Tell TxDOT what you think about Texas Transportation Plan 2050

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – Planning for the future while taking care of today’s transportation needs is no easy task for the Texas Department of Transportation, but they continue looking toward the next 30 years and you can tell them what you think.

Julia Norton-Keidel did just that at a Texas Transportation Plan 2050 open house Tuesday night at the San Antonio Water System Customer Service Center.

“I think it’s super important to prioritize bridges because many of our bridges are old and people should have confidence when they drive over a bridge that it’s not going to fall,” said Keidel.

She thinks High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes should have flexible hours to allow use by single vehicle cars during certain times of day. Keidel also believes we need bigger right-of-ways on Texas highways.

“I visit my son in Kansas and I see these very large, wonderful right-of-ways that give people options for how to make changes in the future,” she told KTSA News.

Jonathan Bean, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDot’s San Antonio District, says it’s difficult to plan that far ahead without knowing exactly how technology will affect transportation.

“There is some uncertainty as to what technology will do to our world going forward, but we know we’re going to need roads and we need roads today.”

TxDOT currently is working on several projects, including expansion of Highway 281 in the North Side from Loop 1604 to the county line, IH 10 in the Northwest Side between La Cantera Parkway to FM 3351, and there are plans to expand Loop 1604 from Bandera Road to the Highway 281 area.

TxDOT is hosting a final Texas Transportation Plan 2050 open house this year in Austin Wednesday evening.

You can submit your opinions and ideas by visiting the TxDOT website and completing the TTP 2050 priorities survey.  The deadline is November 15.