Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff focused on transportation in his annual State of the County address to the Chamber of Commerce today, saying work is progressing toward a major transportation proposal to place before voters in 2019, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Wolff says a major portion of the transportation plan will consist of expanding traditional highways, pointing out that the county has focused on projects on several roads in fast growing areas, including Loop 1604 and I-10 on the far northwest side.
But Wolff is also thinking about alternatives, including a light rail plan he has been pushing for years.
"We have talked for twenty years about this, the ability to take an existing line and connect an urban node to the downtown area."
Wolff has been focusing on the Union Pacific line which runs along I-10, which could be used to connect La Cantera, The Rim, and UTSA with downtown via passenger rail.
"We will continue to work with Union Pacific," he said, adding "they are not using that line much."
He says even though light rail is expected to be off the table, the idea of passenger rail to connect far flung areas to downtown remains active.
"One of these days, we may get that don, so let's not give up on that piece."
Wolff also encouraged VIA Metro Transit to be part of a multi-modal transportation plan to offer passengers choices, which could include highways, rail, buses, vans, and even scooters.