VIA Reaches Major Milestone with 1,000th Bus Stop Improvement

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- VIA Metropolitan Transit is celebrating a major milestone with the dedication of its 1,000^th new "Next-Gen" bus stop improvement. The shelter, at the intersection of Hays and Mittman on the city's East Side, is part of VIA's ongoing Passenger Amenities Improvement Program that includes the enhancement of 1,000 existing bus stops throughout the VIA service area.

The 1,000^th stop, located in San Antonio City Council District 2, is adjacent to a San Antonio Housing Authority project and features a unique roof panel honoring the 1952 graduating class of St. Philip's College. With the completion of this stop, VIA now provides sheltered locations for 95 percent of boardings throughout its system. In keeping with VIA's ongoing commitment to support local, small, and minority-owned businesses, nearly all of the contracts awarded for VIA's Passenger Amenities Program went to locally-owned businesses and/or certified DBEs/SBEs.

"The flexible modular concept allows scalability to serve differing activity needs tailored to each bus stop, and is designed to incorporate elements to reflect the cultural fabric of area parks, neighborhoods, places of interest and historic sites," VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. "As we plan for the transportation needs of our region, we ensure that our customers' quality of life is enhanced with every project VIA pursues. Our priority is to connect our communities to opportunity and support economic vitality."

The 1,000^th bus stop improvement brings the total number of sheltered stops in the VIA service area to more than 2,200. The program goal of 1,000 new bus shelters system-wide was set in mid-2014. Streamlined and modern, the new Next-Gen shelter design provides comfortable, covered seating and sidewalk and ADA improvements to assist all passengers in making travel safer and connections smoother. In 2018, VIA will begin retrofitting Next-Gen shelters with solar-powered lighting for added comfort and visibility.

The shelter program had a total project cost of $12.4 million. Approximately 73 percent of the work done in connection with the program went to DBE/SBE companies.

Partners for the bus stop improvement at the VIA shelter located at Hays and Mittman included the San Antonio Housing Authority and St. Philip's College ? part of the Alamo Colleges. And partners for the improvement of 1,000 VIA bus stops include the City of San Antonio, the Texas Department of Transportation, H-E-B, and many others. The shelter was designed by Douglas Architects; outside civil engineering consulting was provided by SANTEC (formerly Bury), Vickery, Klotz, and Halff & Associates. Concrete and shelter installation contractors were San Antonio Concepts Construction, LaSalle Affordable Builders, Vars Concrete, Proficient Constructors, Ashco Contracting, Industrial Construction, Kegley, Inc., Ashco Contracting, LLC. The shelter components were manufactured by Walton Signage, GST Manufacturing Ltd, and Brasco Manufacturing; bench manufacturer was ProFab; and signage company was Lone Star Graphics.

VIA Metropolitan Transit provides more than 40 million trips a year within a 1,226 square-mile service area.

SOURCE VIA Metropolitan Transit