Transportation Infrastructure Committee Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Transportation Infrastructure Committee met on June 2, 2026 at 2:02 PM with Chair Jalen McKee-Rodriguez presiding and a quorum present. The meeting included approval of minutes, public testimony, and three major agenda items: a real-time train notification system, an update on city-owned facilities, and recommendations for limousine, horse carriage, and petty cab/group cycle regulations. The committee voted to accept staff's recommendation on the train notification system and to send the third item to a B session.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting by a unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Art Martinez, representing multiple horse carriage companies, urged the committee to grant an extension to the negotiated window for horse carriage operators due to lost holiday season income (the majority of their annual revenue). He noted that city staff admitted implementation issues last season that hindered operations. He also expressed willingness to participate in a pilot for electric carriages but requested the extension to allow time for tweaks and vehicle procurement. He also asked for a consistent city policy regarding working animals, similar to those applied to police horses and rodeo events.
• Andres Hernandez, president of CTA Schooper Transportation, expressed strong support for the staff recommendation related to the limousine industry (item four). He emphasized the importance of safety and enforcement of Chapter 33 regulations, noting that many operators lack proper insurance, which poses a risk to the public. He commended the direction of the recommendations.

Discussion Items

Item 2: Real-time Notification System for Train Approaching or Stopped at Railroad Crossings

• Council Member McKee Rodriguez introduced the CCR filed in February 2026, aimed at developing a real-time information system for blocked railway crossings. The goal includes partnerships with third-party navigation apps, advanced detection technologies, pilot testing on high-impact corridors, and equitable implementation in rail-adjacent, often underserved areas.
• Art (Public Works) reported that since March, the city partnered with ITSD's Emerging Technologies team. Matt Reed (ITSD) presented the research approach: three layers—detection (sensors), predictive modeling (train speed and length), and communication (SMS, CAD systems, navigation apps, city websites). No single vendor solution exists, so a prototype is recommended.
• Matt Reed outlined five considerations: no single vendor; limited railroad data sharing; need for public dissemination; existing city infrastructure as an asset; and the pilot would determine total cost of ownership.
• Art detailed a proposed pilot with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) using their Activision AI camera-based detection system (currently not trained for trains) and a data exchange/communication platform developed for Florida DOT. The pilot would occur in three steps over several months: (1) detection phase, (2) predictive algorithm development, (3) information dissemination. Staff recommended moving forward with the pilot, funded through operations, and reporting back to the committee by end of 2026.
• Council members expressed strong support, noting the speed of progress and collaboration with SwRI. Questions included how to evaluate public impact (not yet integrated into navigation apps), cost (being finalized), and potential to integrate with apps like Apple Maps in the future. A committee member also suggested the system could help identify quiet zone issues.
• Motion: To accept staff's recommendation. The motion was seconded and carried by a voice vote. It was agreed that an update should come back to the committee before a B session.

Item 3: Briefing and Update on the Conditions of City-Owned Facilities

• Mike Shannon presented an update. The city has 898 total facilities/structures, of which 322 are primary buildings (police/fire stations, libraries, etc.). The oldest is the Spanish Governor's Palace (1722). Over the last 10 years, about $56 million has been spent on deferred maintenance (roofs, HVAC, etc.), and over $350 million in facility improvements have been completed on more than 200 of the 322 primary buildings. A comprehensive list has been compiled, including age, type, and investment history.
• Council Member Core had requested a spreadsheet with building details, department, condition, last maintenance, and cost estimates for 5- and 10-year needs. Staff agreed to provide a sortable spreadsheet within a week and to meet with each council office to review it.
• Council members discussed the need for a standard scoring system for building condition (similar to pavement condition index), equity in funding across districts, and how to assess useful life left. Staff committed to developing a building condition index within a year. The committee also noted the importance of using this data for the upcoming bond discussions.
• No action was required; the item was for briefing and discussion.

Item 4: SAPD Recommendations on Limousine Permits, Horse Carriage Transition, and Insurance for Petty Cabs/Group Cycles

• Rick Riley (SAPD Assistant Director) presented staff recommendations for three areas:
  1. Limousine Service: Change the entry requirement from two stretch limousines (or one stretch plus two luxury SUVs) to allow a combination of stretch limos, limo buses, and limo vans. Also rename Chapter 33 from "Limousine Service" to "Luxury Vehicle Service."
  2. Horse Carriage Transition: Authorize 21 new electric vehicle-for-hire permits for current horse carriage permit holders (7 per owner) to exchange their horse carriage permits. Once exchanged, the horse carriage permit is void. Insurance requirements for electric vehicles would be reduced from $1 million to $200,000/$500,000/$200,000 based on risk management recommendations.
  3. Petty Cabs and Group Cycles: Lower insurance requirements from $1 million to $350,000 per occurrence, based on risk management advice.
• Council members expressed general support for the limousine and horse carriage recommendations but raised several points:
  • The horse carriage operators lost the holiday season and may need an extension.
  • Questions about procurement and cost of electric carriages (~$20,000, 3-6 months delivery).
  • Concern about allocation: one owner has 10 permits (two businesses). Staff suggested that owner could convert 7 to e-vehicles while continuing horse carriages until the phase-out.
  • Council Members McKee Rodriguez and Mungia suggested that these regulatory discussions may be better housed under the Transportation Department than SAPD.
  • Council Member Core requested ridership data for all transportation options before a B session.
  • The petty cab permit cap of 15 was discussed; several inquiries have been received but permits are maxed out. Staff will research the history of the limit.
• Motion: To send the item to the next available B session for further discussion. The motion was seconded and carried with 3 ayes and 1 opposed.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Staff recommendation for a pilot on a real-time train notification system with Southwest Research Institute (voice vote, unanimous).
• Directed: Staff to provide a comprehensive, sortable spreadsheet of city-owned facilities within a week, meet with each council office, and develop a building condition index within a year.
• Referred to B Session: The three SAPD recommendations (limousine, horse carriage transition, insurance for petty cabs/group cycles) will be discussed at a future B session (motion carried 3-1).
• Data Requested: Ridership data for limousine, petty cab, horse-drawn carriage, and electric vehicle operators to be shared ahead of the B session.

Meeting Adjourned at 3:16 PM