VIA has distributed nearly 2,000 water bottles along routes, transfer points, and transit facilities this summer. VIA’s Safety, Training, and System Security (STSS) Supervisors were out again Thursday, July 19, offering cold water to VIA customers. The customer care service will continue on days when triple-digit heat is forecast, usually during high-heat index hours, 1 to 6 p.m., and some mid-morning hours.
To assist VIAtrans customers, VIA operates modified pick-up and drop-off procedures during hot weather. Customers will be advised to wait inside for pick-up appointments scheduled between noon and 7 p.m. VIAtrans van operators will go to the door to alert the customer if he or she does not appear within three minutes of the van’s arrival. Customers in an office building (high rise, hospital, etc.) should wait on the ground level inside the main entrance or lobby. For drop-off appointments between noon and 7 p.m., van operators will remain at the drop-off point to ensure a VIAtrans customer has entered a house or a building before leaving.
VIA also provides cooling buses stationed at several transit centers during times of extreme heat. The City of San Antonio has opened cooling centers to assist those without adequate or air-conditioned shelter. A map of the City’s cooling center locations can be found on VIAinfo.net and the City’s website, COSA.gov. Riders can get help planning their trip to the cooling centers with VIA’s online trip planner or by calling (210) 362-2020. Regular fares will apply.
