San Antonio — Cleared by FTA

March 2014

In a major milestone for a downtown streetcar line at San Antonio, the Federal Transit Administration has cleared the project for federal funding, WOAI radio news reported Wednesday. VIA Metropolitan Transit is proposing a two-route modern streetcar network. The approval does not ensure that federal funds will be allocated, but ensures the project is on a path that would enable federal funding. Local funding has been committed by the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

VIA says that the streetcar together with existing bus transit will improve downtown mobility and spark economic development along the route. Opponents state that the streetcar is a waste of money, and will reduce bus service in underserved parts of the city.