San Antonio invests in city connections
San Antonio awarded a $3.7M contract to study downtown and East Side connections as part of "Project Marvel."
The City Council voted unanimously on March 5 to award the contract to Aecom Technical Services Inc., a Dallas-based infrastructure consultant. The firm will explore proposals to reduce or eliminate the I-37 highway that divides the two areas. The study, expected to last nine months, will focus on a nearly 2-mile stretch of I-37 from Houston Street to Carolina Street. This area includes the future sports and entertainment district, Project Marvel, and the Alamodome. Public engagement is scheduled to begin in April, with a focus on improving interactions between vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians. Funding for the study includes almost $3 million from a U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity Planning Grant. The remaining $740,000 will come from the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax Redemption and Capital Fund. The project aims to create a "seamless urban experience".
