FTA OKs San Antonio's next step in funding request for streetcar plan

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given approval to VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas, to continue developing a federal funding investment request for a modern streetcar system.

The FTA's approval of entry into project development puts VIA on the path toward federal funding for future phases of the streetcar project, VIA officials said in a press release issued last week.

Local funding for the proposed streetcar is in place through a partnership between the city of San Antonio and Bexar County/Texas Department of Transportation.

"This continues our advancement of the transformative streetcar project at the federal level," said VIA President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Arndt. "We are seeking to leverage our local funding to provide the complete system adopted by the VIA board and bring those federal dollars to San Antonio."

The modern streetcar project is part of VIA's SmartMove initiative, a five-year plan for transit in San Antonio. When completed, the project will enhance mobility in the heart of the city by integrating with existing transit services, making them more useful and reliable while working as a complete system with the bus services in the central business district, agency officials said.