While San Antonio still isn’t making any progress on getting any kind of light rail – much to the chagrin of urban progressives – the city’s public transportation agency is making major headway on the first rapid transit line coming to town. However, as with most big projects, it’ll be a headache long before it helps anyone.
Miles of San Pedro have already become a treacherous trove of construction sites and barriers. A large chunk of the busy thoroughfare has been reduced to a single lane in each direction, with swerves around barrier walls and white and orange fencing, as VIA Metropolitan Transit reconfigures the road to make room for dedicated bus lanes.
“Construction is active across segments 1 through 8 of the VIA Rapid Green Line corridor. Crews continue to advance both above and underground utility adjustments along all segments, with coordination efforts in place to help minimize conflicts and service interruptions,” the VIA website states.
Ultimately, the Green Line will run the length of San Pedro, connecting the airport to the missions and passing through downtown. The project is estimated to cost nearly half a billion dollars, with VIA securing its first federal financial partnership to cover a little more than half the cost…