VIA GREEN LINE

VIA GREEN LINE

While the Green Line proposal offers substantial potential benefits, such as reduced traffic congestion, improved mobility, and better environmental sustainability, it also comes with significant costs and potential negative impacts. For residents of San Antonio, the risks could include increased taxes or fees, displacement due to gentrification, disruptions during construction, and a potential mismatch between the areas served by the light rail and the needs of the community.

Whether the benefits outweigh the costs depends on several factors, including:

• How effectively the city manages gentrification and displacement,
• The integration of the light rail with other forms of public transit to increase accessibility,
• The ability to attract sufficient ridership to sustain the system financially,
• And how well the city can mitigate construction disruption while ensuring long-term benefits for all residents.

As reported by the San Antonio Report, “On the Green Line, local dollars will account for about $210 million of the roughly $480 million project, an estimate that has risen since originally announced. Some of that money comes from VIA’s project funds, but most of it is expected to come from a one-eighth-cent sales tax voters approved in 2020, which will start coming to VIA in 2026 to repay project bonds.”

In closing, a balanced approach with significant community involvement and transparent decision-making is essential to ensure that the Green Line truly benefits the residents of San Antonio, both now and in the future.  Currently, this does not appear to be the case, instead it looks to be more of a burden and waste of taxpayer money!