Res 2020-192/approving the San Marcos Transit Plan, also referred to as the Five-Year Strategic Plan for Transit Service

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SAN MARCOS TRANSIT PLAN I FINALREPORT City of San Marcos Multiple stakeholders indicated that there has not been sufficient advertisement of the fact that the Bobcat Shuttle is free and open to the public. There was a recognition that the amount of service provided by the Bobcat Shuttle is significant and not currently taken advantage of by the community. Similarly, students, faculty, and staff are not aware that San Marcos Transit is free to use with student identification. Stakeholders suggested improvements to schedule information online, at bus stops, and on -board buses, noting that it is difficult to find schedule information within the CARTS website currently and that the materials themselves (maps and schedules) are difficult to read. There was a desire for real-time GPS data to communicate when buses will arrive. Opportunities i Stakeholders noted the potential for a coordinated system to reduce duplication and create efficiencies that may allow an / of / of the locations currently served by transit. There are between six and seven hundred multifamily units under construction east of 1-35 on H ighway 123 that are intended to .- workforce housing. developments are not within the existing San Marcos Transit networkand could be an important connection if routes were able to be expanded undera coordinated system. As mentioned previously, The Village of San Marcos is also a location that was identified as an opportuntransit While not as widely ity to improve discussed, there was some .. other and that a coordinated system would create more opportunities to move students without vehicles around the city. One stakeholder suggested that the need for a high level of service around peak times to transport students to and from campus potentially creates an opportunity to provide a greater level of service at other times of day on routes focused on getting people to places other than campus. / Stakeholders expressed a desire for San Marcos to develop a transit system in a way to provides a high enough level / / ilii oa ilial � oiii iii ail y o of • - r- . • accessibility that people may be able to reduce their reliance on personal automobiles, either through less usage, or decreased rates of ownership. This sentiment was supported both by . desire for community members to have the option to drive less for lifestyle reasons (safely accessing night life and • also to reduce congestionand greenhouse •. •Stakeholders• -• that a robust transit system would make San Marcos a more desirable place to live. ....iii In addition to transit providing more flexible transportation options for those who currently drive, stakeholders clearly indicated that a coordinated transit system should bring additional quality of life improvements to San Marcos' transit dependent communities, such as the growing senior population. There was a desire to look beyond basic f / r i needsr- • groceries an• medical appointments and elevate the mobilityof - populations to be able to access cultural events and entertainment to keep them engaged in community life. Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. ( B-9