Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State

Henry Cisneros, Robert Rivard

Book cover for Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State
Image for variant 9781648433382
Book cover for Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State
Image for variant 9781648433382

Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State

Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State

Henry Cisneros, Robert Rivard

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Description

A cascade of recent reports has described unprecedented growth in every category measured--population, employment, new business starts, manufacturing indices, traffic counts, in-migration, school attendance, and airport enplanements--highlighting the dynamism of the two "anchor cities" of Central Texas: Austin and San Antonio. In The Austin-San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Challenge in the Lone Star State, authors Henry Cisneros, Robert Rivard, and David Hendricks reflect on the implications of this growth in light of what will be required to sustain the economic attractiveness and quality-of-life attributes that sparked this moment of expansion.

In asking fundamental questions such as "Is this much growth actually good for the region?" and "If it is, are we prepared for it?" this book grapples with the realities of infrastructure. What emerges is a vision for this burgeoning urban corridor that, if implemented, can position the region to continue to thrive: attracting economic development and supporting a superior standard of living for its citizens for years to come.

In their preface, the authors state, "The task before us is not easy, but it can be done. It is not a matter of liberal or conservative politics, of red or blue ideologies; it is a matter of realistic leadership and practical public consensus. The reality of the Austin-San Antonio megaregion is becoming more evident every day to those of us who live here. We try in this book to undergird those impressions with facts, data, and scenarios for the future." The Austin-San Antonio Megaregion can serve as both a blueprint for future planning and a springboard for informed discussion about growth in this vital region.

About the Author

HENRY CISNEROS, formerly the mayor of San Antonio, served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration, 1993-97. He is the coauthor of The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy.
ROBERT "BOB" RIVARD is a longtime journalist who hosts San Antonio's bigcitysmalltown podcast and the Monday Musings newsletter. The author of Trail of Feathers, he is also the former executive editor of the San Antonio Express-News and cofounder of the nonprofit San Antonio Report.
DAVID HENDRICKS recently retired after 42 years at the San Antonio Express-News, where he was a business editor and columnist. He is a coauthor of The Texas Triangle.

Critical Reviews

"Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros has been a leading voice for progress in Central and South Texas for the past five decades. Henry understands the tremendous opportunities as well as the daunting challenges of America's next great Megaregion. Henry and co-authors Robert Rivard and David Hendricks can see the entire field of play well before others might as the dynamics of change come into focus. In this book, the authors articulate the future greatness of the Austin-San Antonio Megaregion while cautioning against complacency regarding the obstacles that success will surely spawn. Henry urges that we all join in a cooperative, collaborative effort to drive growth and prosperity while maintaining the fantastic quality of life we adore. This book is a call to action that all leaders in the Megaregion must heed!"--Gary Farmer, President of Heritage Title Company and Founding Chairman of Opportunity Austin--Gary Farmer

"This book reflects Henry Cisneros' visionary leadership in shaping the San Antonio-Austin Megaregion into one of the world's most dynamic emerging economic zones. His ability to see beyond city boundaries and connect people, places, and ideas has laid the foundation for generational opportunity across Central and South Texas and into Northern Mexico."-- Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, former president & CEO of Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership--Jenna Saucedo-Herrera

"The future of the Austin-San Antonio Megaregion is the future of Texas. True to his legacy, Mayor Henry Cisneros outlines the case to keep Central Texas moving forward through focused and collective action. By investing in modern transportation, infrastructure, and cultural demands, we can ensure sustainable growth and a future where all Texans can thrive."--Travis County Judge Andy Brown--Judge Andy Brown

Publishing Information

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Pub date: 2025-09-30
Length: 216 pages

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