SAN ANTONIO | City and Metro Transportation Thread

[kingkirbythe....]

Another TxDOT reversal: Alamo Heights’ Broadway plans may go the way of San Antonio’s

https://sanantonioreport.org/broadwa...alamo-heights/

After the Texas Transportation Commission voted to take back a portion of Broadway from the City of San Antonio last week, the City of Alamo Heights finds itself in a similar position: potentially unable to follow through on its plans to redevelop the street with fewer lanes and more amenities.

But unlike San Antonio, which partnered with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on its plan, TxDOT took an active role in coordinating a revamp of a portion of Broadway that goes through Alamo Heights since its inception in 2015, city officials said.

Now, the state highway department appears to be torpedoing its own work.

[JACKinBeantown]

I just want to thank kingkirbythe... for virtually single-handedly keeping the SA forum alive.

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I just want to thank kingkirbythe... for virtually single-handedly keeping the SA forum alive.

Thanks.

[kingkirbythe....]

City of San Antonio to make 'no concessions' in talks with TxDOT over Broadway

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...P-CP-Spotlight

Talks over the ownership of a southern portion Broadway have begun between TxDOT and San Antonio and Alamo Heights. While all entities say they are willing to work together, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says the city will make "no concessions" as they negotiate.

TxDOT met with officials from San Antonio and Alamo Heights on Wednesday, February 2. Bruce J. Bugg, Texas Transportation Commission chair, said in a statement that the meetings were "positive" and that "city leaders acknowledged that Broadway is, in fact, owned by the State of Texas."

"The city makes no concessions or acknowledgments but did commit to continued conservation," Nirenberg said in a statement, contradicting Bugg's statement.

[kingkirbythe....]

The Broadway debacle is a blow to safe cycling in San Antonio

https://sanantonioreport.org/the-bro...n-san-antonio/

San Antonian J. Bruce Bugg Jr., the state’s top transportation political appointee, issued an upbeat statement about Wednesday’s sit-downs with local officials, days after the Jan. 27 decision by the Texas Transportation Commission to abruptly upend the Broadway project.

But the message can’t dress up a TTC action that represents a big setback for both San Antonio and Alamo Heights, as well as the cycling community, pedestrians and all who share a vision for safer streets in San Antonio.

“Two items emerged from the discussions,” Bugg said Wednesday. “First, city leaders acknowledged that Broadway is, in fact, owned by the state of Texas. Second, I am asking TxDOT staff to work with both cities to develop project plans on Broadway that can address mobility and safety for all users of the roadway, while preserving the capacity that exists today.”

[kingkirbythe....]

San Antonio’s rapid bus plans get initial federal funding approval

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...d-16845273.php

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s plans for a city-wide “advanced rapid transit” system featuring more buses running at shorter intervals on dedicated lanes have cleared a funding milestone, with initial approval from the Federal Transportation Administration to its inaugural route.

That first north-south line, estimated to cost about $320 million, would connect San Antonio International Airport with downtown on San Pedro Avenue and extend to Southtown neighborhoods, and in the best-case scenario would be open for service in mid-2027.

“This is a significant next step for VIA and San Antonio,” said VIA CEO Jeff Arndt, “and the first time we are able to be competitive for access to tremendous federal support in delivering a modern mass-transit system to move San Antonio.”

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

San Antonio’s rapid bus plans get initial federal funding approval

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...d-16845273.php

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s plans for a city-wide “advanced rapid transit” system featuring more buses running at shorter intervals on dedicated lanes have cleared a funding milestone, with initial approval from the Federal Transportation Administration to its inaugural route.

That first north-south line, estimated to cost about $320 million, would connect San Antonio International Airport with downtown on San Pedro Avenue and extend to Southtown neighborhoods, and in the best-case scenario would be open for service in mid-2027.

“This is a significant next step for VIA and San Antonio,” said VIA CEO Jeff Arndt, “and the first time we are able to be competitive for access to tremendous federal support in delivering a modern mass-transit system to move San Antonio.”

The article has a paywall. I'd love to learn more about how they would construct any needed infrastructure.

[kingkirbythe....]

If you use the Reader mode when an expressnews.com page loads, no paywall.

[starvinggryphon]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

San Antonio’s rapid bus plans get initial federal funding approval

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...d-16845273.php

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s plans for a city-wide “advanced rapid transit” system featuring more buses running at shorter intervals on dedicated lanes have cleared a funding milestone, with initial approval from the Federal Transportation Administration to its inaugural route.

That first north-south line, estimated to cost about $320 million, would connect San Antonio International Airport with downtown on San Pedro Avenue and extend to Southtown neighborhoods, and in the best-case scenario would be open for service in mid-2027.

“This is a significant next step for VIA and San Antonio,” said VIA CEO Jeff Arndt, “and the first time we are able to be competitive for access to tremendous federal support in delivering a modern mass-transit system to move San Antonio.”

The ART will still have to wait at red traffic lights.

[Jake Tex]

Originally Posted by starvinggryphon

The ART will still have to wait at red traffic lights.

Will they? My understanding was that the busses in these systems were coordinated with the lights.

[kingkirbythe....]

