DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jesus H. Saenz, Jr., IAP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the Status of the Strategic Development Plan for the San Antonio International Airport
SUMMARY:
This item provides a briefing on the status of the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the San Antonio International Airport and the development of design principles for the San Antonio Airport System.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
To ensure the Airport System is poised to accommodate the long-term growth of the region, the City took the opportunity to initiate a data-driven SDP which will produce a 20-year Master Plan for the San Antonio International Airport. The strategic development planning process ultimately will produce development options regarding land use, facilities, and services required for the airport to accommodate the projected population growth and prosperity of the San Antonio region.
The Aviation Department briefed the City Council on the SDP at the October 31, 2018 B Session which proved that the current location of the Airport could handle the anticipated air travel and infrastructure needs of the community over the next 20 to 50 years. City Council agreed with the recommendation and approved moving forward with the second phase of the SDP to identify, analyze and ultimately recommend to Council the projects and timeline to meet the future air traffic needs of the community.
In February 2020, the Transportation and Mobility Council Committee was briefed on Phase 2 of the SDP, which includes the development of the airfield alternatives and the anticipated timeline for the completion of the SDP. While the COVID pandemic impacted and extended the timeline of the development of the SDP, staff and the consultants were able to continue technical work for the SDP.
At a B Session on the status of the San Antonio Airport System on December 9, 2020, Aviation Director presented an update on the SDP which included the preferred airfield alternative. This alternative will enhance airfield safety; enable service to farther international destinations; and, accommodate long-term projected growth. Since the December 2020 B Session, the Aviation Department has briefed area neighborhood meetings and held virtual public meetings in English and Spanish on the status of the SDP and the preferred airfield alternative.
On February 4, 2021, the Airport Development System Committee, which was appointed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg in January 2018 to guide the process, was briefed on the status of the SDP including the alternatives under consideration for expanded terminal facilities and transportation options.
Design Principles
As a separate but related effort, the San Antonio Airport System initiated an effort to incorporate a “sense of place” to define or further refine San Antonio International Airport’s image by creating Development Principles, including design guidelines and standards, that will embody characteristics unique to San Antonio into future development projects. The intent of this effort is to ensure passengers and visitors recognize they are in San Antonio when they visit airport facilities. When this effort is completed, a design manual with the standards, details and practices to be followed in future development projects.
ISSUE:
This briefing will provide City Council with an update on the status of Phase 2 of the SDP to include proposals for future terminal facilities and roadway alternatives to address the long-term projected growth of our region. Additionally, the briefing will include an overview of the schedule for the SDP program, which is anticipated to be completed in October 2021 and then presented to City Council for approval prior to its submittal to the Federal Aviation Administration.
A consultant from Jacobs Engineering, Inc., the on-call consultant leading the development of design standards for the San Antonio Airport System, will brief the City Council on the status of the effort including the process to develop the design principles.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only