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Session 1 – Urban Planning and Public Infrastructure: Anthony Chukwudoloue – Deputy Director of Public Works, City of San Antonio, Chris Ryerson – Planning Administrator, Citywide Planning Division, City of San Antonio, Sonia Jimenez – Deputy Director, Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Paola Sofía Fernández – Senior Urban Planner, Stantec, David Robinson Jr. – Development Manager, Weston Urban
Better Futures Institute
www.bfinstitute.org
This white paper draws on insights from the Better Futures Conversations: Public Policy and Civic Lab, hosted by the Better Futures Institute (BFI) in partnership with the City of San Antonio. The event was part of the Civic Tech Scholars Program, which focuses on preparing young leaders in STEM to tackle complex social challenges. This session focused on the future of urban planning and public infrastructure in San Antonio, addressing questions around sustainability, resilience, civic engagement, and the role of technology in transforming cities.
Through conversations with public officials, urban planners, and community leaders, key themes emerged, such as the importance of community participation, the transition toward multimodal transportation, and the need for inter-organizational collaboration to meet the demands of a growing urban population. This white paper also discusses critical challenges in San Antonio, including economic segregation, resident displacement, and infrastructure deficiencies. Promising practices, including climate resilience projects like Resilient SA and SA Tomorrow, are highlighted as steps toward a more sustainable future.
Key Recommendations:
The Better Futures Institute (BFI), in collaboration with the City of San Antonio, hosted a series of conversations under the Civic Tech Scholars Program. This program aims to prepare young leaders for careers in STEM by addressing pressing societal issues such as urban planning, public infrastructure, mobility, and sustainability. The goal is to train and motivate emerging leaders to use technology, civic engagement, and innovation to improve the quality of life in cities like San Antonio. The session on Urban Planning and Public Infrastructure in San Antonio brought together five key participants:
During the first session, these experts explored how urban planning is conducted, the challenges faced by growing cities, and how technological innovation can help shape the cities of tomorrow. This white paper focuses on these discussions and proposes actionable recommendations for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable urban future in San Antonio.
These white papers mark the first step in a collaborative research initiative aimed at gathering feedback from multiple stakeholders. The process began with formulating deeper questions based on key themes identified during discussions. Small groups compiled key insights, identified promising practices, and highlighted critical challenges.
The next phase involves developing a consultation plan to engage stakeholders and community members. This plan will include surveys, community meetings, and online platforms to gather feedback that will inform future policy recommendations and guide further research.
One of the central themes discussed was the importance of community engagement in shaping the built environment. As San Antonio continues to grow, ensuring that residents are actively involved in urban planning decisions is essential for fostering a sense of ownership and preserving the city’s cultural and historical identity.
Research by Fainstein (2010) suggests that successful urban planning requires inclusive participation from residents, especially in projects that will have long-lasting impacts on their communities. Cities like Copenhagen have implemented participatory models where citizens directly contribute to urban development plans, resulting in higher satisfaction rates and more sustainable projects.
Key Opportunity: San Antonio can further engage residents by leveraging digital tools and platforms that make urban planning processes more transparent and accessible. This includes utilizing AI and augmented reality (AR) to allow citizens to visualize future projects.
As urban populations grow, multimodal transportation systems are becoming increasingly important for cities like San Antonio. The concept of multimodal transit integrates various modes of transportation, such as public buses, biking, walking, e-scooters, and ride-sharing services, to reduce traffic congestion and provide residents with flexible, environmentally friendly transport options.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA, 2021), cities with well-developed multimodal systems experience a 20% reduction in traffic congestion and a 15% decrease in carbon emissions. For San Antonio, expanding transit systems like VIA Metropolitan Transit and incorporating smart traffic systems is essential to improving mobility and sustainability.
Key Opportunity: Cities like Seattle have successfully integrated multimodal transit solutions, reducing congestion and improving mobility. San Antonio can follow similar models by investing in micromobility infrastructure and expanding public transit coverage.
Achieving sustainable urban growth will require robust collaboration between public and private sectors, as well as different levels of government. Throughout the session, participants stressed the importance of creating public-private partnerships (PPPs) to pool resources and expertise for large-scale infrastructure projects.
A study by Goldsmith and Eggers (2017) highlights that cities leveraging PPPs for infrastructure development can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and accelerate project completion. Los Angeles’ Metro Express Lanes Project is an example of how such collaboration can improve transportation infrastructure while minimizing public spending.
Key Opportunity: San Antonio has a unique opportunity to expand its PPP model in future infrastructure projects, particularly in transportation and housing, to ensure faster project execution and wider community benefits.
Several promising practices in urban planning and infrastructure development are already underway in San Antonio, positioning the city as a leader in sustainable development.
One of the most significant barriers to infrastructure development is the complexity of public policy processes. Bureaucratic delays and political hurdles often prevent timely implementation of projects that have community support.
A Brookings Institution (2020) study found that nearly 60% of U.S. infrastructure projects face delays due to bureaucratic challenges, resulting in inefficient project delivery. San Antonio’s policy framework could benefit from streamlined approval processes to ensure that community-supported projects are implemented in a timely manner.
San Antonio's public transit system remains insufficient for the city's growing population. Economic segregation further exacerbates this issue, as lower-income neighborhoods face limited access to reliable transit, leading to longer commutes and reduced economic mobility.
The Urban Land Institute (2021) highlights that cities with poorly connected transit systems disproportionately affect residents of underserved neighborhoods, with longer commute times hindering access to employment and services.
The process of urban densification, while necessary to reduce urban sprawl and increase resource efficiency, can lead to gentrification and the displacement of long-term residents. This issue has been observed in cities that prioritize high-density housing without adequate affordable housing mandates.
A study by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (2019) found that cities implementing densification without affordable housing provisions often experience significant displacement of lower-income residents.
San Antonio's dependence on the Edwards Aquifer for water and its aging energy infrastructure are critical challenges. As climate change intensifies, the city will face greater pressure to manage these resources efficiently.
Texas Water Development Board (2020) data shows that cities relying on a single water source are at higher risk of water shortages. Extreme heat also poses challenges for the city's public transportation infrastructure, as higher temperatures can disrupt transit services and discourage use.
San Antonio is at a critical juncture in its urban development journey. The insights from the Better Futures Conversations underscore the need for bold, data-driven approaches to urban planning and public infrastructure. By enhancing community engagement, promoting sustainable mobility, and leveraging technological innovation, the city can create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environment for future generations.
Dr. Alberto Gomez is a San Antonio-based entrepreneur. He is the Co-founder, President and CEO of Better Futures Institute, and Co-founder of Irys Technologies, a data analytics and cybersecurity firm. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Creative Industries.
