Group sues city to stop sales tax funding for VIA rapid transit routes

A local group is suing to stop construction on a project that’s been overshadowed by Project Marvel. VIA’s dual, rapid transit bus corridors, called the Green Line and the Silver Line.

Combined the two lines will cost more than $800 million.

VIA is just starting work on the Green Line, which is a dedicated bus lane from the airport, down San Pedro, through downtown, and to Highway 90 on the southside.

Voters approved giving VIA 1/8th-of-a-cent of your sales taxes to help pay for rapid transit.

But the San Antonio Family Association Action filed a lawsuit claiming the city is violating state law by giving all of that sales tax money to VIA.

“What we’re talking about is the take over and fundamental transformation of San Pedro Avenue,” said Patrick Von Dohlen of SAFA Action.

The group SAFA Action says San Antonio already has adequate bus service, particularly along San Pedro, and the Green Line project will reduce space for cars, disrupt small businesses and encroach on legacy neighborhoods.

“This is a boondoggle type project, it will harm neighborhoods it will harm homeowners,” said Patty Gibbons of the Greater Harmony Hills Neighborhood Association.

An attorney for the group says the transportation code prohibits the City of San Antonio from giving the full 1/8th-of-a-penny sales tax portion to VIA.

He says according to the statute, the city must keep 25 percent of that money for other transportation needs.

“The city can’t delegate the authority to spend tax dollars to another governmental body,” said Jerad Najvar, attorney for SAFA Action.

Najvar says the 25 percent the city must hold back amounts to $13.5 million, which the city could spend on potholes and streets.

“You need a new front end suspension every year and that becomes an indirect tax. That’s what the City of San Antonio could be spending this money on,” Von Dohlen said.

The group says giving VIA an ever increasing source of tax money could lead to more projects like the underused Stone Oak Park & Ride and the dormant Scobey housing project on the westside.

VIA didn’t comment on the lawsuit which is against the city. The city says it hasn’t been served with the lawsuit but will review the allegations and defend itself based on the merits of the case.