A Growing Texas City Rethinks its Transportation Plan

The city of San Marcos, located halfway between Austin and San Antonio, recently adopted its first transportation plan update since 2004.

1 minute read

December 25, 2018, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Texas

sevenMaps7 / Shutterstock

"Confronted with continued population growth, San Marcos City Council adopted an updated transportation master plan Dec. 11 in an effort to ensure the city’s transportation system becomes safer, less congested and environmentally friendly as the city continues to grow," according to an article by Anna Herod.

"The transportation master plan is intended to guide the development of transportation infrastructure in San Marcos to create a compact, sustainable and multimodal transportation network," explains Herrod.

Those goals will be achieved through expanded bike and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as a "complete streets" approach detailed in the plan. The plan also encourages "the use of rain gardens, biofiltration swales and other low-impact drainage facilities within medians and landscaped areas to intercept and naturally treat urban runoff."

Monday, December 17, 2018 in Community Impact Newspaper

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A group of officials stand in a patch of dirt holding golden shovels and white hardhats.

California city breaks ground on transit connector

The project includes three mobility hubs and a pedestrian bridge.

6 hours ago - Mass Transit

People walking by a brick school in Cambridge.

After public outcry, Massachusetts city releases housing development tracker

Cambridge’s tracker currently shows 250 housing projects in various stages of development.

7 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

A rendering of the park, with green grass and a bass sculpture that looks like several tall arches in a row.

40 years after approval, Chicago breaks ground on new park

The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the city’s first permanent non-native settler.

November 2 - Block Club Chicago