San Antonio Metropolitan Transit

San Antonio Metropolitan Transit, doing business as Via Metropolitan Transit, is a U.S. local government transit authority headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, that receives federal grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as a prime recipient to operate and expand public transportation and paratransit services, with no federal contracting footprint.

Via is 100% grant-funded by the Federal Transit Administration across 153 total awards spanning more than two decades. The agency operates in the San Antonio urbanized area and surrounding municipalities, serving the general public, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income communities. The FTA accounts for 127 of 153 awards (88% of the portfolio); the remaining awards derive from the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Recent grant activity shows three awards in 2025 and three in 2026, after lower volume in 2024, indicating sustained but modest pace of new grant issuances.

Via's grant work spans operating assistance, capital purchases, and planning initiatives. Recent representative awards include a $478.2 million Federal Transit Capital Investment Grant (CFDA 20.500) awarded in December 2024 for the VIA Metropolitans Advance Rapid Transit (ART) North/South Corridor Project, constructing a 10.35-mile rapid transit corridor with dedicated bus lanes and 25 stations (completion targeted April 2028); a $115.4 million Federal Transit Formula Grant (CFDA 20.507) awarded in February 2026 for preventive maintenance, capital contracting, and ADA-compliant paratransit service expenses, with sub-recipient pass-through funding to Alamo Area Council of Governments for Job Access Reverse Commute services in Schertz and Cibolo; and a $9.54 million grant awarded in July 2025 under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) for facility equipment including backup generators, wastewater treatment system upgrades, parking lot rehabilitation, and an electronic vehicle inspection system. Additional work includes $7.968 million in May 2026 for propane-fueled paratransit vehicle replacement (CFDA 20.526), $4.375 million in September 2025 for seniors and disabled persons transportation under the Enhanced Mobility program (CFDA 20.513), and planning grants for accessibility technology implementation (QR codes at over 6,000 bus stops for visually impaired customers, awarded February 2024) and transit-oriented development at the East-West Corridor (awarded August 2023). Via passes through sub-recipient funding to regional partners including Alamo Area Council of Governments, Presa Community Service Center, and National Church Residences Foundation for preventive maintenance, mobility management, and transportation services. Combined potential value across all awards stands at $1.7 million, though obligated dollars across the portfolio total $2 billion, reflecting that many awards have been fully executed and closed. Eleven awards reach ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, representing annual recompete exposure for the agency's grant programs.