Transit projects don’t just move buses—they move politics. In San Antonio, the long-planned Green Line bus rapid transit project (10.4 miles, dedicated lanes, higher frequency) took a legal hit as SAFA Action filed suit, claiming the city’s agreement to redirect part of a voter-approved 1/8-cent sales tax to transit violates Texas law and the city charter by delegating spending authority to VIA Metropolitan Transit, an unelected body. The city says it will review the case before responding; VIA points to strong voter backing and urgent mobility needs. At stake: nearly $481 million for a corridor that ties the South Side to the airport, promising faster trips, safer stations, and more reliable service. Supporters call it a lifeline for workers and students and a chance to re-balance a car-first network. Opponents warn about gentrification, construction impacts on San Pedro Avenue, and the democratic legitimacy of a funding transfer they say skirts accountability. This is the governance knot that strangles U.S. transit—who decides, who pays, who benefits. Voters often say “yes” in principle, then lawsuits probe the plumbing. Even a clean legal win can bleed time and money. And the longer a project hangs, the more inflation and political turnover reshape the math. The question isn’t just whether the mechanism passes muster; it’s whether the region can maintain a consistent rulebook for building anything long and linear.

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