San Antonio revamps city streets for pedestrian safety and healthy living: A look at the 'Complete the Streets' policy
Published: Sat, 12/02/23
San Antonio revamps city streets for pedestrian safety and healthy living: A look at the 'Complete the Streets' policy
On Nov. 30, the City of San Antonio's transportation department presented an up to the 2011 policy, Complete the Streets.
(SBG)
New4SA
by SBG San Antonio | Tawny Davis
SAN ANTONIO - On Nov. 30, the City of San Antonio's transportation department presented an up to the 2011 policy, Complete the Streets.
According to interim director Catherine Hernandez, this policy is supposed to improve city streets, enhance commercial corridors, focus on pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods, maximize capital projects, and promote healthy living across San Antonio.
"Residential areas will see more street lighting residential streets will see sidewalks especially gaps that are identified and then as we do the construction we fill in those gaps."
Some of those increases included modifying Main and Soledad Street from one-way operation to two-way traffic, adding dedicated bike lanes on Main Street with buffers, wider sidewalks for pedestrians, pedestrian lighting, landscaping, and tree planting, and new signalization for vehicles and pedestrians. Similar upgrades have also been added to Broadway and Santa Rosa Street.
However, according to local advocacy groups, there is still more work to be done, especially for those with disabilities. Executive director for disABILITYsa Melanie Cawthorn said that while there have been major strides, there still needs to be more accessibility.
"Not only has the city done well to address those issues, but there is a way for people to bring them to the city's attention as well."
Another addition to this policy has been the bike lanes installed across the city. Paola Fernandez, an avid cyclist in San Antonio uses her bike to go to and from work daily. With the addition of bike lanes near her home and at work, she has been grateful for the ease it provides.
"I feel safe riding to work every day because I am separated from vehicles so having a complete street policy will spread that throughout the city so other residents could have a safer way to get to work school or family."
The city has partnered up with several local groups for this project, one of them being ActivateSA. Executive director Joey Pawlik said that his group is excited about the future of this project and its improvements.
"Standards have changed over the years so we need more of a focus on vulnerable users like pedestrians, cyclists, people in wheelchairs, and more, but also making sure that we're also doing robust community engagements."
ActivateSA is hosting a town hall alongside Hernandez and the transportation department and other groups involved in the Complete Streets project.
They will discuss making San Antonio streets safer and healthier for all through the current effort to update the San Antonio Complete Streets policy. It will be held on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Roosevelt Clubhouse, Roosevelt Park 331 Roosevelt Avenue.