San Antonio is in a race against time to address key transportation issues to meet the demands of a growing population.
The area is currently home to more than 1.5 million people and the city's population is projected to add at least 1 million more residents by 2040.
Last year, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Judge Nelson Wolff formed the nonprofit ConnectSA to advocate for more innovative transit solutions.
The initiative is led by notable civic leaders, including former city attorney Jane Macon, outgoing VIA board chair Hope Andrade and former Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros.
The group presented a draft plan in Decemberand will seek public input in the near future. For now, ConnectSA wants to get communities thinking and talking about the following questions:
- If you ride the bus, how can we improve your experience?
- What would it take to get you to ride rapid transit?
- What points in our city must be connected as we grow?
From bus rapid transit to new lanes for bicycles and electric scooters, ConnectSA is proposing 25 new projects to improve transportation networks and implement technological solutions.
How will ConnectSA complement or differ from existing initiatives like SA Tomorrow or VIA's Vision 2040 plan? What do San Antonio citizens want to see for mobility and transportation?
Guests:
- Ron Nirenberg, mayor of the City of San Antonio
- Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff
- Henry Cisneros, former San Antonio mayor and tri-chair of ConnectSA
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This interview aired on Monday, February 25, 2019.