District 6 San Antonio Councilman Ric Galvan is one council member’s signature away from moving ahead on his dream of making VIA bus fare free to all city residents.
Inspired by the success of similar programs in other municipalities, Galvan last year began working on a proposal to make VIA bus fare free for all San Antonians by 2036. For the full council to approve such a measure, he needs four other members to sign on to a Council Consideration Request (CCR), the first step for initiating debate.
“Across the country, there are different cities that have implemented this already or have tried it out and have seen an increase in ridership and less negative interactions between an operator and a customer that can’t afford to pay,” Galvan told the Current during a recent interview on a VIA bus.
The data doesn’t lie, the councilman said.
After Kansas City became the first city to enact a similar initiative in 2019, more than three-quarters of bus riders there reported using the transit system more frequently. The majority also said they felt they could more easily shop and go to the grocery store, while many reported improved access to healthcare providers.
Indeed, more than 80% of those polled in Kansas City said free bus rides helped them keep or maintain a job.
More recently, Albuquerque City Council approved free bus fare for all after a successful two-year pilot program, and in 2024, Philadelphia City Council allocated $80 million to implement a fare-free program for those below the poverty line.
Even so, Galvan said San Antonio’s program wouldn’t just help working-class residents. Cities that have made bus rides free also report spikes in middle-class ridership.
Removing the financial barrier to ride has decreased car dependency while speeding up service in the cities that have tried it, he added.
“Whenever someone struggles to pay or is trying to find the right amount of change, instead of all of that, people can just hop on, and therefore faster service comes around too,” he said.
In December, District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito’s office, through a public-private partnership, implemented a program offering semester-long passes for free rides to students ages 12-18. However, that initiative only includes enough funding for 5,000 students, and participants much fill out an application to qualify.
“My thing is, when we do pilot programs like this, what are we trying to get to?” Galvan said. “I believe that if we can get better services and make sure it is more affordable for everybody by making it free for all, then why don’t we do that?”
Of course, a big question remains: how would Galvan pay for it?
Funding discussions will “be part of the process when we file the CCR,” the councilman said, adding that city staff and VIA would be at the table to make sure it all adds up. He also said a new sales tax or public-sector support could be part of the equation.
So far, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo and, most recently, District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia have all signed on in support.
With one more signature, Galvan’s CCR would next head to the council’s governance committee. If approved there, it would be brought before the dais for a public discussion and vote.
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