SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Thousands of jobs could be coming to San Marcos if the city approves the "SMART Terminal" industrial rail park.
- Would be located down Highway 80
- Park would feature dual-service rail lines
- Would bring nearly 3,000 jobs
The SMART Terminal is an acronym for "San Marcos Air, Rail, and Truck" Terminal. A massive plot of land east of I-35, down Highway 80, would be the location of the future industrial park.
"So we have a lot of businesses in town that when they get product, they have to be shipped to Cedar Park or San Antonio, and then trucked in. And so one of the goals of San Marcos has is to look at multimodal operations and see ways we can get trucks off the road,” said San Marcos Assistant City Manager Steve Parker.
Developer Mike Schroeder said the park will be equipped with dual-service rail lines from Union Pacific and Burlington Norther Santa Fe, which he said would cut down on truck traffic.
"Some of the prospects we have will be converting truck traffic to rail traffic, which has widespread, positive impact for our area, while at the same time enables us to capture this opportunity with new employment. It's the confluence of air, rail and truck transportation. It's unique, it's valuable,” said Schroeder.
The city said the land near the San Marcos Airport could be the future home of 15 manufacturing and distribution companies, bringing around 2,500-3,000 new jobs to boost the economy.
READ MORE | City of San Marcos website
Due to the proximity to the San Marcos River, some residents have expressed concerns about flooding potential. There are also concerns over increased traffic. Deborah Robertson with "SMARTER San Marcos" lives adjacent to the hundreds of acres of farmland that could soon turn into the SMART Terminal. She first received a letter in the mail notifying her back in November.
"By law, they had to send me a letter and I'm like, 'Wow, I've never heard of that before,’” said Robertson.
Months later, Robertson noted that she and her neighbors still don't feel they aren't quite aware of the magnitude of the project.
"[My neighbors], they're going, ‘What are you talking about a 'SMART' Terminal? They're going to put a train terminal right up here?' And [my neighbor] goes, 'What? On our river? What?'" said Robertson.
Schroeder said he plans to be environmentally responsible with the terminal by having a 70 percent impervious cover limitation, strict water quality standards, and land-use restrictions. Schroeder will also have to have a traffic impact analysis conducted.
"The measures that we're using are established, proven measures that are going to essentially mitigate all the concerns that people are talking about," Schroeder said.
Parker said because the developer voluntarily asked to be annexed into the city, that gives them additional requirements the city can give.
"The City of San Marcos has some of the strictest flood ordinances in the state of Texas, and by them requesting annexation, the city is able to enforce those flood regulations, whereas if it was developed in the county they wouldn't," Parker said. "The developers agreed to provide the same water quality protections, as we have of over our Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone."
Robertson said she just wants to make sure those living closest to the SMART Terminal won't be forgotten.
"We would really like to have some reassurances that somebody cares about our area, almost as much as we do," Robertson said.
The San Marcos City Council is set for a second and final reading over annexation and re-zoning on March 19.
For a list of FAQ's regarding the SMART Terminal, visit the City of San Marcos website.