San Antonio Mayor Pushes VIA to Test Free Bus Fares

VIA leaders raise concerns that eliminating fares could jeopardize federal funding for rapid transit lines

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has directed VIA Metropolitan Transit to plan a six-month pilot program offering free fares on its five most popular bus routes, a potential step toward a goal of having the transit service stop charging for rides altogether. However, VIA's president and CEO, Jon Gary Herrera, warned that eliminating fares could force the agency to stop work on its $800 million Green and Silver rapid transit lines, which are funded mostly with federal dollars.

Why it matters

The push for free bus fares in San Antonio reflects a growing trend in some Democratic-led cities, but VIA leaders argue that doing so could jeopardize federal funding for major transit projects that are crucial to improving the city's public transportation system.

The details

Mayor Jones asked VIA to draft a memo by March 11 outlining what it would take to launch the free fare pilot program, including VIA's concerns and how the agency might cut its spending by up to 5% to make up for the lost fare revenue. Herrera said that without fare revenue, VIA would have to stop work on the Green and Silver rapid transit lines, which represent San Antonio's largest-ever investment in public transit. VIA has also borrowed millions of dollars by issuing bonds that are guaranteed in part by fare revenue, and Herrera said the bondholders would likely prohibit the agency from offering free fares.

  • Mayor Jones asked VIA to draft a memo by March 11, 2026.
  • The proposed free fare pilot program would launch on July 1, 2026.

The players

Gina Ortiz Jones

The first-term mayor of San Antonio who has directed VIA to plan a free fare pilot program.

Jon Gary Herrera

The president and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, who raised concerns that eliminating fares could jeopardize federal funding for the agency's rapid transit lines.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

A San Antonio City Council member who has been a proponent of a zero-fare policy for VIA.

Laura Cabanilla

The chair of VIA's board of trustees, who told the council that the agency couldn't take on any "unfunded programs" without affecting existing services.

Sukh Kaur

A San Antonio City Council member who said her condition for approving a telecom tax to fund free fares would be that VIA track the usage of those passes.

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What they’re saying

“We don't need a memo for that, mayor. If VIA could no longer collect fares, we'd stop the Green and Silver lines, to be honest.”

— Jon Gary Herrera, President and CEO, VIA Metropolitan Transit (expressnews.com)

“I know there are other options. You don't have to 'gold-watch' us.”

— Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor of San Antonio (expressnews.com)

“Public goods are public goods, and we shouldn't be charging people to go to the library, to access the senior centers, to use their parks. To me, it's goofy to expect them to pay to get on a bus that they're already paying for.”

— Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio City Council Member (expressnews.com)

“None of us want to see fares as the reason why people can't take transit. I totally agree with Councilmember McKee-Rodriguez's point on charging people for a public utility — but we do that for a lot of things; we do that for CPS (Energy), for SAWS, we do that for solid waste.”

— Sukh Kaur, San Antonio City Council Member (expressnews.com)

“This is not a matter of splitting atoms, or molecular research. This is fundamentally a question of, do we want to help, frankly, the most cost-burdened in our community, or not?”

— Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor of San Antonio (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.