San Antonio Transportation Planning Takes 25-Year View

The population of the San Antonio metro area is likely to top 4 million people by 2050. Specifically, Bexar County’s population is expected to increase to 3.3 million by then, which is an additional 1 million people above the current population. Southern Bexar, in particular, will get the most growth, with the majority coming from the Texas A&M campus and the Toyota plant.

Both the state Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), are required to submit long-range and short-range plans to continue to receive federal transportation funds. The long-range transportation plan forecasts transportation needs for the next 25 years including the goals, visions and projected transportation projects for the region. This plan will analyze what will happen in the next 25 years if current trends continue, and subsequently propose actions to be implemented in order to relieve congestion, maintain air quality and improve quality of life.

The Transportation Policy Board adopted an updated Mobility 2045 plan earlier this year. Also known as the long-range transportation plan, the Mobility 2045: Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) reflects the ongoing planning and project development efforts for implementation of transportation policies, programs and projects. The MTP sets the framework for the MPO’s continuous, comprehensive and coordinated regional transportation planning efforts for the next 25 years.