VIA Link - VIA Metropolitan Transit (2024)

Other ways to book:

Book Your Ride Online
Call

• Call (210) 655-Link [5465]
• Provide a VIA Link agent a pick-up name, your current location and where you’d like to go.
• Confirm your route.

VIA LINK TIP

You can ride instantly or schedule a ride up to seven days in advance. You will receive a confirmation and alert once your ride is booked.

VIA Link is transit service when you need it. It’s an innovative program designed to provide on-demand transit in the Northeast, Northwest and Southside San Antonio areas. VIA Link is a ride-sharing program where people may share a ride with as many as four other people. Like Uber or Lyft service, customers can request a trip through a convenient app and can begin and end a trip anywhere within the zone or connect with the regular VIA bus service to continue their trip.

It’s not a door-to-door service, rather operates in a network of designated stops within the service area. Stops could include existing VIA stops or shelters, as well as other locations set up for VIA Link.

A VIA Link vehicle will pick up customers at their chosen pickup point, which often may be an existing bus stop and take them anywhere within the zone.

In the Naco Pass Zone, the Naco Pass Transit Hub is the transfer point where riders can transfer to VIA bus routes 14 and 502. In the Mainland Zone, customers have three options to travel on a bus outside the zone:

• Mainland Bus Stop: Routes 88, 609

• UTSA campus: Routes 93, 501, 603

• Northwest Vista College Campus: Routes 63, 620

The vehicles are operated by RideCo, however, they are branded with VIA Link markings as well.
Fares are the same as regular VIA bus service, but frequency and reliability have improved.

The VIA Link fare is the same as regular VIA bus fares and reduced fares. That’s $1.30 per trip, with free transfers. Reduce fares for seniors, students and military apply.

If you have a VIA bus pass it will work with all modes of transportation, if you have a single ride and buy a transfer then you will be able to transfer between bus service and VIA Linkservice.

VIA Link service will offer shorter wait times and better reliability in the service area. VIA anticipates wait times no longer than 30 mins. from time of reservation to time of pickup from your requested location.

On-demand trips mean you can access service when you need it, instead of having to plan your trip around a bus route schedule.

Service is provided in a van that will make short trips within the service area. Riders can’t hail a VIA Link vehicle from the curb, like they would a bus. Trips must be scheduled in advance. Riders must plan a separate bus trip to complete any trip outside the zone.

When you book a ride with VIA Link you are making a commitment to the system and the driver as a schedule is created to accommodate your trip. If due to some reason you are not able to take the ride, we advise you to cancel as soon as possible.

Excessive last-minute cancellations or no-shows can result in the suspension of your user account.

If you are passenger with bike, you can book a seat with Regular(bike) option.

If you are Accessible needs passenger, you can book a seat with Accessible option. You also have the option to add up to 3 seats for any companions traveling with you.

Other passengers can book up to 5 seats with Regular option.

Do note that all passengers in 1 booking need to travel at the same time and get picked up and dropped off at the same stops.

VIA has partnered with RideCo for its VIA Link pilot. RideCo is working with zTrip to provide trained drivers for quality on-demand service.

As with all VIA operators and contracted operators, all drivers must pass a background check and complete appropriate training. Additional screenings, such as drug and alcohol testing, will also be performed.

Yes. Vehicles are operated by a contractor who performs background checks on their drivers, provides training, and does drug and alcohol testing.

All vehicles must comply with safety and accessibility requirements.

Book trips with theVIA Link mobile app (Apple App Store or Google Play), on the web, or by phone. Pay cash upon boarding the vehicle, or pre-pay through VIA’s goMobile App.

You can book a trip on VIA Link website page, however you will not receive automatic alerts about the status of your trip as you would when using the mobile app.

When you make reservation, you will be able to choose from a list of options for the pick-up and drop off times that bests suits your schedule.

Trips may be scheduled as little as 30 minutes and up to 7 days in advance.

Choose a date or time in advance. Bookings can be made on-demand up to 7 days in advance.

You have the option to book for multiple days with the same pick-up and drop off schedule.

For patrons without a computer, smart phone or ability to use the app, you can call (210) 655-Link [5465] to schedule your trip through a reservation center. The reservation center will be able to give you a vehicle arrival time, along with confirming your pickup and drop off location. You may also visit the VIA Link website to book a trip.

The service can also get you to a transfer point where you will have access to a regular VIA bus route that will get to your destination. You also may ride a regular VIA bus to the nearest transfer point and transfer to VIA Link to complete your trip.

If your destination is outside its designated VIA Link zone, you may schedule a trip to the nearest transfer point to transfer to other VIA bus routes.

Transfer Points

• Naco Pass Zone – Naco Pass Transfer Point (Naco Pass at Uhr Lane)

• Mainland Zone
♦ Mainland (adjacent to Walmart Supercenter)
♦ UTSA (Oval past Peace Circle)
♦ Northwest Vista College (Near Mountain Laurel Hall Entrance)

• Madla Zone – Madla Transit Center (1584 Cantrell, 78221)

• Randolph Zone – Randolph Transit Center (9400 IH 35 North, 78233)

Car seats are not required under Texas law on VIA Transit vehicles; however, you may bring your own car seat to use on a VIA Link vehicle. Please let us know you’re bringing a car seat in the special instructions area when booking your trip on the mobile app.

If you are bringing a car seat, make sure you reserve an extra seat in the vehicle so it can be secured, so your space is reserved, etc.

Items allowed on VIA vehicles will also be allowed on VIA Link trips. See VIA’s Code of Conduct for details.

If you are carrying a particularly large package or object, you may want to book an extra seat to ensure you will have room to take it on the VIA Link vehicle.

Although you can hold smaller objects in your lap or put them on the floor, they must not interfere with the safe and speedy on-boarding and off-boarding of fellow passengers or block access and prevent use of seats you have not booked and paid for.