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 recommendations 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, but are 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
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 Jose, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee - Provides guidance and advice to help better accommodate the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians throughout San José.
• Portland, Bicycle 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, and education, and enforcement. The Portland Bureau of Transportation also has a Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Freight Advisory Committee, Budget Advisory Committee and several other topic and time specific committees such as a Private for Hire Committee, Parking, etc.
• 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.
In September 2019, TCI provided a briefing to the City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee on the structure of the current TAB and potential opportunities to broaden its focus to become more multimodal. The direction given to TCI was to meet with stakeholders and develop recommendations to present back to the City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee.
ISSUE:
Currently, the TAB only focuses private, for-hire transportation and there is no single city advisory committee focused on multimodal transportation, to include micromobility, pedestrian, vehicular, freight, and transit. A more dynamic and diverse TAB composition, focused on multimodal transportation, could serve in an advisory role, while also helping foster public involvement related to City policies and vision. Given the diversity of committee members and potential transportation topics, different subcommittees could be formed for specific issues that require detailed analysis.
• Potential TAB composition could be a mix of industry professionals, community advocates, and City staff.
• While the decisions of the TAB may not be binding, the intent would be to provide detailed community input to help shape project and policy recommendations.
• The TAB will act as a diverse group of advisors for high profile projects, policies, and initiatives, and will provide important feedback to City staff prior to taking an item to the appropriate City Council Committee.
• Depending on the membership composition, the City of San Antonio department designated to provide TAB oversight should be reviewed.
In October 2019 and November 2019, TCI and SAPD facilitated internal and external stakeholder group meetings to discuss the TAB membership composition and number of members. Additionally, in December 2019, City Council approved two new advisory committees related to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). Based on stakeholder input, as well as the structure of the two other recently created advisory committees, TCI recommends the TAB be comprised of 11 at-large members appointed by the Mayor and City Council, with input from the City Manager, TCI, SAPD, and Office of Equity. TCI recommends the following Technical & Community Members with no more than two people per category.
Technical & Community Members
Vehicle for Hire Industry
Transport of Goods / Freight Industry
Transportation Professional (Engineer, Architect, Planner)
Active Transportation User (Bike, Pedestrian)
Public Transportation User
Transportation Dependent (Disabled, Elderly)
Transportation Justice and Racial Equity
Environmental / Sustainability
Development / Real Estate Professional
Innovation / Technology Professional
Health Professional
Community Champion (Non-expert, passionate about transportation)
In addition to the 11 voting members, there will be non-voting Agency Members consisting of City departments and external agencies represented for technical input.
Agency Members
CoSA Transportation & Capital Improvements
CoSA San Antonio Police Department
CoSA Center City Development & Operations Department
CoSA Planning
CoSA Office of Equity
CoSA Office of Innovation
CoSA Office of Sustainability
VIA Metropolitan Transit
Joint Base San Antonio
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee could choose to not move forward with restructuring the Transportation Advisory Board; however, it would limit the City’s ability to have a more diverse board focused multimodal transportation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this briefing.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends forwarding this item to the City Council Governance Committee for consideration prior to full City Council consideration.