San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
San Antonio must enhance, redefine transportation to thrive
In his 1962 message to Congress, titled “The Transportation System of our Nation,” President John F. Kennedy articulated a vision of a transportation network that would not only underpin the nation’s economic prosperity but also promote progress and productivity.
It was a continuation of the foundational Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1958, which gave rise to an unparalleled interstate system that would link burgeoning cities such as San Antonio to the greater national tapestry.
Across the globe, cities such as San Antonio are expanding in ways that make vehicles not just desirable but necessary — a sentiment that has shaped city planning and lifestyle choices. With an average of two vehicles per American household, automobiles, symbols of unfettered freedom, have become more than a mere convenience.
This widespread reliance on vehicles also introduced unforeseen environmental, economic and health challenges.
Today, confronted with the imperatives of sustainability and urban livability, San Antonio is poised to redefine transportation in a way that balances individual freedom with the common good. The adoption of complete streets, the emergence of transitoriented communities, and the leveraging of data underscore a commitment to a future where connectivity, inclusivity and conservation intersect.
Such advancements not only preserve our environment but also bolster our economy by reducing congestion, improving public health, and fostering vibrant, walkable communities that attract businesses and residents, ensuring our thoroughfares lead to a thriving, sustainable future.
Transit-oriented
In 2020, 68% of voters in San Antonio resoundingly voted “yes” to support VIA’s Keep SA Moving Plan, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s embrace of mass transit infrastructure and the expansion of mobility options.
The vote empowered VIA to harness Federal Transit Administration funding for mass transit for the first time in San Antonio’s history, enabling the acceleration of planning for two highcapacity transit corridors, the Green Line and the Silver Line
— a massive upgrade to VIA’s existing network and a gateway to higher tiers of transit.
The city now has a golden opportunity to integrate land use and mass transit, fostering thriving communities and corridors that prioritize people over cars.
Mass transit, when fully integrated, extends beyond connectivity, necessitating transit-oriented policies in San Antonio for equitable, mixeduse and walkable neighborhoods. These policies aim to build vibrant, sustainable communities, reduce congestion and car dependency, and encourage alternative transportation. This strategy boosts mobility, economic growth and social cohesion, enhancing San Antonio’s appeal for talent and businesses, especially with direct connections to the International Airport
The policies, better known as transit-oriented development, or TOD, bring a range of benefits that elevate a city’s quality of life. By promoting higher densities and clustering jobs within compact districts, TOD generates agglomeration effects, leading to an increase in economic productivity.
This intentional concentration fosters vibrant communities with well-designed public spaces and shorter commuting distances, contributing to enhanced livability. The success of TOD hinges on the synergy between compact urban development, placemaking and quality public transit.
High-density development supported by mass transit encourages high passenger flows and financial viability through job concentration and mixedincome housing near transit stations. This proximity enhances neighborhood access
and affordability by reducing parking infrastructure costs.
Incentivizing mixed-income housing within TOD ensures inclusivity, broadening access to jobs and services for all income levels. Focusing jobs, services and affordable housing near transit stations enhances public transport’s appeal, cuts car dependency, and leads to greater productivity and a reduced carbon footprint.
At their core, transit-oriented communities aim to redefine “the American Dream” to accommodate living without a car by prioritizing walkability, placemaking and equitable mixed-use development.
Complete streets
In our daily engagements with the San Antonio community, we frequently pose a question that resonates deeply with local residents: “Would you feel at ease knowing your child or elderly family member is walking or biking along these streets?”
Despite the presence of standard sidewalks and bike lanes in many parts of the city, the overwhelming response we encounter is “no.”
To create a safer and more accessible San Antonio, we need to update our city’s complete streets policy, which helps communities develop and implement processes that ensure streets are safe for people of all ages and abilities, balance the needs of different modes, and support local land uses, economies, cultures and natural environments.
Complete streets might include sidewalks, bike lanes, cycle tracks, special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible transit stops, frequent crossing opportunities, accessible pedestrian signals and sustainable
roadway design.
The city of San Antonio adopted its current complete streets policy in 2011. The San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition advocates for new standards such as coordination, clear exceptions, performance measures, criteria for project selection, design updates, equity focus, and prioritizing vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.
An enhanced complete streets policy is vital for safety. In 2022, San Antonio reported 622 serious injuries and 197 deaths on its roads. Walking, a fundamental activity, is unsafe in the city, highlighted by its ranking as the 20th deadliest region in the Dangerous by Design report. The next complete streets policy must explicitly safeguard vulnerable users’ safety and comfort.
An updated complete streets policy will ensure our streets are safer and more accessible, adapting to travel needs with a context-sensitive design, and promoting healthier communities by improving neighborhood safety and increasing opportunities for walking, biking and other activities.
Data-driven transport
The pandemic has underscored a pivotal lesson: Crises and their mitigation strategies yield both expected and unexpected outcomes. A prime example is the VIA transit system’s urgent measures to ensure health care workers and other essential personnel could reach their workplaces during the pandemic’s peak.
Simply reducing service was not a viable solution; informed adjustments to the system demanded comprehensive data, which was not solely within VIA’s reach. Addressing this challenge — crucial for saving lives — necessitated rapid information-sharing across various local government departments within both the city and county.
In 2019, the city of San Antonio set a benchmark by adopting a new agreement to enhance data-sharing across government departments and agencies. By 2022, this initiative was celebrated by Smart Cities Connect as a groundbreaking smart city project. The SmartSA Interlocal Data Sharing Agreement established a framework for secure and respectful data-sharing among eight local public agency partners.
As this foundational agreement evolves, it’s essential to prioritize transit data that supports multimodal transportation within the city. With the vast, largely untapped potential of big data, there’s a significant opportunity to employ machine learning, AI, data analytics and visualization to develop a transit system that is not only safer and more equitable but also more efficient and sustainable.
To realize this vision, local elected leaders must be intentional in their efforts. This involves not just facilitating the ongoing expansion of datasharing initiatives among local agencies but also fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Redefining mobility
Reflecting on San Antonio’s transportation policies and their impact on our communities underscores the importance of updating our approach to mobility. By championing sustainable, inclusive and healthoriented transportation solutions, we aim to safeguard the freedom of movement as a cornerstone of our society and address the 21st century’s pressing challenges.
Our investment in transitoriented development and complete streets is about more than just infrastructure — it’s about creating a sense of belonging, enhancing the quality of life and ensuring a sustainable future. In reimagining our transportation systems, we’re not just planning for the movement of people and goods; we’re shaping the future of our communities.
Building a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive society requires a united effort in innovation, policy reform, and community engagement. San Antonio, and cities like it, can lead the path to a future with a reimagined transportation system that enhances the lives of all residents.
Beto Altamirano is CEO and co-founder of Irys and chairman of the Better Futures Institute. Joey Pawlik is executive director of ActivateSA. Javier Paredes, AIA, is founder of StudioMassivo and a VIA Metropolitan Transit board member.