Writer: Jerrica DuBois
3 min read May 2024 — The continued growth and infrastructure development of the Texas-Mexico border region was the key theme of the third panel discussion at the recent Invest: San Antonio leadership summit.
Titled ‘Forward Development: The Infrastructure Investments and Developments Critical for Economic Growth and Welfare,’ the final panel was moderated by Rob Killen, partner and attorney at Killen Griffin Farrimond. The discussion featured insights from key figures in infrastructure and development, including Tim O’Krongley, deputy aviation director at the San Antonio International Airport System, Jeffrey Arndt, president and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, John Beckham, managing director at the North American Development Bank, and Burton Hackney, president of Joeris General Contractors.
“We see a tremendous amount of investment coming from the public side and the private side,” said Hackney when asked about the current infrastructure trajectory and investment in San Antonio. “The real challenge for us, regionally and across the state, is how do we put that work into place. There are tremendous pressures that we are seeing within the industry right now. We have as much headwind as opportunity as we’ve ever seen. I have 30 years in the business and I am a fifth generation Texan. I’ve seen how we changed. The opportunities are tremendous, but the headwinds are equally (tremendous).”
Discussions around regional growth and development typically include the challenges of transit and mobility. VIA has been working on strategies and plans for the past several months and reassessing infrastructure needs. Not surprisingly, the challenge is funding, and VIA faces scrutiny as the price tag of rapid transit continues to rise. With ridership still recovering from the pandemic, the need for such an extensive project is also up for public debate. Beckham emphasized the need to not only continue investing in the region’s infrastructure, but to also remain innovative in the space.
“We need to innovate the transportation and mobility challenges in addition to investing in them,” said Beckham. “People get stuck on the road or the infrastructure is just not keeping up with the bodies. We have to think differently about how we move people and transport them. Some of that is technology, some of it might be public transportation. That’s where the bank is trying to lead in doing things differently so our dollars can stretch further.”
One feather in the cap for VIA is that it has the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In March, USDOT recommended that VIA receive $134.7 million for the East/West Corridor project, which looks to connect key destinations in Alamo City through Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Despite federal support, there are some that still lean in favor of light rail development. Arndt took a moment on the panel to delve into the merits of rapid transit over light rail.
“Light rail is less flexible than ART, but it costs twice as much,” said Arndt. “Why would you want to spend twice as much for a lesser product. Only because there is this image of light rail, but it’s really the service you deliver that matters. We are working with the city, with the housing commission, with a number of other entities to assist them in developing code that would encourage different levels of densification around specific stations. There will be a diversity of products, housing, office, and retail, that will be a renaissance of what is happening in that corridor.” To hear more, click here.
Winding down the conversation, the panelists tackled the future of infrastructure investment and project future demand in the region. The discussion covered everything from opportunities that are available for everyone, connection between the cities outside of traditional highways, and the importance of perspective. O’Krongley also pointed out the importance of capturing the experience and the San Antonio International Airport as a growing global institution.
“The airport now has a global impact,” O’Krongley stated. “What will it bring to the San Antonio region, going back and forth into Central Europe and Germany? As the city continues to invest with our stakeholders to get these routes, it’s more than just the flight; it’s what else is it bringing to continue the growth. We keep investing in this facility. It is convenient, and it’s great for San Antonio. We will continue to add amenities and features to enhance the customer experience, but that starts with capital investment and making sure we do that right to support the global aspect into Europe.”
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