As a somewhat frequent VIA bus rider and supporter of public transit in San Antonio, I appreciate the importance of public transportation in our city. However, the fact that VIA Link replaced routes 629 & 630 has been unsatisfactory. Why replace existing bus service instead of improving it, or allowing both services to run concurrently, allowing more flexibility. Some riders, including myself, find VIA Link inferior to traditional bus service in most instances. I believe that bus service should be reinstated and run concurrently with VIA Link.

VIA Link was intended to improve public transportation. It has succeeded in this; however, the replacement of routes 629 & 630 seems unnecessary to me. VIA Link vans have generally proven to be unreliable and inconsistent, making connections to traditional bus service difficult. Personally, traditional scheduled bus service was familiar and easier to plan around. Some riders, including myself, feel VIA is trying to appear progressive without truly addressing commuter needs. 

Environmentally, gas-powered VIA Link vans (shown in the image) emit more greenhouse gasses than cleaner CNG buses, contradicting VIA’s “…plan to deliver environmentally-friendly transit options for San Antonio and Bexar County." (2021) The combined VIA Link vans produce way more emissions compared to the two buses that used to run on routes 629 and 630.

VIA Link should provide transit access to areas without traditional bus service, not replace existing routes that can be improved. For this reason, bus service should be brought back to run concurrently with VIA Link. Trying to connect to busses at Randolph Park and Ride? Bus service makes more sense to commute in most cases. Trying to get to the grocery store, a doctors appointment, or the gym? VIA Link works best for that. If both these services ran concurrently, it would provide more flexible options for riders.

VIA Link's predictability and reliability are issues. With VIA Link, you must book a ride ahead of time, which is more inconvenient than having a schedule Vans are often late, unlike the consistent schedules of routes 629 and 630. VIA Link's wait times depend on driver availability, leading to longer wait times, which is an issue not faced with traditional bus service. 

VIA Link replacing routes has made sense in some areas. This is because of poor service hours, likely low ridership, and a far distance from the garage, such as routes 640, 641, 642, 660, and 672. Routes 629 & 630 had better service hours, thus likely receiving more ridership, and were not at all as far from the garage as those routes.

In March 2023 (latest data I could find), routes 629 & 630 combined received more weekday riders than routes like the 17, 89, and 509, and the 630 alone received more weekday ridership than all Kel-Lac 600s routes except 615. To me, this shows that these routes were viable for many. VIA Link has improved transportation, but for some, those routes were more convenient.

VIA's decision to replace routes 629 and 630 with VIA Link was unnecessary, unjust, and was not necessarily asked for by anyone. We need to bring back these routes, which were more familiar, comfortable, and easier to use for many residents who depend on public transport.

Please sign this petition if you believe in reinstating routes 629 & 630 - because every citizen deserves efficient and comfortable public transportation.