DEPARTMENT: Transportation Department
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: 5, 7
SUBJECT:
Share the Streets Pilot Initiative
SUMMARY:
The Transportation Department will provide an informational briefing to the City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee on the Share the Streets Pilot Initiative. The briefing will include an overview and results of the pilot initiative.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In March 2020, the City of San Antonio issued a Stay at Home Work Safe order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, public recreational spaces such as trails and parks saw an increase in use while local streets' capacities decreased due to fewer drivers. To increase the amount of space available for social distancing while promoting safe, healthy activity and reducing the excessive demand for limited recreational areas, cities like Oakland, Denver, and Minneapolis who passed similar Stay at Home orders established a "Slow Streets" initiative. This initiative aimed to provide safe, walkable and bikeable areas in neighborhoods throughout their respective city. Activate SA, an active transportation advocacy group, approached city staff with a "Share the Streets" proposal to create a similar initiative in San Antonio.
The City of San Antonio's Transportation and Public Works Departments selected two streets to pilot the "Share the Streets" concept with temporary barricades, signage, and reduced speed limits. Between June 8, 2020 and July 5, 2020, Cincinnati Avenue from Woodlawn Lake to St. Mary's University was temporarily closed. The major north-south streets, including North General McMullen Drive, Bandera Road, Wilson Boulevard, and South Josephine Tobin Drive, and remained open to vehicular traffic. Between June 15, 2020 to July 12, 2020, West Cesar Chavez Boulevard from Elmendorf Lake to Sidney Lanier High School was closed. The major north-south streets, including South Zarzamora Street, South Navidad Street, South Trinity Street, and South Brazos Str...
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