VA Seeks Input on New San Antonio Veterans Hospital Move
Published Date: 2/20/2025
Notice
Summary
The VA plans to build a huge new hospital in San Antonio to replace the old Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital, serving about 140,000 veterans. They’re getting ready to study how this move might affect the environment and want your thoughts by April 7, 2025. Expect a draft report for public review by late 2025 or early 2026, so stay tuned for ways to get involved!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
New 1.6M Sq Ft VA Hospital Planned
The VA plans to build a new approximately 1,600,000 gross square foot replacement for the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio that serves about 140,000 Veterans. The project is intended to provide exceptional health care services to the growing South Texas Veteran population projected to rise from about 146,000 enrollees in 2022 to about 188,000 by 2033 and about 202,000 by 2042.
Project to Address Aging Facility and Parking Shortage
The VA says the existing VAMC (built in 1972) has aging infrastructure, space limitations, and does not have sufficient parking to meet current or projected needs. The proposed relocation or redevelopment is needed to address these critical infrastructure, functional, and space limitations.
Transportation and Parking Could Be Affected
The EIS will evaluate potential impacts to transportation and parking during both construction and operations; the notice also states the existing VAMC currently lacks sufficient parking. VA will perform a detailed transportation and parking study for both alternatives.
Two Build Alternatives Could Change Land Use
VA is considering two main alternatives: (1) relocate the VAMC to a nearby approximately 59-acre undeveloped site (owned by the San Antonio Medical Foundation) within the San Antonio medical district, or (2) redevelop the existing approximately 32-acre site by demolishing and rebuilding. A No Action alternative would keep services at the present facility.
Temporary Construction Noise Increase Expected
The notice says construction of either alternative would result in a temporary increase in noise levels at and adjacent to the project locations. The Environmental Impact Statement will include a detailed noise study to evaluate those increases.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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