As San Antonio’s population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, how is area highway infrastructure affected and what's being done to respond to increased demand? What ongoing and upcoming projects should commuters be aware of?
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is receiving more funding to meet increasing demands in the San Antonio district.
According to TxDOT, 60 to 90 thousand cars travel along the I-10 corridor between Loop 1604 and SH 46 in Boerne every day. The roughly 15 miles of highway is home to six construction projects – a clear example of how agencies like TxDOT and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) are planning and working to keep up with demands of a growing population.
How are highway expansion and improvement projects funded and prioritized? How do long-range, multi-modal transportation plans incorporate demographic forecasts to determine regional needs and measure possible project outcomes?
How do environmental concerns factor in to this work? Does increasing roadway capacity improve congestion or encourage more people to drive? Are there other concerns related to the effects of San Antonio-area highway construction?
How do local, regional and state-level governments, organizations and agencies incorporate public input into plans for the future of San Antonio highway infrastructure?
Guests:
- Mario R. Jorge, P.E., engineer for Texas Depart of Transportation's San Antonio District
- Sid Martinez, director of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Bill Barker, adjunct associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning at UTSA
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 210-614-8980, email thesource@tpr.org or tweet @TPRSource.
*This interview was recorded on Tuesday, August 27.