SAN ANTONIO Pioneers the Future of Transportation Technology
Transportation leaders from all over Texas convened in San Antonio to reveal and discuss their state-of-the-art technologies and future transit projects. Agenda items included everything from autonomous vehicles to flying cars.
Turning San Antonio into a Futuristic Transit Hub
Paco Felici, the spokesperson for Port San Antonio, outlined plans that could revolutionize San Antonio into a next-generation transportation hub. At the forefront of these plans is the development of a “Vertiport.”
“A vertiport is a special kind of airport that will host both traditional fixed wing aircraft, and also the next generation of urban air transportation, which is electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. And if that sounds like a mouthful, simply call them flying cars or flying taxis,” said Felici.
Port San Antonio was one of the participants at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Innovation Invitational Showcase, held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.
Using Tech to Boost Efficiency
Felici underscored the potential benefits of these future transport systems. He points out that by decreasing reliance on traditional motor vehicles for commutes, there could be a significant improvement in the efficiency of our roadways.
“Think what would happen if perhaps, we can relieve the number of commuters that come to us everyday by car, and instead, if they opt for this upcoming generation of transport. That would be tremendous savings and that will make our roadways more efficient,”
The Event: A Technological Display
Aside from the futuristic vertiport, the TxDOT Innovation Invitational Showcase also featured a plethora of other cutting-edge technologies. These included autonomous vehicles and drones. The event, significantly, was open to public, where they were free to delve into these technologies and engage with the experts behind these innovations.
Future Foresight
Such events become crucial platforms to express, discuss, and debate the emerging technologies in the sector. As a hub of transportation innovation, San Antonio can expect to be the launch pad for many more transformative technologies in the future, potentially resulting in better, faster, and more efficient means of transportation for the public.