San Antonio outlines $9.6 million transportation plan for FY2026 with Vision Zero, 53 projects and Green Line timeline

Karen Hernández, director of the Transportation Department, told the City Council on Aug. 26 that the department’s FY2026 budget proposal is $9.6 million (capital and general funds combined) and emphasized the department’s Vision Zero and Complete Streets work to improve safety for all users.

Hernández summarized active work across safety corridors, bicycle facilities and transit-oriented implementation: staff identified 53 department projects citywide, of which the presentation reported 27 in pre-design, 22 in design, nine in preconstruction/construction and five completed in the last year. The department said it had applied for funds to evaluate 12 corridors and expected to be notified in the fall about awards that would fund corridor-level safety assessments in future years.

The Green Line transit implementation was described as advancing through design (approximately 40% complete, according to the presentation) with sidewalk and intersection work anticipated to start in spring 2026 and full construction targeted for summer 2027. Staff said they are also studying traffic, station-area needs and potential bicycle facilities along the corridor.

Other items summarized by staff included:

- Vision Zero action plan and a September 2024 adoption of a citywide safe-streets policy that will guide design and project prioritization; staff described an implementation plan and outreach schedule including an open-house event this fall.

- A planned review of city ordinances to evaluate whether to prohibit parking that blocks bike lanes on certain streets; staff said the review will identify locations where protected bike lanes or other treatments make sense and that ordinance changes would be phased over roughly nine to 12 months to allow public outreach.

- Project-level outreach and safety campaigns that include marketing, lighting upgrades and community engagement on identified corridors; staff described a $1.2 million marketing/outreach component tied to safe-streets work and a larger $3.5–$5.5 million suite of grants launched in 2023 to support corridor work.

Council questions and requests

Councilmembers sought additional data about before-and-after police response and crash statistics for corridors where infrastructure changes are proposed, requested clearer metrics for how federal funds and grants are being leveraged, and asked for more detailed project timelines. Councilmember Hicks Warren and others asked staff to provide further analysis on program efficiency and return on investment for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Ending

Staff asked the council for direction on outreach and said open houses and additional design stages will proceed this fall; no formal action or vote occurred during the presentation.