1. C i t y o f S a n A n to n i o
A pproved by C ity C ouncil
N ovember 2012
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2. November 2012 T able of C ontents
Section One | A Foundation for the Future Section Two | Recommendations
of the Downtown Transportation Study (DTS)
The Objectives of the Downtown Transportation Study .............................................................1
What is Different about this Study? .....................................................................................................2 Benefits of the DTS Recommended Projects .................................................................................41
Guidance for Future Transportation and Land Use Projects ......................................................4 Broadly Defining the Recommendations .......................................................................................41
Setting the Stage: The Context of San Antonio’s Downtown ...................................................4 The Primary Components of the DTS ...............................................................................................42
Getting Around in Downtown San Antonio Today ...................................................................... 7 Overview of Recommendations ........................................................................................................44
The Design of Streets – Standards and Regulations ...................................................................16 Improvement Concepts Evaluated but Not Recommended ...................................................83
Section Two | The Vision for Downtown Section Four | Downtown Street Design
SA 2020’s Goals and Targets for Downtown ..................................................................................19 A Framework for Great Streets.............................................................................................................85
Introduction to the Downtown Growth Areas .............................................................................20 Downtown San Antonio Street Types ..............................................................................................87
The Fundamental Needs of Downtown Residents .....................................................................20 Design Guidance .......................................................................................................................................................107
Assessment of Growth Area Transportation Choices .................................................................23

3. Section one:
A Foundation for the Future
The Downtown Transportation Study (DTS) was commissioned by the City of
San Antonio in support of Mayor Julián Castro’s vision for transportation and
lifestyle in the Downtown as outlined in SA 2020. As the Mayor stated, “The next
months, the next years are about doing... about putting action to the ink on
paper.” The community indicated transportation needs to be improved first and
an additional priority is improving Downtown. The DTS identifies how to create
what the community has envisioned. The project was managed by the Capital
Improvements Management Services (CIMS) with participation from Center City
Development Office (CCDO).
The Objectives of the
San Antonio Downtown Transportation Study
In order to accomplish what the community
and the Mayor have envisioned in SA 2020,
the following objectives have been identified:
z Advance the goals for Downtown
established in SA 2020 and the
Strategic Framework Plan
z Develop transportation improvements Source: SA 2020 Final Report, March 2011
that support a sustainable, vibrant, world-class
Downtown
z Develop street improvement guidance that keeps pace with an
ever-evolving Downtown
z Recommend near-term capital improvements to catalyze growth
z Enhance San Antonio’s unparalleled hospitality trade
The next months, the next The objectives can be achieved through implementing improvements
years are about doing... that address the following:
z Transform Downtown
about putting action z Encourage economic development
to the ink on paper. z Improve access to/from Downtown
z Improve circulation within Downtown and connections to
adjacent areas, and the River Walk
z Provide multi-modal choices
Mayor Julián Castro
on the SA 2020 initiative
San Antonio Downtown Transportation Study | Section One | page 1

4. The Public Involvement Process P ublic Meeting #2 – Joint Public Meeting
with H emis F air C omplete S treets The DTS incorporates the
The public involvement process communicated key messages throughout the project. following key ideas :
This meeting was held at the Institute of Texan Cultures on March 6, 2012. The DTS
At start-up, the community was introduced to the project, its objectives, scope and
project team presented alternative concepts for several downtown streets including z Downtown streets should be designed and managed
study area. A project website was created to allow for continuous access to project as multifunctional spaces that support social and
the five 2012 Bond Downtown Street projects, placemaking opportunities, and the
information and to provide a portal for receiving public comment. Stakeholders economic activity as well as moving traffic.
initial list of recommended street types with overlays. An open house format allowed
were identified, contacted and, in some cases, met with directly to present project
for attendees to obtain more information and have specific questions answered. z Streets will be improved so that walking and cycling are
ideas and information. In addition to the public, City staff was apprised through
Comment cards, the project website address, and the public information telephone increasingly attractive and increasingly practical ways to
three substantive meetings including participation in workshop exercises, and the get around.
number were provided. Additionally, the public was invited to participate in an online
Steering Committee was kept abreast through meetings, monthly updates and via
survey, developed in coordination with the public engagement effort, and advertised z Accessibility – people’s ability to easily reach their
access to a password-protected section of the project website. In addition, monthly
at the public meeting. destinations will be a focus in order to make walk, bike
presentations were given to the Infrastructure and Growth Committee comprised
and drive trips increasingly convenient.
of five members of the City Council. The Infrastructure and Growth Committee has Public Meeting #3 – Final Public Meeting
z Major development and re-use investments should
responsibility for oversight of policies related to transportation, roads, sidewalks, The final public meeting was held at the Central Library Gallery and Auditorium on be coordinated and implemented with DTS project
infrastructure, and VIA Transit. Following is a summary of the project meetings. April 30, 2012. The DTS project team presented the final concepts for downtown street recommendations, street design guidance, and
Detailed reports can be found in the Appendices. improvements including the five 2012 Bond Downtown Street projects, placemak- accessibility priorities.
Public Meeting #1 – “3 Projects , 1 Meeting ” ing opportunities, and the initially approved list of street types and overlays. An open
z Taken together, the impact of the DTS will be to
house format allowed for attendees to obtain more information and have specific strengthen the Downtown’s transportation system in
This public meeting was held early in the project timeline, on November 29, 2011 with
questions answered. Comment cards, the project website address, and the public accommodating growth and improvements in order to
HemisFair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation and VIA Metropolitan Transit at the
information telephone number were provided. sustain its central role in Downtown San Antonio.
Central Library Gallery and Auditorium. The DTS project team introduced the project
and asked for preliminary community input on needed street improvements. An open
house format allowed for attendees to obtain more information and have specific What is Different about this Study?
questions answered. Comment cards, the project website address, and the public
information telephone number were provided. A Context Sensitive T ransportation Plan
Stakeholder Meetings The San Antonio Downtown Transportation Plan recommends improvements that are
context sensitive. A context sensitive transportation improvement is one that comple-
Stakeholder meetings occurred throughout the process with a concentration of
ments and supports the surrounding land uses, visually, functionally, and in its scale.
them conducted in conjunction with the City’s HemisFair Complete Streets effort.
A context sensitive transportation improvement preserves, enhances or incorporates
Stakeholders were provided with a presentation of the project, contact information as
in its design what the community feels is important and values.
well as the project website address. Additional stakeholder meetings were conducted
via formal presentations, such as with the Downtown Alliance, the VIA Board of Supporting a Sustainable Future
Directors, and the City’s Infrastructure & Growth Committee. Additional meetings
Building and securing Downtown’s long-term importance for businesses, visitors,
were held with VIA staff, the Cultural Zone, and the City departments of Public Works,
government, and residents requires an effective multimodal transportation system.
Planning, and the Office of Environmental Policy.
The community vision established through the SA 2020 process sets broad goals for the
Community involvement
City, many of which will have impacts on the transportation system and the public right- in the DTS was facilitated
of-way in San Antonio. Through the recommendations in Section 3, the DTS identifies in an open house format;
specific capital improvements that address current limitations in the transportation collaboration involved
teams from related
system and position Downtown for specific investment and development opportunities.
initiatives.
The street design guidance in Section 4 complements the recommendations by putting
in place a system for gradual improvement in Downtown streets that will be made as
funds become available and as investments in new development are made.
S an Antonio Downtown Transportation Study | Section One | page 2