Nearly all VIA Metropolitan Transit bus stops throughout San Antonio will receive petite, vibrant QR codes as part of a setup aiding blind, visually impaired, and non-English speaking residents and tourists to more effectively traverse the city.
The NaviLens framework has already been implemented at 100 of San Antonio's busiest bus stops and is scheduled for full integration at over 6,000 stops within the coming year.
Employing an expanding navigation system, an application automatically identifies QR codes from distances of up to 50 feet, furnishing users with real-time bus route details in 34 languages.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York's subway system, presently employs identical QR technology, while other corporations such as Coca-Cola and Kellogg's are incorporating it into their packaging.
VIA initially trialed the system via a pilot initiative in 2021, introducing 100 NaviLens QR codes at San Antonio's most frequented bus stops. It directs users to the bus stop, scans the QR code under any lighting conditions without requiring the mobile camera to focus, and functions seamlessly even when users are unaware of their proximity to a code.
In 2022, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, secured congressional funding for the technology. VIA trustees endorsed the expansion plan in January 2023.
Enhancing resources for visually impaired travelers was VIA Trustee Athalie Malone's objective upon assuming her position in 2019. Malone, who is visually impaired, encountered NaviLens while assisting in organizing a trip to Europe.
"I've only been blind for 17 years," Malone remarked. "When I lost my vision, I was still using the bus. ... Where it became challenging was figuring out which bus was approaching."
While the audible announcements on the bus indicating each stop were helpful, Malone noted that the app also assists her in reaching the correct stop.
Vibrant Works, formerly known as San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, collaborated with VIA for the initial trial program. Ernest Arce, employed at the nonprofit that offers employment opportunities for visually impaired individuals as a sewing machine operator and relies on VIA for commuting to work, expressed his joy upon learning about the system's expansion to almost all bus stops.
"This is fantastic news," he exclaimed on Monday, while waiting outside the bus stop near his workplace. Although unaware of the system's expansion, Arce was acquainted with it due to his daily use of stops already equipped with NaviLens, including the one near his workplace.
Arce, a lifelong resident of San Antonio and blind since birth, was among the first to test the program when it launched in 2021. He expressed his satisfaction with the system, noting that the only drawback was its absence at every stop.
The system provides users with real-time bus updates, a feature that the previously considered Braille signage system at stops couldn't offer.
"If it were available at more locations, it would benefit other visually impaired individuals," Arce remarked.
According to VIA, the system will also assist non-English speakers by offering real-time information in 34 languages and counting.
Nadia Mavrakis, CEO of the local nonprofit Culturingua, which aids immigrants from the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa in acclimating to life in San Antonio, stated that VIA solicited input from the immigrant community, which has been duly considered. The next phase may involve incorporating Pashto.
Pashto is categorized as a tier-two language in the City of San Antonio's language access plan, indicating that translation is recommended, and interpretation services are available upon request for city services.
"Including Pashto would be a significant addition to ensure that the majority of the Afghan community can access VIA services," Mavrakis emphasized.
VIA spokeswoman Lorraine Pulido affirmed that VIA is committed to incorporating all languages necessary for San Antonio into the NaviLens system.
