VIA looks to Improving South Side
South Side to see Kel-Lac Transit Center and faster bus service.
South Side gets new transit center
San Antonio Express-News, July 16, 2003
Metropolitan Transit has some new things in store for South Side residents and hopes they have a positive impact soon.
VIA’s newest addition to their Park & Ride facilities, the Kel-Lac Transit Center, is scheduled to open by the end of this year, VIA officials said. That facility will replace the present Kel-Lac Park & Ride located on the southern side of U.S. Highway 90 West near the old Highway 90 intersection.
VIA presently has no plan for the first Kel-Lac site.
The new transit center, located just west of the Park & Ride near the intersection of 90 and Westrock, will offer several amenities, including an enclosed air-conditioned waiting area, restrooms and parking.
“We wanted to look at the services we offer and see what we could do to adjust the look of the facilities and what we could do more of,” said Todd Hemingson, vice president of planning and development for VIA. “We think this will be something that works.”
This new location is part of the additional amenities VIA is looking at adding for South Side residents, officials added.
“We wanted to look at different ways to provide (public) transit,” said Hemingson said, referring to a recent study called the South Station Study Area that was done to see how the transit authority could best offer services.
“We want to offer higher-capacity service.”
For example, Hemingson said added service wouldn’t simply mean more bus routes but faster service.
“We know that there are some needs,” he said. “People just want the simple things like shade. We would like to work with them and make the bus more convenient and user friendly.”
He also said they would like to help people with cars to view public transportation as a viable option.
“For transit to attract people with a choice, we have to make sure buses get from point A to B as soon as possible,” he said.
Additionally, Hemingson said VIA has identified several spots within the South Side that could serve as Park & Ride or transit center locations.
“Ultimately, we’re looking at having a transit center on Brooks City-Base,” he said. “We’ve met with their planning and development (divisions) and presented a concept. We would like to work with them.”
Tom Rumora, director of Brooks City-Base, said such a concept might be a good idea for both VIA and Brooks.
“We would certainly welcome the opportunity to work with VIA,” he said. “Brooks is a gateway to the South Side. Commercial growth is growing around us.”
“We may not be the best location, but we would certainly offer support,” he added.
Hemingson said other possible sites include South Park Mall.
“We’ve talked to them,” he said. “As we move forward, we hopefully will continue to work for them.”
“We’ve had brief conversations with them,” said Cesar Rodriguez, South Park Mall manager. “But nothing’s on the table right now.”
“But I couldn’t discount anything,” he added.
Hemingson said all the plans are still in the preliminary stages and there have been no formal proposals so far. He added there are still several issues to deal with as far as they are concerned.
“We haven’t finalized our selection yet,” he said. “We also have to put together the funding for design and construction. We have some budget challenges and we have to see how we can address this.
“But we still want to move forward,” Hemingson added. “In three to eight years, we’d like this to happen.”