SAN ANTONIO – VIA has some big changes coming for the 2018 bus routes.

To accommodate more riders, VIA is running more buses on several routes.

San Antonio resident Amanda Gonzales knows these routes well.

"My son goes to Brooks Academy and the other one to Pre-K for SA so I'm always on the bus," said Gonzales.　

For Gonzales the changes mean she has the opportunity to catch a bus every 12 minutes, instead of every 20.

A handful of other routes are also now running every 30 minutes instead of every hour.

"That's a big deal if you just missed your connection," said VIA president and CEO Jeffrey Arndt.

The bus service is also launching new routes this year, including one that will run from Stone Oak directly to the Medical Center. Arndt credits city leaders for putting their money where their mouths are.

"It will be about a $10 million annual investment on the part of the city to allow us to improve service," said Arndt.

Inconvenience like infrequent buses and routes have always kept San Antonians from using the bus.

"Pricing wise is something that has to change too. $2.75 for a day pass when it should be $2.50 for a 24 hour," said rider Luis Lovano.

Pricing concerns are the result of a lack of funding, according to VIA. They get just one half cent in sales tax, compared to the one full penny from sales tax in cities like Austin, Houston and Dallas.

"It's a big difference since the bus is more frequent now...I can always make sure I get to work on time," said rider George Dykstra.