[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6631770,"mediaKeyId","2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30","parentId",2679669,"title","Committee asks staff to study non‑consent towing rates, seeks safeguards against predatory towing","audioSeconds",1443,"startMs",5653000,"endMs",7096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30&start=5653&end=7096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30/thumbnail_5653000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6631770/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-asks-staff-to-study-nonconsent-towing-rates-seeks-safeguards-against-predatory-towing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631770-df7d84a68eb037be9287377a919a33f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450754&Signature=V3ZiIv6lXZ4qj3gbWdigDVNtJB7EsrChAEg~9UvSrIMI4dpEVrs-WrWVe2VAc4FPYKVSGB6H09nqPRgmaMeJ~Xfj9fp5-eRF~3crJJGLOiGQF1t4i0oafm8eb7mlaNRVUIrMgb3SNdYX-3D4ZKxEAqmvx-oKJbp56wVMWHEjxQtRnGD8dGwrkU2UmGvCRWYa4j~iAxerlpCIkzByCq-x81rkLo6EDVlTGXhvTz3pG5cBvq~WQKaEXUjMqn~MAWp39zcej-mBbxXS9uRKIYkqfGUIVGSm8co~GvrgqocrW88AJN3Zj7EHJIolzX~Zs-ehjEH3rMEIOzx6IXgrVPrO~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Transportation Infrastructure Committee on March 18 heard a briefing from Rick Riley, assistant director of the San Antonio Police Department, on a request from non‑consent towing companies for a tow‑rate increase and directed staff to produce a recommended rate adjustment and a memo addressing consumer protections and regulatory options.

Riley told the committee that non‑consent towing is regulated under Chapter 19 of the City Code and that the city’s current light‑duty non‑consent tow rate is $177. He reviewed state and local procedures that govern requests for a tow‑fee study and summarized prior city work: a 2021 request was not completed due to missing financial data; a 2023 request included financial submissions that produced no recommended increase after finance reviewed profit margins and operating costs.

Industry position and city scenarios

Michael Guerrero, representing towing interests during public comment, urged the committee to consider standardizing fees that reflect operational costs and inflation and argued that ‘‘raising tow fees is not about gouging customers, it's about ensuring that companies can cover the cost of providing legal regulated, necessary services.’’ Riley told the committee that some towing companies had proposed adding an administrative fee of 3.3% of a tow that would be remitted to the city if rates were raised.

Riley presented three staff scenarios based on prior proposals and ordinance constraints:

- Scenario 1: Raise light‑duty rate from $177 to $210; a 3.3% administrative fee at that level would produce an estimated $420,000 annually (assuming roughly 60,000 tows per year).
- Scenario 2: Raise the rate to $244.85 (a cumulative CPI adjustment since 2013); 3.3% admin fee would yield an estimated $489,000 annually.
- Scenario 3: Raise to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) maximum of $272; 3.3% admin fee would yield an estimated $543,000 annually.

Riley said that a city finance review of the 2023 submissions found an average profit margin of about 17% for the companies that provided complete financials; staff used a 9% profit margin target for the 2013 rates. He recommended that SAPD and Finance work with the non‑consent towing companies to develop a recommended rate adjustment based on projected 2025–26 operating costs and labor increases and return that recommendation to full City Council in April 2025.

Consumer protections and committee concerns

Multiple council members raised concerns about predatory towing, unclear signage, short‑notice tows, storage fees, wrongful tows and the effect of fee increases on lower‑income residents. Council members asked staff to list existing accountability mechanisms and complaint processes, to consider options that would limit predatory practices, and to return public‑facing outreach information. Council members also asked whether towing firms are licensed and how many companies operate; staff said the state licenses towing companies (TDLR) and that roughly 208 companies operate in San Antonio, while three companies account for about two‑thirds of the city’s estimated 60,000 annual non‑consent tows.

Action and next steps

The committee directed SAPD and the Finance Department to work with the non‑consent towing companies to produce a recommended rate adjustment grounded in projected operating and labor costs for 2025–26 and to return to full City Council in April 2025 with that recommendation. Staff also agreed to provide a memo addressing council questions about complaint processes, oversight options, the administrative fee proposal, and other consumer protections. Riley said that if the Council approved a rate adjustment, towing companies would have 48 months to provide complete financial information required by the ordinance to support a full TOEFI study.

