San Antonio’s Complete Streets Policy Named Best in the Nation!

JUNE 25, 2025 UPDATE: SAN ANTONIO'S COMPLETE STREETS POLICY NAMED BEST IN NATION!

AARP is excited to share that the City of San Antonio’s updated Complete Streets Policy has been ranked the #1 policy in the nation by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition. This recognition reflects the dedication and collaboration of many city departments, especially the Transportation Dept., plus community partners, and a coalition of determined Complete Streets champions, including AARP San Antonio.

This success builds on AARP’s long-standing local commitment to Complete Streets, dating back to the original 2011 San Antonio ordinance. Complete Streets is an approach to designing, building, and maintaining streets to meet the needs of all users. The 2024 update strengthens the 2011 policy with new performance measures and a focus on equity—especially important for San Antonio’s 400,000 older adults.

Associate State Director for AARP San Antonio, Ismael Herrera has spearheaded AARP’s involvement since early 2020. He says, “We’ve been proud to participate in this coalition. Our focus was making San Antonio’s streets safer and more inclusive for all. So, it’s rewarding to hear that the policy is being recognized nationally."

The recognition is detailed in the report, The 2025 Best Complete Streets Policies, that evaluates and ranks the 43 policies adopted in 2023 and 2024, and highlights what sets the top performers apart. Each policy is awarded up to 100 points across 10 elements of the Complete Streets Policy Framework. San Antonio’s policy received the top score of 96 out of 100 points. The report notes what makes the policy a "great" one:

“One of the strengths of San Antonio’s Complete Streets policy is the commitment to serving all San Antonians, including those who have been historically excluded from transportation discussions in the past. This is apparent throughout the policy.”

“As part of its commitment to ensure meaningful improvements and outcomes, the city’s policy also includes actions to mitigate the potential unintended effects of Complete Streets infrastructure on rising living costs. The policy calls on departments from across the city to work together to ‘thoroughly consider measures to preserve housing affordability and increase new affordable housing options, tying land use and transportation planning together.’”

“Safety is a central part of Complete Streets, but to really support people walking, biking, and using transit, the streets need to be comfortable as well,…, by also including comfort, particularly in a subtropical climate, as a central goal of the policy which reads: ‘To meet Complete Streets goals, the city must make different modes of transportation possible and safe in multiple types of weather including the extreme heatwaves, flash floods and torrential downpours, and hailstorms that occur throughout the year.’”

Here is a link to Smart Growth America report’s recognition for San Antonio: San Antonio, Texas: A coalition that leads to change (Best Complete Streets Policies 2025) - Smart Growth America.

SEPT. 19, 2024 UPDATE: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! COMPLETE STREETS POLICY UPDATE IS APPROVED.
AARP San Antonio is excited to share a big advocacy win for the community! On Sept. 19, the San Antonio City Council adopted an updated Complete Streets Policy and the Vision Zero Action Plan as part of its FY 2025 budget. Associate State Director for Outreach and Advocacy Ismael Herrera represented AARP in both stakeholder groups to advocate for safer, more accessible streets for people of all ages.

AARP San Antonio has been a proponent of Complete Streets since the city's original policy adoption in 2011. As an active, long-term member of the San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition, AARP worked collaboratively to achieve the adoption of the original policy. After 13 years, the Coalition sought and achieved approval of the updated policy to address new needs, add performance measures, and focus on prioritizing equity.

The new update strengthens and broadens the existing Complete Streets policy to respond to the transportation needs of San Antonians of all ages, including those of the city's 400,000 older adults. A Complete Streets approach takes into account alternative transportation, like walking, biking and transit, and creates a safe space for older and young pedestrians. Its focus on pedestrians, cyclists and others can save lives – an important factor since older San Antonians are overrepresented in pedestrian fatalities caused by vehicles.

SEPT. 1, 2024 UPDATE: SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON UPDATED COMPLETE STREETS POLICY

On Sept. 19, San Antonio City Council members will vote on updating their Complete Streets policy, adopted in 2011. Older adults can benefit from a Complete Streets approach because safe and accessible streets support their independence, provide access to needed services, and offer opportunities to avoid social isolation. Complete Streets is a common sense solution that can benefit anyone who walks, bikes, uses a wheelchair, uses public transportation, and drives.

Please consider emailing your City of San Antonio councilperson to voice your support for an updated Complete Streets policy.
 

MAY 2024: AARP SAN ANTONIO ADVOCATES FOR COMPLETE STREETS POLICY UPDATE

Ismael Herrera, AARP San Antonio associate state director for outreach and advocacy, recently spoke before the San Antonio City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He voiced support for a stronger, more comprehensive Complete Streets policy that would address the transportation needs of San Antonians of all ages. In particular, Herrera emphasized the unique transportation needs of San Antonio's 400,000 older adults, and cited the various benefits that Complete Streets can provide.

Herrera told committee members that building infrastructure with alternative transportation in mind, like walking, biking and transit, creates a safe space for older and young pedestrians. A street design, like Complete Streets, that focuses on pedestrians, cyclists and others, could save lives – an important point since older San Antonians are overrepresented in pedestrian fatalities caused by vehicles.

The Complete Streets concept also supports aging-in-place. An AARP survey found most older adults want to age in place in their homes and communities. Safe and accessible streets support an older adult’s independence, their ability to be physically active, and their access to critical services, like grocery stores and healthcare facilities, as well as social or recreational activities.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to refer the proposed Complete Streets updates to the full City Council on August 8, after approval by the Planning Commission.

AARP San Antonio has been a proponent of Complete Streets since the city's original policy adoption in 2011. As a active, long-term member of the San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition, AARP worked collaboratively to achieve the adoption of the original policy. After 13 years, the Coalition seeks an updated policy to address new needs, add performance measures, and focus on prioritizing equity.