Message from District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg on Streetcar

On Monday, City Council and Mayor Ivy Taylor, along with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, halted participation in the VIA streetcar project. I believe this the right move for San Antonio.

Since the debate about streetcars began almost three years ago, I have expressed concern that the project did not address the critical transportation challenges we face today nor in the future. Simply put, our chief transportation concerns in any corner of this city are congestion and the dwindling sources of local, state, and federal funding to build and maintain infrastructure. At this critical point in San Antonio's history, we need a long term, comprehensive, innovative plan for transportation that addresses these issues. Streetcar did not do that, and I'm glad our city and county officials recognize that no such project will proceed without a public vote.

As with water in our region, comprehensive planning is vital to match limited resources with seemingly unlimited need: According to the state demographer, San Antonio's population will increase by 1.1 million in the next 25 years, bringing with it an estimated 500 thousand more vehicles, air quality issues, and roadway maintenance challenges. The status quo will no longer work, and neither will a piecemeal approach to transit reform. Therefore, I'm pleased to report on the commitment made today by Bexar County and the City of San Antonio to begin a planning effort and, once assembled, bring a big-picture transportation plan to the public for voter approval.

In addition, I agree with Mayor Taylor’s call for a Charter Commission to examine changes needed in city governance. Any changes made should be binding, and they should advance our entire city’s vision of transparent, accountable government that operates in concert with our Texas State Constitution. I look forward to working with Mayor Taylor, my colleagues, and our neighbors on crafting a long term transportation vision for San Antonio.

Sincerely,