Alamo Area Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (February 26, 2007)

In 2005, the Texas Department of Transportation’s Strategic Plan called for the development of a public transportation coordination plan at a regional level. Texas Transportation Commissioner Hope Andrade led the effort to implement a strategy to develop regional public transportation coordination plans. This study is in response to that planning strategy. Broadly, the project examines ways to more effectively “manage mobility” for the region. A major area of emphasis for this study is the coordination of services at the local level. The project included an evaluation of coordinated transit and human service transportation on a regional scale throughout the Alamo Area.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Data Collection Project

The San Antonio area has a need for alternate means of transportation other than single-occupant motor vehicles, including the non-motorized modes of bicycling and walking. Toward that end, the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) funded the first phase of this Bicycle & Pedestrian Data Collection Project (fully documented in a separate final report) to evaluate existing bicycling and pedestrian conditions in the region and provide its member jurisdictions with data necessary to improve those conditions.

2008 San Antonio - Bexar County Regional
Transportation Attitude Survey
(September 2008)

The MPO contracted with ETC Institute to conduct a survey of residents, employers, and transit users in the San Antonio-Bexar County region during the spring of 2008. The purpose of the survey was to gather input from residents in the San Antonio area to help set long-range transportation priorities for the region.

Brooks City-Base Infrastructure Needs Assessment -
(April 2003 )

The MPO initiated the Brooks City-Base Infrastructure Needs Assessment in 2002 as a follow-up to a previously completed study by the City of San Antonio for the future development of Brooks City-Base. The City's study focused primarily on land use issues within and surrounding the site, formerly known as Brooks Air Force Base. The study concluded that the lack of appropriate infrastructure would be a serious deterrent to developing much of the site now owned by the Brooks Development Authority.

This study included an evaluation of various transportation infrastructure improvements that address mobility, accessibility and connectivity issues within Brooks City-Base and surrounding community. Recommendations were made for both motorized and non-motorized transportation based on a series of adopted goals, evaluation criteria and public input.

Downtown San Antonio On-Street Space Management Plan
(January 2000 )

The purpose of the San Antonio On-Street Space Management Plan is to assess on-street space usage and, as appropriate, identify potential strategies to better manage the use of public curbside space. The need for this study, in large part, stems from an increase in employment, residential, retail, and tourism-related activities in downtown San Antonio. The growth, coupled with narrow streets and adaptive re-use of historic structures with few off-street parking and loading facilities, has led to a highly competitive environment for both long and short term curbside use.

East Corridor Multi-Modal Alternatives Plan
(April 2003 )

Both the East Corridor Multi-Modal Alternatives Plan and the Arena District Community Redevelopment planning studies were initiated in 2002 as a joint effort between the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, the San Antonio Spurs and the Community Economic Revitalization Agency. The primary purpose of the studies was to create a future development and revitalization plan with a complementary transportation plan.
The MPO sponsored the development of the transportation plan. The transportation element consisted of an evaluation of various transportation alternatives that would support the long term land use changes proposed within the study area. The range of recommended improvements includes those for enhanced economic benefit, improved traffic operations and safety and improved transit services. The recommended projects listed in the study were selected based on the adopted goals, evaluation criteria and public input.

 
Title VI and Environmental Justice Planning Project
(Approved: June 2002)

The Title VI and Environmental Justice Project was an 18-month effort to research, identify, test, evaluate and document effective outreach strategies to encourage participation of community residents who historically have not been involved in the development of transportation projects. In addition, the planning project provided guidance to the transportation planning community to develop ways for reaching out to under-served populations in their area.

Fort Sam Houston Microsimulation Modeling Project (Approved: August 2007)

In 2005, the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) recommended expanding Fort Sam Houston into the U.S. Military’s premier medical training base and making it home to the Army’s installation management and management of family support activities and community programs. The BRAC legislation not only provided Fort Sam Houston a future, but also a greater employment base with an estimated growth of 10,100 new jobs by 2011 and increased economic importance to the area. To prepare for the BRAC expansion, the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) contracted the PBS&J team to identify improvement alternatives to the transportation systems immediately surrounding Fort Sam Houston and evaluate improvements as they relate to, and impact, the surrounding communities and overall region.

Fredericksburg Road BRT Modeling Study (April 2009)

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is public transportation that combines the best features of rail travel with the flexibility of bus service. BRT uses specialized rubber-tired vehicles that operate similar to light rail with faster and more frequent
service and at a much lower cost. Preliminary studies by VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority (VIA) have identified Fredericksburg Road as the recommended pilot corridor for BRT implementation in San Antonio.

Incident Management System
(Approved: May 2002 )

The purpose of this study is to provide the framework and local requirements needed to implement an Incident Management System that involves detection, response and clearance of freeway incidents to minimize the disruption created by an accident.  The study was accomplished by conducting a review of current practices, interviewing experienced transportation and emergency response personnel, documenting the findings, and summarizing the current status of incident management services.  Incident management procedures were compared with other programs around the nation and in other countries to determine what elements would work well in the San Antonio region.

 
Making Connections - Land Use and Transportation Linkage - Interactive Design Guidelines Manual
(Approved:   )

Project is intended to elevate community dialogue about challenges and opportunities to foster better land use and transportation linkage around the San Antonio region. The Project uses a unique, interactive Guidelines Manual to document findings and illustrate recommendations. Guidelines Manual contains the following:

• An overview of successful case study efforts and accomplishments in other communities to combat similar challenges in San Antonio region
  
• An implementation “Tool Kit” or action plan of options and methodologies to address challenges and needs
  
• Each area chosen represents a particular set of problems common to the region and the opportunities to address those problems

Regional Corridor Plan
(May 2003)

The Regional Corridor Plan is a long-range transportation plan that represents the ultimate build-out of a thoroughfare system for the San Antonio area.

Senior Transportation Needs Assessment Survey
(Approved:            )

During May 2006, the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) administered a survey to a random sample of adults age 60 and older who live in Bexar County. The purpose of the survey was to objectively assess the transportation needs of seniors who live in the San Antonio area. The data gathered from this survey will be used to help develop strategies to meet current and future transportation needs of senior citizens in the region.

Transportation and Housing Study
(Approved June 2005 )

The purpose of this study was to quantify costs associated with transportation (car purchase, finance charges, rental or lease charges, gas and motor oil, maintenance, insurance and public transportation) and housing (purchase or rent, fuel, taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs) compared to income.