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...d-16845273.php

"The ART buses will not be able to speed through red lights like an emergency vehicle, but they can shorten the wait at a red light or increase the length of a green light, Arndt said."

[deaththepeople]

I actually worked on this FTA grant application last year for VIA! Glad to finally see it going ahead. Think of the project as a bus rapid transit project (like Indianapolis) with an added bonus that the buses will be able to coordinate timing with traffic lights, giving them priority at intersections. They will also be allowed to go through the intersection before any other private vehicles can at some intersection, passing traffic (just like those white line traffic lights that are at key intersections currently).

[Keep-SA-Lame]

I think this system is going to be a great thing for SA, it's a much better value per rider than light rail, and we're a relatively poor city after all. And once you get two or three lines going to multiple parts of town, it's really going to be a huge boon to the carless or car-light (which people forget there are still a lot of on places like the West Side). So I love the pragmatism. But then you read that it's going to take until at least 2027 for even a single line to open and I get sad. It takes almost a freaking decade to build a single high quality bus line, are you kidding me?

[Keep-SA-Lame]

https://keepsamoving.com/advanced-rapid-transit/



Even in the advertising rendering they don't pretend there will be any attempt at land use reform along the corridor, so that's pretty deeply disappointing (though not surprising in the least).

https://keepsamoving.com/north-south/



Kind of odd it terminates at Steves instead of continuing on to connect to the Primo route on Military, but I guess they can't afford it. It's a miracle this project is even happening, but the fact that it's only going to be about 50% dedicated lanes is just so breathtakingly unambitious.

[Bigfoot Yancey]

Uh, did anybody check to see if this is a state highway with the lane reduction thing?

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot Yancey

Uh, did anybody check to see if this is a state highway with the lane reduction thing?

Good point. Don't want the state holding back progress again.

[kingkirbythe....]

Study: Improving Broadway could prevent worst congestion

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...t-16911602.php

“This redevelopment would have been really impactful and incredible for the DoSeum and for people who work and play around the space,” Doby said. “I just really, really looked forward to this. It’s been kind of a passion project, and for it to be taken away at the eleventh hour is just insane to me.”

[kingkirbythe....]

Yes, San Antonio traffic is shitty, but study says it's less shitty than traffic in other Texas cities

https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio...t?oid=28290737

It may not seem like it when you're stuck for 30 minutes at the same intersection during your evening commute, but San Antonio traffic ain't so bad, according to a new study. At least not in comparison to other big Texas cities.

Residents of the Alamo City wasted an average of 36 hours last year sitting in traffic, according to analysis from location technology company TomTom. That means SA is only the 41st-most congested city in the U.S. and the fifth-most congested city in the Lone Star State.

So, yay us. Or something.

While 36 hours may seem like serious lost time, it’s minuscule compared to the 80 hours spent in gridlock by New Yorkers, who have the worst traffic in the U.S., according to TomTom. Los Angeles is No. 2 and and Miami is No. 3.

No Texas cities ranked in the top 10. Not even Houston.

Speaking of the Bayou City, however, it did rank as having the worst traffic in Texas and at No. 16 nationally. Residents there spent an average of 46 hours in traffic last year.

Here's how other Texas cities fared in the report:

Houston: No. 1 in Texas, No. 16 in U.S.
McCallen: No. 2 in Texas, No. 18 in U.S.
Austin: No. 3 in Texas, No. 21 in U.S.
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: No. 4 in Texas, No. 37 in U.S.
San Antonio: No. 5 in Texas, No. 41 in U.S.
El Paso — No. 6 in Texas, No. 44 in U.S.

So, next time you complain about traffic while merging onto Interstate 35 — recently ranked one of America’s most dangerous roads — during rush hour, keep in mind that things could be worse. Much worse.

[JACKinBeantown]

I grew up on the northeast side of San Antonio. When the Wurzbach Parkway opened it created a great way to get across the north side of town. But the planning was sorely incomplete. It never connects to I-35. It gets really close, but then dumps out traffic on the surface streets. I've always thought it would be smart and relatively easy (as these things go) to put a connector/interchange where Thousand Oaks is. It's the point where the two freeways are closest and there's nothing in the way as far as construction or right of way goes.

As it is now there's heavy traffic at O'Connor Road because of the lack of a connector. Really poor planning that could be rectified by a connector at Thousand Oaks.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sa...!4d-98.3636131

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I grew up on the northeast side of San Antonio. When the Wurzbach Parkway opened it created a great way to get across the north side of town. But the planning was sorely incomplete. It never connects to I-35. It gets really close, but then dumps out traffic on the surface streets. I've always thought it would be smart and relatively easy (as these things go) to put a connector/interchange where Thousand Oaks is. It's the point where the two freeways are closest and there's nothing in the way as far as construction or right of way goes.

As it is now there's heavy traffic at O'Connor Road because of the lack of a connector. Really poor planning that could be rectified by a connector at Thousand Oaks.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sa...!4d-98.3636131

The lack of connections was purposeful, not borne from negligence—it helps keep interstate traffic from easily transferring to it as a 410 bypass so that the capacity is reserved for local trips which also reduces the likelihood of lane additions/expansions in the future which would have likely involved heavy eminent domain usage to expand right of way. If it was connected, traffic would have been worse than 1604.