Ending

The committee concluded that any rate adjustment should be accompanied by clearer enforcement and stronger consumer protections; members asked staff to include information on complaint processes, complaint volumes, and possible uses of any administrative fee in the memo to Council.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Transportation Infrastructure Committee on March 18 heard a briefing on a towing industry request for higher non‑consent tow fees and directed SAPD and Finance to develop a recommended rate adjustment and a memo addressing consumer protections before a full Council decision.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631775,"Committee forwards Multimodal Transportation Commission to council with membership changes, asks city attorney to vet details",2163,3489000,5652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30&start=3489&end=5652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30/thumbnail_3489000.jpg","/articles/6631775/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-forwards-Multimodal-Transportation-Commission-to-council-with-membership-changes-asks-city-attorney-to-vet-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631775-730d210766b6f6eab6e7607e5c74b308/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450754&Signature=jgwagRdFIR2-67ftjcCP29Lz24k-AUrU6L--c3UGPAsFkz7Fvd0pYot0RyBQT9CNPBHPGt8Ph153jtED5-5MnEY4s8F27QtL9AJ4a9F6pUnu3-xMbChItW0f7nv417S0M2RyomE7WoFSM1uqrakmhVNBWe~wSQzSk1FoXpJlMqrGiGHqncImEUiWlRL6tmzUnVyTDu4qMHcR0gmeZK2lURbtgqAE6VFUO3DeUXRr0d7iOH3bwl7bBRotY8It~YOoe2l7ao-rZcl0R-NA0EHJInutTc3B1MksBHI-x93G0EJ~~1EyzyAAHKKPU6cLwMfT7HoTK4IqdfaBPUveH1AUDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Transportation Infrastructure Committee on March 18 voted to forward a proposal to create a Multimodal Transportation Commission to the City Council, asking the city's transportation department and the city attorney to confirm recommended membership categories and appointment procedures.

City Transportation Director Kat Hernandez told the committee the proposed commission would ‘‘provide input and recommendations to city council on policy and other issues affecting pedestrians and bicyclists’’ and would advise the department on Complete Streets exceptions, transit oriented policy and related street‑design standards.

Why it matters: the commission is intended to provide sustained community input on implementing the city’s recently adopted Complete Streets policy, Vision Zero Action Plan and Transit‑Oriented Development framework, helping translate those policies into design, equity and implementation decisions.

What the committee discussed and decided

Kat Hernandez presented a recommended composition that included council district appointees and seats appointed by VIA and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Hernandez said the commission would be staffed by the transportation department and recommended to meet at least quarterly.

Community advocate Joey Pollock of Activate SA told the committee he supports a citizens commission that ‘‘will truly be effective in providing input, recommendations, and holding our city accountable on the implementation of these policies and plans.’’ Pollock’s remarks aligned with council members who emphasized recruiting members with lived experience in affordable housing, transit use and neighborhood needs.

Membership negotiations

Committee members debated the composition of mandatory categories and ultimately asked staff to propose a slightly narrower set of mandatory categories than originally written. After discussion the committee agreed to recommend that council consider a structure with fewer minimum slots for specific advocates (council members discussed moving from three required transit‑rider and three required cyclist slots toward two required transit riders and two required cyclists), and to include explicit representation for people with disabilities and older adults. Committee members also asked the city attorney to review the proposed language to ensure it is consistent with the city’s appointment practices and to return a memo describing any legal concerns.

Formal action

The committee voted to forward the item to City Council with the committee’s recommended adjustments and with the request that the city attorney and transportation staff review the recommended membership categories and return a memo before the item goes to council. The vote was taken by voice and passed on an affirmative voice vote.

Next steps

Transportation staff will work with the city attorney’s office to finalize recommended language and will provide a memo describing any legal or procedural issues before the item is considered by full City Council. Staff also said they will assist council members with recruitment guidance to fill the commission categories.

Ending

The committee’s referral sends the proposed commission to council for final approval; staff and the city attorney will provide a review memo and recommended edits to help council and members of the public understand appointment procedures and member qualification categories before the council vote.

","The Transportation Infrastructure Committee voted to send a proposed Multimodal Transportation Commission to City Council, asking staff and the city attorney to review membership categories and to include representation for people with disabilities and seniors while reducing some minimum category quotas.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631780,"VIA details Silver Line, Green Line and Better Bus timelines; utility coordination delays construction",1296,714000,2010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30&start=714&end=2010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679669-2b21985de745b3db08a548558bff4b30/thumbnail_714000.jpg","/articles/6631780/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/VIA-details-Silver-Line-Green-Line-and-Better-Bus-timelines-utility-coordination-delays-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631780-7059b1184e79bd60e691860a7c929f9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450754&Signature=GLcj9IIhZfPv~Q4mzjZReJKzgtd9r5tnNZ0v2ck9cnJjCHt3ZJnUwKYJbRzes8JeLni7xYlN-Na8j2DkX7uE5RGm5TYVPGg~2kOQoyLUambE1tHr0BhiiXLTXLjM2dboXuX8gw8LGuOafHqUpcVirv8UwkDFwY8t353IE2xFus9oB9Pv7bpktEzEj9lIbuC6jn5nUtjcFSoJJ2DD93a6mpS8QvMTRDaWCx6Y557DyVdz2Vvh9wTeuX1YFzZZfdu9YU5trkeXswtk6fLyRckQbZgvyM1OuD3HguRLMcNWYvP3PcV4HNxRKSifao5-gl5POV4NImwHzgs6Drt1gC~tqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","VIA Metropolitan Transit staff told the Transportation Infrastructure Committee on March 18 that the agency remains on track to open the Green Line by the end of 2027 and the Silver Line by the end of 2029, but that subsurface utility investigations and federal grant timing have delayed some construction milestones.

