As San Antonio prepares for major population growth, the need for infrastructure to support that growth becomes more immediate. Though the majority of San Antonians depend on personal vehicles for getting around, the city should be looking toward multimodal transportation, said Texas Highway Man Brian Purcell in a Wednesday panel discussion on the future of transportation in San Antonio.
The panel moderated by reporter Andrea Drusch as part of the San Antonio Report’s CityFest also included VIA Metropolitan President and CEO Transit Jeff Arndt, Director of Airports Jesus Saenz and Texas A&M Transportation Institute research scientist Phil Lasley. Among the topics discussed were VIA’s new rapid transit line, new direct flights to Mexico from the San Antonio airport and the San Antonio-Austin corridor.
The experts identified a lack of densification as a challenge facing San Antonio, particularly when it comes to building out public transportation.
“Our development pattern is a challenge and will continue to be a challenge,” said Arndt, who echoed Purcell’s assertion that the region needs to look at a diversification of modes.
As the corridor between San Antonio and Austin also continues to see population growth, residents will be looking for different ways to commute between cities along that corridor.
“I think there is a growing appetite in this region for rail between San Antonio and Austin,” said Purcell, who sees transportation for “the last mile” as the biggest challenge.
Arndt pointed to the failed Lone Star Rail District plan, which connected at Central Plaza and “may be part of a future plan.”
“In the meantime, TxDOT has a sincere interest in exploring those kinds of connectivities and where generally public transportation might be of interest to the state,” he said.
