Councilmember Proposes Expanded Transportation Access to Senior Center
Published on June 27, 2025
SAN ANTONIO (June 27, 2025) – Today, District 7 Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) proposing expanded transportation access for older adults who utilize the City of San Antonio’s senior centers. The proposal seeks to address barriers to participation in critical services for seniors as the city's aging population continues to grow. Expanded transportation access also enables aging in place.
“San Antonio’s older adults deserve more than just acknowledgment—they deserve meaningful access to programs that help them stay connected, healthy, and independent,” Councilmember Alderete Gavito said. “Senior centers are lifelines for so many in our community, but too many residents are shut out simply because they live beyond an arbitrary five-mile boundary.”
According to the World Health Organization, the proportion of the global population over 60 years old is expected to nearly double between 2015 and 2050. Locally, nearly a quarter of households in Bexar County include someone over the age of 65. Yet the current City policy limits free transportation to senior centers only to those living within a five-mile radius—a restriction that excludes older adults living in fast-growing neighborhoods on the city’s outskirts.
The proposal outlines four key actions:
- Expand Transportation Access
Increase the current five-mile transportation radius to eight miles while ensuring older adults are not required to remain on the buses for long periods of time. The aim is to reflect the city’s growth, maintain safety, and expand accessibility.
- Partner with VIA
Collaborate with VIA Metropolitan Transit to explore innovative mobility solutions that can fill service gaps and support greater access to senior centers.
- Engage with Bexar County Officials
Initiate discussions with Bexar County to pursue joint funding opportunities, as many county residents utilize city-operated senior centers.
- Pursue External Funding Sources
Investigate state and federal grants, bond funding, or public-private partnerships to finance the proposed expansion without drawing from the City’s general fund.
The City of San Antonio currently operates 12 comprehensive and four part-time senior centers offering nutrition, wellness, and community-building programming. In District 7 alone, the Doris Griffin Senior Center serves over 2,000 active participants.
“Transportation should never be a barrier to connection,” Councilmember Alderete Gavito said. “By expanding access, we can ensure that our growing senior population is not left behind but fully included in the life of our city.”