San Antonio Gridlock
At current funding levels, commute times in San Antonio will double in 25 years.
To avoid such gridlock, spending to widen freeways and major streets or expand alternatives such as public transit would need to increase almost four times more than what’s planned.
Upgrades for S.A. roads: $8.3 billion
By Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News 01/29/2004
Grim news awaits the Texas Transportation Commission when it meets today in San Antonio.
At current funding levels, commute times in San Antonio will double in 25 years, according to research from the Texas Department of Transportation.
To avoid such gridlock, spending to widen freeways and major streets or expand alternatives such as public transit would need to increase almost four times more than what’s planned.
Barring new state action, much of the money would come from local pockets.
“What our goal is, is to crush congestion,” said David Casteel, who oversees TxDOT’s 12-county district office in San Antonio.
Casteel plans to report to commissioners on the state of the region’s transportation at a 9 a.m. meeting in the VIA Metro Center at 1021 San Pedro Ave.
Today’s meeting will be the commission’s first as a five-member body. Filling two seats recently created by the Legislature are Hope Andrade of San Antonio and Ted Houghton of El Paso.
“So far, so good,” said Andrade, who is working to get up to speed on issues and is planning road trips to get in touch with South Texas communities. “I’m having to take my vitamins to keep up, but it’s great.”
Also at today’s meeting, local leaders are to discuss the need to work together with state officials.
“We’re hoping to bring local money into the funding solution, and in turn that’ll leverage additional state funding,” said Tom Griebel, director of the San Antonio Mobility Association, a public-private advocacy group.
Charging tolls on new highway lanes and asking voters to increase the sales tax to pay for roads and mass transit are some options officials here are examining.
Another initiative is to persuade the Legislature to let metropolitan areas raise the gas tax at local levels.
TxDOT has $1.7 billion worth of projects planned in the San Antonio area through 2030. To keep congestion from growing, another $6.6 billion is needed.
“This isn’t good news, but I think it lays clearly the challenges ahead of us,” said Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson, who leads the local Metropolitan Planning Organization.