Mayor says S.A.-Austin en route to metroplex status
WASHINGTON — Mayor Ron Nirenberg told Congress on Wednesday that Texas needs help to prevent the worsening highway congestion in the San AntonioAustin corridor from stifling growth in what he called “America’s next great metropolis.”
“We have all the elements of a successful metro economy — world-class universities, an educated and expanding workforce, a burgeoning tech community, relatively affordable land, a businessfriendly environment,” he said. “Current congestion risks this growth coming to a grinding halt.”
Nirenberg delivered his testimony to the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
The panel is beginning the task of reauthorizing the nation’s fiveyear transportation bill, which expires next year.
Nirenberg was testifying to Congress for the first time since he was elected mayor in 2017.
He also was representing the National League of Cities, which is pressing Congress for a new and modern way of dealing with transportation rather than the recent stop-gap approach of emergency budget bills.
“We believe that investing in infrastructure should be Congress’ top priority this year,” he said.
Nirenberg said he hopes Congress will give priority to achieving “regional mobility” in areas like San Antonio.
He said lawmakers need to understand that transportation is changing swiftly with innovations such as ride-hailing and escooters.
He remarked that by 2040, I-35 corridor from San Antonio to Austin “will exceed or rival Dallas-Fort Worth.”
He said that a regional rail line holds promise but that “we need a federal partner that invests in regional connectivity to expand our economy.”