SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was buzzing with excitement as they received a briefing on the final updates to the city’s Complete Streets policy earlier this week.

The Complete Streets model is not just about planning, designing, and building streets; it’s about creating safe access for everyone – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users. This approach is expected to have a ripple effect on other safety measures in the city, such as the Vision Zero and Bike Network plans.

Before San Antonio Transportation Department director Catherine Hernandez could even begin her briefing, several community organizers jumped in with their support for updates to the policy during public comment.

Addressing equity in the policy

Joey Pawlik, executive director of ActivateSA and lead organizer of the Complete Streets Coalition, passionately argued in favor of an updated policy.

“We appreciate the professionalism and dedication of the city’s transportation department, which has been unmatched throughout this process,” Pawlik said. “This initiative is more than just a policy update; it’s a commitment to a safer, more inclusive, and vibrant San Antonio.”

“The policy presented today includes deliberate efforts to consider the needs of people with disabilities and older adults,” said Lori Day, advancement program director with disABILITYsa.

The policy’s methodology acknowledges that this model is not a one-size-fits-all solution; its design and implementation must be context-sensitive.

“The policy is about looking at infrastructure through a lens of making our streets safer and more accessible, accommodating the needs for more modes of travel,” Hernandez explained.

Improving the 2011 plan

The city first adopted its Complete Streets policy in 2011. As the transportation department and partners worked on updating the existing policy, several needs were identified, including performance measures and a focus on prioritizing equity, which was missing from the 2011 plan.

A stakeholder committee made up of various city departments and community organizations came together to propose 10 sections for the updated policy.

Hernandez shared some of the outreach measures the team used, including an online survey, social media, and the SASpeakUp Complete Streets page.

She outlined the two phases of the Complete Streets policy. Phase 1 focuses on updating the plan and aims for completion by summer 2024, while Phase 2 will cover the actual implementation, set to start in fall 2024.

Phase 2 work will involve creating a technical review task force to ensure project checklist compliance, Hernandez added.

You can read the updated Complete Streets draft below:

Hearing from the committee

Hernandez fielded questions from the committee, with District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda expressing the need for an updated policy to keep pace with the city’s growth.