San Marcos developing transportation master plan as growth continues

Indexed: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]And it's not just Austin that's growing.

[00:00:01]The latest census estimates for last year show San Marcos added 1,700 people, bringing the population to more than 77,000 people. That's up roughly 10,000 in a 5-year span. So now city leaders are working on a new transportation master plan that could help get people around the city.

[00:00:19]KXAN's Hays County reporter Madison Myers has spoke with leaders about the potential changes needed. Well, here in San Marcos near Texas State University, traffic and congestion is nothing new for students and local residents. But city leaders say a new master transportation plan could help relieve some of that pressure in the years ahead.

[00:00:39]As San Marcos continues to grow, so does the pressure on its roads.

[00:00:43]>> I feel like it's really gotten worse as the time has gone by.

[00:00:46]>> From the daily commute to class to major events like graduation weekend at Texas State, thousands of drivers continue packing local streets. Mainly near the university, but I mean downtown will get packed, but I mean just going to class every single day it's really really hard to make it on time, and I just think they need to fix it.

[00:01:03]>> want to keep up with the growth in the community. Thursday night, the city hosted an open house, giving residents a chance to share what improvements they want to see. So this will typically trigger a new transportation road extensions. It could do a road widening when development comes through. We will identify the roads they need to cooperate with their development.

[00:01:22]>> City officials say population growth is driving the need for long-term planning with some city projections showing the population could top 100,000 in the next 10 years.

[00:01:31]>> We have to follow that growth up with the transportation infrastructure that's required to follow it, such as roads, bike lanes, transit needs, stuff like that.

[00:01:40]>> And it's not just drivers who would like to see changes. Definitely more sidewalks. I mean, where I lived, it was easy to get here, but there were some parts where I was like walking in the grass next to traffic.

[00:01:53]>> It's not organized, but there is multiple traffic like we notice around the town. I think it's just going to be like that. It's a growing town with the college is always going to be busy. The city says the new plan would help make it easier to go between neighborhoods, a stronger trail system, and even better access to Texas State University.

[00:02:10]Madison Myers, KXAN News.

[00:02:13]And the city has also launched an online survey where residents can share feedback on the transportation master plan. The survey closes at the end of the month. You can find a link to it at kxan.com.

[00:02:24]For some perspective on the need for more transportation options, additional options could help food insecurity in Hays County. The county has a higher poverty rates and more households without vehicles compared to other Central Texas communities, leaving many people without consistent access to food.

[00:02:42]The Hays County Food Bank though has moved to a new location last summer.

[00:02:45]It's bigger and it's on I-35 and it's also along a bus route.