San Antonio council approves pilot funding for free VIA semester passes for middle and high school students

San Antonio's City Council on Jan. 15 approved a pilot funding agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide semester bus passes for middle- and high-school students as a measure to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Councilwoman Adela Gavito said the pilot, funded initially from her District 7 office budget, is an early step toward removing transportation barriers that contribute to students missing school. "This pilot program aims to tackle chronic absenteeism by providing free transportation to our youth to eliminate that transportation barrier," Gavito said.

Speakers from several local education and nonprofit organizations urged the council to back the measure. Dahlia Flores Contreras, CEO of City Education Partners, told the council that 26 percent of San Antonio students are chronically absent and that removing transportation costs can prevent the "snowball" effect that leads students to fall behind. Diane Fernandez, San Antonio ISD's executive director of enrollment, said the district faces a 28 percent chronic absenteeism rate in her area and described unlimited VIA access as more than a convenience: "Reliable transportation is a lifeline for some of our families."

The ordinance, listed as Item 31 in the consent agenda materials, authorizes a funding agreement between the city and VIA for up to $150,000 to fund semester passes; the staff backup says that amount is included in the FY2026 adopted general fund budget. Public commenters included parents, educators and students who described daily transportation costs and constraints and cited local surveys showing transportation as a leading cause of missed school days.

Councilmembers asked VIA staff to return with key performance indicators to measure the pilot's impact on attendance and other outcomes. A VIA representative said the agency has tracked student-pass programs for years and will provide data to the council. The consent agenda containing the VIA item was moved, seconded and approved on voice vote; the transcript records "the motion carries," though it does not report a roll-call tally.

The pilot launch date in the materials is listed as Dec. 20 (the pilot had already begun signing up families), and proponents said the semester-pass product offers unlimited rides and onboard Wi-Fi, which can help students stay connected while traveling to school or extracurricular programs.

Next steps: Council asked staff and VIA to coordinate with the Education Opportunities Committee and to return with metrics and a recommended evaluation timeline to assess whether the pilot should be expanded or replaced by a broader fare-free policy.