San Marcos Downtown Area Plan

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

HIGHLIGHTS OF EXISTING CONDITION

TRANSIT Downtown is served by both Texas State University and CARTS transit services. Plans are underway to combine the two services, which would consolidate routes and stops. Insufficient frequency and limited technology are two key issues with the transit service identified by staff for transit service Downtown. Currently, no transit stops exist on the Courthouse Square, requiring walking a couple of blocks from transit to access the heart of Downtown. Two blocks from the Courthouse Square, a new transit plaza is being planned along Edward Gary Street between Hutchison Street and University Drive. The Get Around Downtown Pilot Shuttle Program, launched in November 2022, features an electric shuttle to assist residents in getting to downtown destinations within the Main Street District boundary. Longer term, Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan contemplates high performance transit between Downtown and the East Village (near the San Marcos High School), as well as connecting to Austin and San Antonio.

Downtown E-Cab

Bus Stop in front of “Little” HEB, 200 W Hopkins St

VEHICLES AND PARKING There are multiple paid parking opportunities in the Downtown core. These consist of city-owned parking lots, privately owned but publicly accessible parking lots, and a Texas State University owned paid parking garage which is open to the public. On-street parking exists throughout Downtown and is free with two-hour limits. All streets Downtown are City-owned rights-of-way, with the exception of Guadalupe Street south of Hopkins Street and Hopkins Street east of Guadalupe Street. These are Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) highways. Dedicated loading zones do not exist in Downtown, making delivery trucks utilize the alleys for deliveries. In some cases, left turn pockets are helping to alleviate traffic congestion. An increase in vehicular traffic occurs Downtown during peak times. 2021 City of San Marcos traffic study daily counts included:

· 3,500 vehicles on Hutchison Street west of the Downtown Core · 3,000 vehicles on Hutchison Street west of Edward Gary Street · 3,100 vehicles on Edward Gary Street south of Hopkins Street · 4,100 vehicles on MLK Drive at Telephone Alley

26

SAN MARCOS DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN