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San Antonio Ready to Work Newsletter | September 2025
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From the desk of Mike Ramsey: Creating opportunities for success at VIA Metropolitan Transit... and beyond!
San Antonio Ready to Work (RTW) is a workforce development tool with the aim of helping residents get into quality training and education programs so that upon completion, they will be matched with a local employer to get into a better-paying, higher-quality job.
One of RTW's longtime employer partners in that effort is VIA Metropolitan Transit.
As the local transit authority, VIA knows the importance of this level of job placement. Currently, leaders at VIA are on a mission to hire 500 operators committed to driving San Antonio forward. VIA also employs an entire fleet of personnel from the top down: logistics and professional jobs, maintenance and operations, drivers and operators, and others who are behind the scenes making VIA run smoothly.
VIA and RTW are dedicated partners in training San Antonio residents so they may take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that VIA presents.
While the push for this model is growing with a number of other employers in various industries, we are excited to partner with VIA in this way and create opportunities for success in our community. We are confident that together, we are making a bold and concerted effort as we are approaching an overall approved job placement of 3,000 residents in San Antonio. Let's keep the momentum rolling!
-Mike
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VIA Metropolitan Transit's involvement with RTW
- Founded in 1977
- Became a RTW Pledged Employer on November 11, 2021
- 27 RTW participants hired by VIA so far
- VIA push to hire 500 employees as part of the RTW On-the-Job (OJT) grant
- Hiring incentives include up to $4,000 for bus operators and up to $6,000 for mechanics
- Starting hourly wage for full-time operators is $22.45, which increases to more than $24 by the 12th month of service.
- Starting wage for mechanics is $26.79 per hour
- Paid training is provided for new operator hires - classes start weekly! Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, have a valid Texas driver's license, and have three years of experience driving a vehicle.
- VIA Metropolitan Transit offers health benefits including family medical coverage, dental insurance, medical coverage, and vision insurance, along with life insurance and on-site fitness centers and wellness programs. Employees also receive paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and holidays, as well as opportunities for training and advancement and tuition assistance
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Ezekial Galloway - On the road and going strong
Ezekial Galloway is proof that second chances can be beautiful. In January, the 42-year-old VIA operator will celebrate two years behind the wheel—two years of living not only his dream job, but life itself.
Just a year ago, that future was uncertain. Ezekial experienced a medical emergency that brought him a new perspective and fortunately resulted in a new chance at life. He found himself thankful for having a great job with his job's health insurance that covered nearly all of his medical expenses.
“The benefits are amazing,” he says simply.
Before joining VIA, Ezekial was putting in long hours as a shift manager at O’Reilly Auto Parts. He was surviving, but not thriving. That changed when he discovered Restore Education and the Ready to Work program.
“They paid for everything,” Ezekial recalls. “I went through my program, applied at VIA, and two days later, I was hired.” Restore even helped him with the equipment he needed to start.
Now, every day on the road feels like a gift. A self-proclaimed people person, Ezekial lights up when he talks about his passengers. “The best part of the job is talking to people,” he says. “And I love driving. I tell customers every day about RTW—that they’ll help you achieve your goals. A few have already signed up, even some coworkers.”
Ezekial’s enthusiasm has rippled through his family too—his brother-in-law is now working toward his CDL through RTW, inspired by Ezekial’s journey.
With a new outlook on life, a great career that he loves, and a job that offers him time off and benefits, Ezekial’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and hope. He doesn’t just drive routes—he drives possibility, reminding everyone he meets that sometimes, with the right support, dreams really can come true.
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Goodwill Industries of San Antonio - More than secondhand stores
As one of the newest RTW partner agencies, Goodwill Industries of San Antonio is certainly not new to town and across the country. Most people know Goodwill by their "Donation Stations" (which directly funds its workforce programs) and gently used second-hand stores. But Goodwill San Antonio instituted a strong workforce development training component to help put people on a path to make a living since its founding in 1945.
Christine Urdialez, director of workforce development at Goodwill San Antonio, emphasizes that...
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VIA Metropolitan Transit: A 101 guide
The nearly 50-year-old transit authority that generations of San Antonians have relied on for transportation is one of the first employers to sign the RTW pledge. Doing so means that VIA made an investment in residents and the future workforce of the Alamo City.
How does VIA work? What services are available? And what does it take to work at VIA? Let's find out!
How does the hiring process work?
Monthly job fairs take place at the VIA Metro Center, 1021 San Pedro Ave. Job applicants are encouraged to browse a full list of job openings and to submit an application online prior to attending at VIAinfo.net/employment. VIA has more than 2,200 employees, including almost 1,000 bus and van operators. VIA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. VIA supports equal opportunities for all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or age.
Open positions include bus operators, mechanics and transit security officers. Paid training is provided for new operator hires with classes starting weekly. VIA offers one of the most extensive employee benefits packages in the industry, including family medical coverage; life, dental and vision insurance; paid vacation, sick leave and holidays; longevity pay; shift differential pay; tuition assistance; on-site fitness centers and wellness programs; training and advancement opportunities; and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification reimbursement.
What are people saying about VIA?
VIA Metropolitan Transit has received the highest overall customer satisfaction rating and Net Promoter Score (NPS) in the U.S. for 2024, according to a national benchmark from TransPro, a transit industry leader in consumer insights and performance metrics. VIA received the highest scores awarded to any transportation agency nationwide in each category.
The recognition means that the experience of transit customers in San Antonio is comparable to the customers of businesses like Apple, Costco and USAA.
“This national recognition is a direct reflection of our team’s dedication to creating a positive experience for everyone who rides VIA,” President & CEO Jon Gary Herrera said. “We’re honored that our customers continue to place their trust in us, and we’ll keep working to deliver faster, more frequent and reliable transportation that takes customers to what matters most.”
What services does VIA offer?
VIA offers a variety of services:
Bus service: VIA Metropolitan Transit provides regional multimodal transportation options that connect the community to opportunity, support economic vitality, and enhance quality of life throughout our region. VIA, recognized by the Texas Transit Association as the outstanding Metro Transit Authority of the year, has a service area of 1,210 miles, which includes 14 member cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County, and operates seven days a week on 75 routes.
Express service: VIA’s non-stop service to downtown.
Primo service: VIA’s Prímo provides fewer stops and faster service to destinations city-wide. The modern stations and enhanced stops feature real-time arrival information displays, art panels and free wifi to make commuting efficient.
VIA Link: App-based rideshare starting at $1.30 on the VIA Link app. Transfer from Link to a bus for seamless connections outside the zone.
VIA Park & Airport: Your ticket to ride comes with free parking when you take VIA to the airport. Park your car for FREE at the Stone Oak Park & Ride. Then transfer to VIA Express for a ride to the airport.
VIA Trans: VIAtrans is a transportation service option for customers who cannot utilize regular bus service because of a disability. It is a shared-ride, curb-to-curb service that offers independence through mobility and expands access to opportunity via transit.
Vanpool: VIAWorks, the Transit Benefit Program from VIA Metropolitan Transit, offers convenient and affordable choices for employers and employees to enjoy the benefits of public transportation.
Park & Ride: From parking lots to the big game or show, you can rude VIA’s Park & Ride Service to get you to San Antonio’s biggest sporting and entertainment events. With service this convenient and affordable, including free parking at designated Park & Ride locations, getting there will easy and affordable.
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Apprenticeship Building America
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Spotlight: Regional Employer Convenings focus on Apprenticeships
Workforce, education, and economic development leaders from across the Greater San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Seguin regions came together for two Regional Employer Convenings recently and focused on expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). These events brought together employers, educators, workforce agencies, and community partners committed to building sustainable pipelines for skilled talent.
The convenings were hosted by the City of San Antonio Apprenticeship Building America program, greater:SATX, Comal ISD, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Economic Development, the Texas Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), and the Seguin Economic Development Corporation. Together, these partners helped local employers explore the benefits of Registered Apprenticeships, learn about available resources, and hear directly from employers who are already putting RAPs to work.
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Ready to Work Snapshot - In the Community
Monthly hiring events support job seekers explore opportunities with VIA
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Monthly hiring events provide job seekers with support such as screening assistance as they explore exciting opportunities with VIA. Currently, VIA is listed in the RTW training catalog as a training provider for CDL-B participants. Because the training is tied directly to employment, participants must complete VIA's application process, including the application, assessment, and interviews, before their training journey is approved.
The VIA training is open to residents seeking to earn their CDL-B license, a 13-week training program prior to testing, as well as those who already hold a CDL license - they will go through a modified training.
Residents attended the hiring event to learn about how RTW is partnering with VIA and what benefits are available to them if they are eligible for RTW services.
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