The San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition includes a wide range of local leaders and passionate community groups with a shared common goal of adopting an updated complete streets policy for the City of San Antonio. A complete streets policy is a formal policy that supports the creation of a safe, equitable multimodal transportation network through the strategy of requiring that every road construction and reconstruction project makes a street safe and comfortable for all users, preferably with prioritization of investment in communities that have historically been underserved. The San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition meets on the last Tuesday of every month at noon on Zoom. Please let us know if you would like us to add you and your community group to our coalition!
What Are Complete Streets?
A complete street will accommodate all road users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation. Complete streets might include sidewalks, bike lanes, cycle tracks, wide paved shoulders, special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible transit stops, frequent crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, sustainable roadway design, or curb extensions.
According to Smart Growth for America, the Complete Streets Policy Framework requires accountability to ensure that a policy produces tangible changes and prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable users. For communities considering passing a new Complete Streets policy or updating an existing Complete Streets policy, an ideal Complete Streets policy includes the following 10 elements, each of which provide a range of points in the grading process: 1.) Establishes commitment and vision; 2.) Prioritizes underinvested and underserved communities; 3.) Applies to all projects and phases; 4.) Allows only clear exceptions 5.) Mandates coordination; 6.) Adopts excellent design guidance; 7.) Requires proactive land-use planning; 8.) Measures progress; 9.) Sets criteria for choosing projects; 10.) Creates a plan for implementation.
Why Do We Need Complete Streets?
A Stark Reality: The Escalating Crisis on Our Streets
San Antonio has witnessed a harrowing surge in pedestrian fatalities and crashes over recent years, underscoring an urgent need for comprehensive and localized Complete Streets policies. In 2020, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported a record-breaking number of pedestrian deaths, with the San Antonio Police Department recording 61 total casualties.
According to a report by the San Antonio Report, subsequent years did not bring relief. In 2021 alone, the San Antonio area experienced 626 incidents of vehicles colliding with pedestrians, resulting in 88 tragic fatalities and 132 serious injuries. Additionally, cyclists faced perilous conditions with 312 reported incidents of vehicles striking them, leading to 8 fatalities and 22 serious injuries in the same year. This translates to an alarming average of 18 pedestrians and cyclists being struck by vehicles every week in the metro area.
San Antonio’s Ranking: A Call to Action
The urgency of addressing pedestrian and cyclist safety in San Antonio is further emphasized by its ranking in reports on metro area safety. According to Smart Growth America’s “Dangerous by Design 2022” report, not only has every single one of the 20 most deadly metro areas, including San Antonio, grown more deadly over the last decade, but also no area has improved its position by reducing its fatality rate. San Antonio, grappling with its own safety challenges, ranked 20th, signaling a critical need for transformative action in our street design and policy approach.
What does a Complete Street look like?
Complete Streets, as defined by Smart Growth America, are designed to provide safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders, regardless of age or ability. But Complete Streets have an added benefit—they can help communities address the climate crisis in a way that is resource-efficient, equitable, and community-oriented. This flexible approach to street design adapts to each community’s unique needs, incorporating features like sidewalks, bike lanes, and accessible transit stops. While designs vary, the consistent goal is to ensure every street offers a safe, convenient travel experience for everyone.
Complete Streets & The City of San Antonio
Over the past year, the Complete Streets Coalition has been working with COSA (City of San Antonio) on updating the city’s Complete Streets Policy. With the help of various citizen committees and stakeholder groups, the city has created an updated version of the policy which emphasizes accessibility, flexibility, and integrates focus areas such as Vision Zero (zero traffic deaths), green infrastructure, stormwater management, public transit, and diverse user needs.
This updated policy has already successfully passed through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Planning Commission, and is scheduled to be reviewed by City Council on September 19th, 2024. Learn how to support the adoption of an Updated Complete Streets policy below!
Get Involved!
Individuals, sign the support card here and tell that the City of San Antonio that you want an updated Complete Streets policy here: www.saspeakup.com/completestreets.
Organizations, send us your logo to appear on our support letter below!
Provide your perspectives on pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort on local roadways through our Street Audit tool!
Join the San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition! We meet on the last Tuesday of every month at noon on Zoom. Fill out this form here so that we can add you and your community group to our coalition!
SA Complete Streets Support Letter by ActivateSAEvents
San Antonio Complete Streets Town Hall
December 6, 2023
Complete Streets in the News
Commentary: To thrive, San Antonio must enhance, redefine transportation [Express News]
San Antonio’s transportation future [TPR]
Street safety advocates, partners to conduct Probandt street audit [KSAT 12]
City of San Antonio partners, local coalition advance updates to ‘complete streets’ policy [KSAT 12]
San Antonio entre las ciudades más peligrosas para peatones, según organización [Telemundo 60]