Government
BY PARKS KUGLE
VIA Metropolitan Transit gives update on upgrades On Feb. 11, VIA Metropolitan Transit briefed the San Antonio City Council on the current status of the transit system’s multifaceted upgrade. Two-minute impact VIA board Chair Laura Cabanilla said VIA is also reorganizing itself to become more efficient. “What you are seeing is a generational shift in how this agency operates, how we serve our riders and how we compete for the future of the mobility of the region,” Cabanilla said. Cabanilla said the upgrades throughout VIA’s transit network were timed to align with the implementation of a 1/8 sales tax that was approved by voters in 2020. During the briefing, District 10 council member Marc Whyte asked why the Stone Oak Park and Ride is currently underutilized, with only two routes serving the location. Jon Gary Herrera, VIA president and CEO, said a
Bexar County invests $32.5K in nonpartisan voting resource On Feb. 17, the Bexar County Commission- ers Court voted to fund ongoing updates and management of PlanYourVoteSA.org in the amount of $32,500 . The gist According to county documents, Rodri- guez, in collaboration with MOVE Texas, started PlanYourVoteSA.org in October 2020. The website is a nonpartisan voting resource designed to help Bexar County voters plan and prepare for elections. Originally created to address concerns over voting impediments during the COVID- 19 pandemic—such as long lines, staffing shortages and polling place closures—the site recorded over 61,437 visitors in 2025, a 91% year-over-year growth from 2024, which saw roughly 32,692 total visitors. Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody suggested that the county should update and modify its own website. Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said the site was funded due to the lack of quality of the county’s website. He also noted that the county’s election department has been preoccupied with running elec- tions and that any updates would need to be done before the next election cycle.
VIA 2025 key enhancements Last year, VIA noted increased ridership and improvements in services. This includes the Better Bus Plan, a six-year initiative to provide faster, more direct service on bus routes.
Better Bus Plan implementation 65% Bus stop arrival every 30 minutes or less 72% VIA Link ridership increase 35% Park & Ride ridership increase 50%
SOURCE: VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
major aspect of the plan is the upcoming Stone Oak VIA Link Zone, which will allow residents to drop off their car at the park and ride and take a van to the airport for $1.30. Residents will be able to leave their cars for around seven days, with longer stays requiring registration.
Funding for jail diversion center study approved In an effort to reduce incarceration rates, the San Antonio City Council voted to fund $30,000 of a $100,000 study to create the Bexar Jail Diversion Center on Feb. 11. The big picture a model tailored to Bexar County’s needs. The goals for the Diversion Center include
minimizing law enforcement time with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis and provid- ing a short-term residential treatment program, with stays of up to 14 days for eligible individuals. Other goals include reducing overcrowding in the jail, unnecessary emergency room visits, stabilizing individuals for out-patient treatment, contributing to better health outcomes and creating a permanent aftercare and housing pipeline, according to city documents.
The creation of the diversion center will be based upon a study by Alexander Testa—the research and consultant leading the study—which will collect operational standards and workflows from diver- sion centers in other counties, like Harris, Tarrant and Dallas. The information will be used to develop
PlanYourVoteSA.org is an election website operated by Kalos Strategies and offers Bexar County residents a variety of information on voting, including:
A voter checklist
Information on primary elections
Residents admitted to detox centers Approximately 61%-67% of detox admissions came from the San Antonio Police Department, with roughly 31% originating from other law enforcement agencies, according to city documents.
Bexar County Sheriff Other law enforcement
Haven for Hope homeless shelter San Antonio Police Department
4
How to vote by mail
27
4
FY 2023-24
1,631
Information on early voting
2
26
4
Election polling sites
FY 2024-25 1,610
6
Military and overseas voting information
31
FY 2025-26 559
2
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: PLANYOURVOTESA.ORG/COMMUNITY IMPACT
6
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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