VIA Metropolitan Transit said it is on track for one of its strongest years in recent memory, reporting 2 million more passenger trips year over year as the agency continues rolling out service improvements under its Better Bus Plan.

Speaking during the San Antonio Mobility Coalition's annual State of Transit event, VIA President and CEO Jon Gary Herrera said the agency expects to provide 33 million passenger trips this year, which is about 90,000 trips each day, connecting riders to jobs, schools, healthcare, and other essential destinations.

Agency leaders attributed the ridership gains to the accelerated implementation of the Better Bus Plan, a systemwide redesign focused on increasing service frequency, improving reliability, and creating a more connected network. According to VIA, most of the plan's improvements will be completed by January 2027, nearly four years ahead of the original schedule.

"Our community told us they needed more frequent, reliable service, and we made a commitment to deliver it faster," Herrera said. "That meant building the strongest operator workforce in VIA's history so that we could expand and improve service — years ahead of schedule. We know the investments are working because we're seeing more San Antonians use VIA more often."

The latest ridership update builds on VIA's ongoing network transformation, which we previously reported includes major service redesigns, expanded VIA Link microtransit, and the development of the agency's Advanced Rapid Transit network. Last month, VIA's Silver Line cleared its federal environmental review, while construction continues on the Green Line, with both projects serving as key components of the Better Bus Plan.

While the Better Bus Plan is delivering results today, VIA officials said the agency is continuing to invest in long-term mobility through its VIA Rapid program.

A key factor behind the accelerated rollout has been staffing.

VIA said it now employs more than 1,000 full-time bus operators, the largest operator workforce in the agency's history, providing the personnel needed to support expanded service. According to local reporting, the agency increased its operator workforce from 799 to more than 1,000 as it implemented more frequent service across the network.

For transit agencies facing nationwide operator shortages, VIA's experience underscores the connection between workforce investment and the ability to deliver meaningful service improvements.

While the Better Bus Plan is delivering results today, VIA officials said the agency is continuing to invest in long-term mobility through its VIA Rapid program.

Construction is underway on the VIA Rapid Green Line, while the Silver Line advances toward final design and federal funding. Together, the projects are expected to generate more than $860 million in economic activity and create nearly 5,600 jobs, according to an independent economic impact study.

For transit leaders, VIA's latest ridership gains provide another case study in how investments in frequent service, operational reliability, and workforce development can support ridership recovery while laying the groundwork for future bus rapid transit expansion.