San Antonio invests in downtown-East Side link

Why it matters

The study, awarded to Aecom Technical Services Inc., will explore ways to reduce or eliminate the I-37 highway that divides downtown and the East Side. The firm has nine months to develop proposals, with public engagement starting in April. The project aims to improve interactions between vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians. It will focus on a nearly 2-mile stretch of I-37, from Houston Street to Carolina Street, encompassing the future sports and entertainment district and the Alamodome. Funding includes almost $3 million from a U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity Planning Grant. The remaining $740,000 comes from the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax Redemption and Capital Fund. This initiative builds upon previous efforts to reconnect the East Side, including a $2.96 million federal grant from 2024. San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) also has a $2 million grant to study connectivity across highways on the East Side.

Key numbers

• San Antonio awarded a $3.7M contract for a study to improve connections between downtown and the East Side as part of Project Marvel.
• The study, awarded to Aecom Technical Services Inc., will explore ways to reduce or eliminate the I-37 highway that divides downtown and the East Side.
• It will focus on a nearly 2-mile stretch of I-37, from Houston Street to Carolina Street, encompassing the future sports and entertainment district and the Alamodome.
• Funding includes almost $3 million from a U.S.

What happens next

• The study, awarded to Aecom Technical Services Inc., will explore ways to reduce or eliminate the I-37 highway that divides downtown and the East Side.
• The project aims to improve interactions between vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians.
• It will focus on a nearly 2-mile stretch of I-37, from Houston Street to Carolina Street, encompassing the future sports and entertainment district and the Alamodome.

Sources

• Antonio awarded

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