District 7 & VIA Offer Students Complimentary VIA Bus Passes
Published on August 04, 2026
SAN ANTONIO (August 3, 2026) – More than 1,000 middle and high school students are riding at no cost thanks to the VIA Student Pass program, which now offers complimentary annual passes because of funding secured by District 7 Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito.
Students 12 to 18 years old may now apply for an annual pass.
San Antonio students are missing school at one of the highest rates of any major city in Texas: a City Education Partners report found one in four students miss 18 or more days of class each year, and a Futuro San Antonio survey found transportation is one of the top reasons families cite.
District 7 backed the initiative with a $150,000 investment to fund passes, allowing VIA to establish the program. Historically, students individually paid $38 for a semester pass.
Councilmember Alderete Gavito remarked on the program, “This program is just one way we’re investing in the future of our youth and our city.
"Already, 1,000 students now have a reliable way to get to school, tutoring, after-school programs, and even jobs and internships.”
This year, VIA has introduced a streamlined online application, making it easier to enroll. Students ages 13 to 18 may apply on their own. Applications for students under 13 must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. Homeschooled students and applicants under 13 must pick up their pass in person at a VIA Transit Center.
Eligible students attending participating public, private, charter and homeschool programs from across VIA’s service area may apply.
Each VIA Student Pass issued this year is valid through July 31, 2027. Students must reapply each school year to receive a pass for the upcoming academic year.
A limited number of complimentary passes are available, and eligible students are encouraged to apply early while funding remains.
On the expansion to online registration, Councilwoman Alderete Gavito said, “Online registration means more students can access these passes — and the opportunities they open up."
“When a student can count on getting to school, everything else becomes possible," VIA President & CEO, Jon Gary Herrera said. "I rode VIA to school growing up, so I know firsthand what reliable transportation means for a student's success."
Families interested in applying for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters can do so now at VIA’s website.