BG Podcast: The Austin–San Antonio Megaregion: From Regional Vision to Coordinated Action
The Austin–San Antonio megaregion is no longer a future concept. It is taking shape now.Population growth, economic development and the communities expanding along the I-35 corridor are steadily connecting Austin and San Antonio. The region’s most consequential challenges—including transportation, water, housing and workforce development—also extend well beyond the boundaries of any single city or county.Central Texas is growing as a region whether or not its institutions are organized as one.A new two-part series from The BG Podcast examines both the case for greater regional cooperation and the work required to achieve it.
Making the Case for a Megaregion
Episode 269 features my conversation with former San Antonio Mayor and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros.Cisneros has been among the leading voices advancing the idea of an Austin–San Antonio megaregion. Our discussion explores the growth connecting the two metropolitan areas, the opportunities that could come from approaching the corridor as a single economic region and the consequences of failing to plan for that growth together.The conversation makes clear that regional collaboration is not about diminishing the identities or priorities of individual communities. It is about recognizing the challenges and opportunities that no single jurisdiction can address alone.
Turning the Vision Into Action
Episode 270 continues the conversation with A.J. Rodriguez, CEO of the newly formed Central Texas Alliance.The Alliance seeks to convene business, government, civic, academic and community leaders from across 13 counties and more than 120 municipalities. Its goal is to build consensus around shared priorities and strengthen Central Texas’ voice at the state and federal levels.Rodriguez discusses how the organization plans to work alongside local governments, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations without duplicating their work. We also examine its seven initial areas of focus: transportation, water resources, housing, workforce development, energy resilience, health care, and land stewardship and planning.If the first conversation explains why regional collaboration matters, the second examines how it can happen.The opportunity now is to ensure that cooperation across Central Texas catches up with the region’s growth.
Listen to the Series
Episode 269: Discussing the Austin–San Antonio Megaregion with Henry Cisneros:
https://soundcloud.com/the-bingham-group-llc/bg-podcast-ep-269
Episode 270: Building the Austin–San Antonio Megaregion with Central Texas Alliance CEO A.J. Rodriguez: https://soundcloud.com/the-bingham-group-llc/bg-podcast-ep-270
The BG Podcast is produced by BG Media Group, LLC for The Bingham Group, LLC, a leading municipal lobbying and government affairs firm serving corporate, real estate and nonprofit clients across Central Texas.Learn more: https://www.binghamgp.com/services.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Spotify