication challenge, we strategically located our project office in the heart of the community, particularly in the area where the most significant physical changes will occur along San Pedro’s northern section. This central location allows community members to easily access information about the project. They can visit the office, examine the plans and ask questions without having to wait for a distant community meeting. We understand that not everyone can spare the time or has the inclination to attend large community gatherings, so our aim is to make information readily available to all. This investment in the project office is a source of pride for us and reflects our commitment to engaging with and serving our community effectively.
How critical is public transit for enhancing social and economic mobility?
I believe economic mobility is closely tied to physical mobility. Job training and qualifications are essential, but without physical access to desired jobs, opportunities are limited. Our transit system, particularly the green and silver lines, is designed to connect people to better quality of life opportunities. Many of our riders have low incomes and lack personal access to cars. They rely on public transit for essential trips, such as reaching jobs or medical appointments, like dialysis clinics, which are vital for saving lives.
How rapidly can we anticipate increased automation in public transit systems?
In the future of automation, various technological advancements are already in place, particularly in the realm of public transportation. This includes the use of apps for fare payments and services like VIA Link, similar to ride-sharing platforms. Additionally, safety improvements, akin to those found in modern cars, are being integrated into public transit systems.
A notable technological project is the deployment of NaviLens, designed primarily for visually impaired individuals to navigate bus systems. Each bus stop will feature a large, easily scannable QR code that provides information about the stop’s location and upcoming bus arrivals. This technology benefits both visually impaired and sighted passengers.
In terms of environmental sustainability, there has been a significant shift away from diesel buses, with most of the transit system now using compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that emit significantly less NOx, a precursor to ozone pollution. The transition towards zero-emission technologies such as electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses is expected to further enhance environmental friendliness.
Regarding fully automated buses, while it is a possibility, it may not happen in the very near future. Many automated vehicle projects currently have fail-safe mechanisms in place, where a human can intervene if needed. Automation offers both efficiency and safety benefits, but its widespread adoption may take more time compared to advancements in fueling technologies.
What are the key initiatives driving VIA’s future plans and agenda?
We are currently focused on securing funding for the Green and Silver rapid transit lines. The Green Line has been included in the president’s budget for the first time, which is a significant milestone. We’ve also applied for funding for the Silver Line, although we still need to secure some additional funding for it. Our goal for 2024 is to obtain a full funding grant agreement from the Federal Transit Administration for the Green Line, totaling $420 million to $450 million. This is crucial for the project, and it’s a big deal for our city. We’ve received a medium-high rating from the Federal Transit Administration, which gives us some breathing room. We’re now waiting for their approval to move into the final design phase.
While the silver line is in the early planning stages, we’ve submitted information to the Federal Transit Administration, and I hope to see it included in the President’s budget next year. We’re also pleased to report that our ridership has increased by 15-19% compared to last year, despite the challenges posed by COVID. To further boost ridership, we need to increase the frequency of our services back to 2019 levels. However, we’ve faced challenges in recruiting and training bus operators over the past year due to attrition. Getting our operator workforce back to its previous levels is a priority so we can improve service and rebuild ridership.
How does VIA Link add to transportation options in the city?
VIA Link it’s an innovative transportation product. Currently, we have three zones operating like Uber or Lyft within them. You can travel point to point within a zone for $1.30, and transfers to the bus system are free. This is appealing because of our growth and remote suburbanization. Lower-density areas with gated neighborhoods don’t work well with traditional fixed bus routes. In most cases, we had a single bus route coming once an hour, forcing people to adhere to the schedule. With VIA Link, the response time is typically 10 minutes, giving riders more control. Traditional routes only traveled down one street, making them unattractive if you were far from it or needed to go across town. VIA Link allows for lateral travel within the zone. We’re expanding with a fourth zone in October.
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