DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Transportation Advisory Board
SUMMARY:
Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) will provide a briefing on the Transportation Advisory Board, including an overview of the current structure and potential improvements to become more multimodal.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) was created by ordinance in 1984. The function of the TAB is to review staff recommendations, conduct hearings, recommend guidelines, and make recommendations to City Council on the licensing and regulatory review process for transportation services licensed by the City. These services include taxicabs, limousines, tow trucks, tour/sightseeing operations, and horse carriages. Since its creation, the TAB no longer makes recommendations for tow trucks and has added pedicabs and group cycles to the vehicle for hire industries not represented by TAB members. The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has been responsible for oversight of the TAB.
The 1984 ordinance was amended in 1991 and again in 2009 to modify the TAB membership as follows:
Membership Composition Voting Member Non-Voting Member
Transportation Consumers 3*
Large Taxicab (> 20 Vehicles) 1
Small Taxicab (< 20 Vehicles) 1
Taxicab Cooperative 1
Tour, Charter, and Shuttle 1
Horse Carriage and Limousine 1
San Antonio Airport Advisory Commission 1*
San Antonio Convention and Visitors Commission 1*
(Visit San Antonio Board of Directors)
San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association 1*
CoSA Public Works (TCI) 1
CoSA Aviation 1
CoSA CCDO 1*
CoSA CVB (Visit San Antonio) 1*
VIA Metropolitan Transit 1
*One position vacant
ISSUE:
Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) reviewed similar boards in several cities. Some cities have a singular oversight committee and others have multiple committees focused on specific areas of oversight.
• New Braunfels, Transportation & Traffic Advisory Board - Serves in an advisory capacity on matters relating vehicles for hire, emergency warning systems and evacuation routes and procedures, stop signs, school zones, no parking zones and other traffic control devices, street and bridge improvements, and any other transportation-related matters referred by City Council.
• Austin, Urban Transportation Commission - Serves in an advisory capacity on matters relating to transportation energy conservation matters grant applications, streets and highways, bus and rail service, pedestrian and bikeway programs and projects, safety related programs and projects, provision for the needs of the mobility impaired, transportation franchise requests.
• Denver, Multimodal Advisory Committee - New committee formed in 2018 to serve in an advisory capacity on matters relating to policies, programs, projects, priorities, financing, and community engagement. Membership includes various interests, perspectives, and stakeholder groups, including bicycle riders, pedestrians, transit riders, vehicle drivers, people with disabilities and other mobility-system users.
• San José, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee - Provides guidance and advice to help better accommodate the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians throughout San José.
• Portland, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee - Serves in an advisory capacity on all matters relating to the use of the bicycle as a means of transportation and recreation. The responsibilities of the committee include but, are not limited to matters of bicycle policy, project and program implementation, education, and enforcement.
• Phoenix, Citizens Transportation Commission - Oversees the implementation of the Phoenix Transportation 2050 Plan. The committee addresses street and transit needs, provides oversight on the expenditure of funds, and makes recommendations on plan elements and other means of generating revenue for the plan going forward.
Currently, the TAB focuses only on private, for-hire transportation. There is no single city oversight commission focused on multimodal transportation, to include micromobility, pedestrian, vehicular, freight, and transit. A more diverse TAB focused on multimodal transportation could serve in an advisory role, while also helping with advocacy and public involvement related to City policies and vision. Given that the TAB would be diverse in roles and composition, different subcommittees could be formed for specific issues that require detailed analysis.
• Potential TAB composition could be a mix of industry professionals, citizen advocates, (including senior citizens, the people with disabilities, youth and child consumers), and City staff.
• Depending on the membership composition, the City of San Antonio department designated to provide TAB oversight should be reviewed.
In addition to serving in an advisory capacity, a revamped TAB could serve as a neutral arbitrator for a variety of transportation-related matters. While the decisions of the TAB may not be binding, the intent would be to best represent the interests of the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing only.