The San Antonio City Council has given the green light to the establishment of a new advisory body, the Multimodal Transportation Commission, tasked with guiding the development of the city's transportation policies. This move is in response to growing demands for a safe and connected network that serves not just drivers, but all citizens, including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users. With several recent policy initiatives on the books, the creation of the commission aims to bring community voices directly into the planning fold.
According to a recent news release on the city's official website, sanantonio.gov, this ordinance follows a number of adopted policies, namely the Bike Network Plan introduced in January 2025, the 2024 Complete Streets Policy, the updated Vision Zero Action Plan, and the Transit-Oriented Development Policy Framework. The commission is designed to provide a structured platform for citizens to have a say in how such policies are implemented, ensuring their daily experiences on San Antonio’s roads are reflected in upcoming projects and reforms.
Catherine "Cat" Hernandez, the Transportation Department Director, told sanantonio.gov, “Creating this commission marks a new era of community-driven planning. We’re building transportation policy with real input from those who drive, walk, bike, or bus, and who rely on our streets every day.”
The newly minted commission will be a 13-member body, featuring representatives from each City Council District along with appointees from key agencies such as VIA Metropolitan Transit and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO). In a move reflective of the city’s diverse transportation needs, the commission will also include representatives for various user groups, including transit riders, cyclists, traffic engineers, and transportation-disadvantaged individuals, particularly the elderly, disabled, and low-income residents.
Functionally, the Multimodal Transportation Commission will provide advice to the City on a variety of transportation-related issues. Their agenda includes periodic updates to transportation plans and city codes, setting metrics and benchmarks for safer mobility systems, examining exceptions to Complete Streets Policy, and steering ongoing transportation projects and policies. As San Antonio progresses toward its Vision Zero goal – a citywide effort to eliminate all traffic fatalities – this commission’s role in crafting policies that cater to all street users could be critical in supporting a healthier, more resilient urban environment.