The Silver Line — described by VIA staff as the ‘‘VR Rapid Silver Line’’ or East–West corridor — is estimated at 7.3 miles with 26 stations, 10‑minute weekday frequency and a year‑of‑expenditure cost of $289,200,000. Manchiri Akalkotkar, VIA’s major capital program officer, said the project’s financial plan assumes roughly 50% federal funding (about $145,300,000) and local commitments including roughly $100,000,000 from Bexar County. ‘‘The total cost is estimated to be 289,200,000.0 in the year of expenditure dollars,’’ Akalkotkar said.

Why it matters: the Silver and Green lines, together with a new maintenance facility and VIA’s Better Bus plan, are intended to increase frequency and travel speed across San Antonio’s central corridors and to expand access to jobs and groceries for residents with limited auto access.

Key project details and schedule

- Silver Line: 7.3 miles, 26 stations, off‑board fare collection, a mix of dedicated lanes and mixed traffic, and planned revenue service at the end of 2029. VIA is at about 40% design and has begun NEPA environmental documentation; staff plan a Small Starts (Capital Investment Grants) application in 2026 and construction starting in early 2027 if funding is awarded. Akalkotkar said the agency has ‘‘two rounds of public engagement’’ informing design and plans to open East‑ and West‑side project offices for outreach.

- Second operations & maintenance facility: required to store and service additional vehicles for rapid and standard bus service. VIA expects construction to start in 2027 and finish early 2029; the site is being planned to accommodate 52 articulated rapid vehicles and about 50 additional standard buses and to be adaptable to future propulsion technologies.

- Green Line: project budget set at $480,800,000, 25 stations and a planned opening by the end of 2027. VIA told the committee it had secured a full funding grant agreement (FFGA) and federal obligation last December, but has delayed the start of heavy construction to complete subsurface utility engineering (SUE) and reduce community impacts.

- Better Bus Plan: Sandeep Sen, VIA director of service planning and scheduling, said the plan will increase the number of people with access to high‑frequency service by about 17% and make nearly 44% more jobs reachable within 30 minutes by transit. The service plan is slated for a final presentation in spring 2025 with phased implementation beginning summer 2025 through 2029.

Funding, technology and fleet

VIA’s financial packages rely heavily on federal matching grants, local bond proceeds and county commitments. Akalkotkar said the agency has received STBG and pre‑award planning funds and that the federal/local match is critical to grant competitiveness. Committee members pressed VIA on vehicle propulsion choices. Sen said VIA currently operates about 500 revenue vehicles and eight electric buses, and that CNG remains the primary vehicle technology for planned expansions. ‘‘We already have 8 electric buses, and we are trying to, you know, provide service on all the corridors,’’ Sen said, noting electric vehicles present charging and range constraints in San Antonio’s summer climate.

Utility coordination and outreach

VIA officials emphasized subsurface utility investigations as a principal cause of schedule adjustments for the Green Line and explained that earlier or deeper potholing and utility locating is being used to reduce future construction interruptions. Akalkotkar and VIA staff described ongoing outreach measures — block walking, bilingual teams, business contacts and open houses — and said VIA’s board approved four additional outreach staff positions dedicated to the Silver Line.

Committee reaction and next steps

Council members pressed VIA for greater clarity on construction phasing and individual property and turning impacts, and urged more and earlier business and residential outreach. VIA committed to return with refined outreach materials and to continue coordination with city staff, the Federal Transit Administration and local utilities. VIA said it will seek the Small Starts application window next year and return to council with project milestones as federal processes advance.

Ending

VIA told the committee it will continue work on environmental clearances and design milestones, advance outreach and return to City Council and the committee with grant applications, updated schedules and further details on electrification planning and construction phasing.

","VIA Metropolitan Transit updated the Transportation Infrastructure Committee on three major capital projects — the Silver Line, Green Line and a second bus operations facility — and the Better Bus plan, citing utility investigations and federal funding milestones as schedule drivers and committing to expanded public outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee asks staff to study non‑consent towing rates, seeks safeguards against predatory towing

Committee forwards Multimodal Transportation Commission to council with membership changes, asks city attorney to vet details

VIA details Silver Line, Green Line and Better Bus timelines; utility coordination delays construction