The VIA U-Pass provides accessible transportation to meet the needs of growing student populations with limited parking options on or near college campuses.
Colleges across San Antonio are introducing a special benefit this spring semester as students return to campus for the new term. All students, faculty, and staff at participating local institutions will get free, unlimited access to bus services along VIA routes with VIA U-Pass throughout the school year.
Participating colleges include University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and all Alamo Colleges (San Antonio College, Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, St. Philip's College, and Northeast Lakeview College), as well as private universities like Our Lady of the Lake University and the University of the Incarnate Word.
The VIA U-Pass was created by VIA and uses Masabi’s fare payments platform to help provide accessible transportation to meet the needs of a growing student population which has only limited parking options on or near college campuses – which can lead to busy on-street parking. Students will not need to purchase the U-Pass, and instead they will be provided to all those enrolled in colleges and universities with the VIA partnership. The VIA U-Pass can be accessed through students’ and faculty members’ smartphone using the VIA goMobile+ app.
The VIA U-Pass is also transferrable to VIA Link services. VIA Link provides more frequent, on-demand service along Loop 1604. The routes include Babcock to Culebra and Mainland, which includes UTSA's Main Campus and Northwest Vista College. Passengers can use VIA Link anywhere within this zone and book trips using the app, the online portal, or by phone.
