San Marcos Proposes More Alternative Transportation

The new transportation plan predicts short-term projects that could be completed in the next 10 years are expected to cost $550 million.

San Marcos city officials are considering an updated City Transportation Plan that focuses on more alternative transportation projects than in its initial plan adopted in 2004.

Noting that the population is expected to grow by 96 percent from 2015 until 2035, Rohit Vij, the senior engineer, said the city needs to achieve a more comprehensive and integrated transportation network that features a bike network, a plan for transit and more sidewalks and greenways that offer alternatives to motorized vehicles.

City officials are also working with Texas State University officials who are finalizing a bike share plan and working on a ride share plan. 

The new transportation plan predicts short-term projects that could be completed in the next 10 years are expected to cost $550 million.

Mid-term transportation projects are expected to cost about $1.9 billion in the next 10 to 20 years and long-term projects to be completed in the next 20 or more years are expected to cost about $4.1 billion.

To supplement property taxes, city officials expect to use public-private partnerships, grants, loans and credit programs offered by the Texas Department of Transportation.

This article was originally published by Strategic Partnerships Inc.