Chris Riley

On Sept. 27 at the Leon Valley Community Center, about 100 citizens participated in a 2?-hour small group discussion on the future transportation needs and direction in Bexar County, sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Small group discussion centered on what each participant’s transportation habits were on a typical day, obstacles encountered along the way (construction, accidents, etc.), and other problems with current transportation in Bexar County. Participants were then asked to envision the community’s needs 28 years into the future. It was assumed that the area’s population would double over this period. Some common ideas of the groups to improve transportation: better mass transit; control of development and sprawl; more bikable and walkable neighborhoods; protection of air and water quality; and coordination of school planning with city planning, so parents don’t have to drive their kids to school.

In this workshop, and in the numerous public meetings I have attended over the last 1? years, the attendees have overwhelmingly been against tolling roads as a way of improving congestion. If the citizens are against tolling, then we need to be for an alternative solution. The MPO is the agency that receives state and federal gas tax dollars for construction and maintenance of new and existing roads. These taxes have not been raised at the state level or federal level for many years. Our state and federal legislators should either index the gas tax to inflation and/or fund the gas tax 100 percent for mobility solely. (Currently $1.6 billion is taken out of this gas tax to fund other non-road related projects statewide). MPO officials report that there is no future funding available, except through the toll tax, unless the legislature finds other tax revenues for transportation.

So…..when I visualize 28 years into the future, the best option I see is expanding VIA’s Bus Rapid Transit system, coming on line in 2012, into “world class” mass transit. This will require a shift in our way of thinking about riding buses. I have requested that VIA study the viability of a Wurzbach Road extension from the Medical Center to Bandera Road and out to (Loop) 1604, as the second leg of the BRT system. (The first leg will be on Fredericksburg Road from downtown to the Medical Center). People who work downtown could take a rapid bus from 1604/Bandera all the way downtown, if the second leg was established along Bandera Road.

What will the price of gas be in 28 years? What will be our air and water quality readings, and the status of global warming, in 28 years? Will 85-year-old baby boomers want to fight traffic, or take a clean efficient mass transit system? I know this will be a tremendous challenge to get people out of their cars and into a sleek new bus (for at least part of their trips), but I know we can do it! My husband and I are off to Portland and Eugene, Oregon, to check out the light rail and BRT systems in these communities. More later…..

Upcoming events:

Saturday, Oct. 13 – 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Leon Valley Trade and Market Days, at the Leon Valley Community and Conference Centers. Free admission. Come start your Christmas shopping early!

Oct. 16, 7 p.m. – Leon Valley City Council, at Leon Valley City Hall. We welcome Boy Scout Troop 511 members, who will be working on earning their citizenship badge.

Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. — 12th Annual Los Leones Student Art Festival at the Leon Valley Community and Conference Centers. Admission is free. This event is a partnership of Northside ISD, City of Leon Valley and Northside Education Foundation. For more information, call 397-8599 or 684-0169.

Oct. 26, 7 p.m. at the Leon Valley Community Center – Bloomin’ Onion Bluegrass Dinner to benefit the historic Huebner-Onion Homestead restoration. Dinner will be catered by Outback Steakhouse and music will be by Tennessee Valley Authority. For tickets ($35) call 684-8586.