VIA Metropolitan Transit representatives solicited student input Tuesday at the last Hot Potato lecture of the semester at Methodist Student Center.
Three VIA officials told lecture participants that rider input is key in the completion of the transit organization’s plans.
After the VIA presentation, a student involvement workshop followed that addressed personal preferences on where commuters need more access to VIA, areas of the city that need more transit development and the types of funding that are best to enable VIA to reach its goals.
VIA strategic planner Christina Castano-Perez said, “There were many resounding comments we’re going to take back with us.
“If we’re thinking big on the future, we must also keep in mind current problems with transit service,” Castano-Perez said.
By 2035, VIA officials said, the transit organization would like to see a combination of rubber-tire buses, high-occupancy vehicles, commuter rails, and more emphasis on pedestrians and bicycling.
This “multimodal approach” would allow transit users to transfer more easily and conveniently between various forms of transportation, and could provide economic acceleration to areas of the city that need more development, VIA officials said.
Education sophomore Andrew Cardenas said, “It’s nice to see what’s going on in the background.”
Soliciting student input “is a good part to play,” Cardenas said.
“Personally, I’m a believer in my vehicle,” Cardenas said. “After this, I’d definitely like to check it out, getting on a bus and just riding my way to school.”
Many students mentioned problems they experience with transit operations.
VIA strategic planner Arturo Herrera said, “There is never any bad input” after hearing complaints from student riders.
“Maybe we’re not doing enough,” Herrera said.
It always is a red flag if VIA representatives hear the same complaint from many people, he said, noting complaints eventually can serve to improve the transit situation.
Music business sophomore Tone Guerrero suggested a pick-up point at Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building for the VIA Trans service, which he said he rides because of his night-blindness disability.
“Currently, one isn’t there, and they were very cooperative about the suggestion,” Guerrero said.
The Rev. John Feagins, director of Methodist campus ministry, said, “We’re pleased to see VIA was willing to visit the Methodist Student Center, which is a gathering place for urban students.”
It was beneficial for “students to see how transit affects their lives, to give feedback and see future plans,” he said.
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