The wheels are finally set in motion for the construction of VIA Metropolitan Transit's new Green Line in San Antonio, with the first step being the shuffling around of city utilities. The overhaul is part of a grand plan to establish the city's first Advanced Rapid Transit bus route, an 11.7-mile track intended to expedite public transportation from the San Antonio International Airport to Brooks City Base. According to San Antonio Report, this phase of the project is slated for completion by the end of the year, setting up the service to be operational by August 2027.
There's much buzz about the potential economic development the Green Line promises, but VIA is playing it close to the vest with details about the utility work, which has residents raising brows and asking questions. "One of the things I hadn’t thought about previously was the utility relocation… seeing some of that on there gave me a little bit of heart palpitations," Councilwoman Sukh Kaur (D1) mentioned in a council meeting, vocalizing unease over the projected disruptions. VIA officials, keen on alleviating concerns, are in active talks with utility companies to ensure a smooth transition.
As explained by VIA’s vice president of program delivery Manjiri Akalkotkar, only specific sections along the route require utility rejigs to make room for bus stations and sidewalk improvements. These tweaks are essential for the buses to navigate safely and swiftly through their exclusive lanes amid the bustling cityscape. Yet VIA spokesman Josh Baugh held back from spilling the beans to the San Antonio Report about when or precisely where the utility excavations will commence, only teasing that it could be by "late 2024" with definitive dates being ironed out in the forthcoming months.
Meanwhile, Kaur is adamant that her constituents are in the dark, despite VIA’s commendable effort in public outreach. She reiterated this sentiment during the meeting, stressing that neighborhood meetings are rife "with a million and one questions." The Green Line, which is part of VIA's network and includes a second bus line - the Silver Line - cutting east-west, is envisioned to reshape the commuting landscape. Residents, while intrigued by the concept, remain skeptical about the operational and construction aspects, highlighting an obvious disconnect between VIA's communications and public perception.
