CITY OF SAN MARCOS
San Marcos Transit began its story in June 1995, when two trolleys and three buses first hit the streets through a partnership with the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS). What started as a modest operation has, over the past 30 years, grown into today’s SMTX The Bus, a system of 120 bus stops dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for the San Marcos community.
When the service first launched, San Marcos Transit offered eight routes and five bus shelters connecting downtown to neighborhoods across town. In its first full year of service, riders boarded the system 80,883 times, an average of nearly 200 passengers each day.
As San Marcos grew, transit services evolved to meet the community’s changing needs. In 2001, San Marcos Transit transitioned into CARTS Around Town (CAT), a redesigned system that introduced new routes, improved service patterns, and key technological upgrades. CAT moved its operations to the newly opened San Marcos Station and retired low ridership routes.
The system continued to evolve in 2015 with the launch of SMTX The Bus, a rebrand that streamlined routes and expanded shared stops across multiple routes to help riders reach their destinations more efficiently and with fewer transfers.
A major milestone followed in 2020 when San Marcos eliminated base fares entirely, making SMTX The Bus free for all riders and significantly improving transportation accessibility throughout the community.
Innovation continued in 2023 when San Marcos, in partnership with CARTS, introduced the Real-Time Bus Tracker, a tool that allows riders to track the location of SMTX The Bus in realtime enhancing the convenience of the system. Then, in 2024, the City moved to create the SMTX Go website, a multi-modal traffic map that provides live information on traffic conditions, road closures and transportation services.
Today, SMTX The Bus offers three primary service options designed to meet the diverse transportation needs of the community:
Fixed Routes
Free, dependable transportation across San Marcos, operating from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. This service includes seven routes and 120 bus stops to areas like the Outlet Mall, Target (off of I-35) and most of San Marcos.
Paratransit
A free, curb-to-curb service for eligible riders with disabilities or qualifying medical conditions who are unable to use fixed-route buses. Residents who are 65 years or older also qualify for this service. Riders select their pick-up and dropoff locations, with reservations made at least 24 hours in advance. More information and applications are available online.
Inter-Urban Service
Affordable service connecting San Marcos to Austin, with stops at South Park Meadows, downtown Austin and East Austin. Fares include $4 for a one-way pass, $6 for an all-day pass, and $80 for a monthly pass.
In addition to these services, San Marcos and Texas State University coordinate transit service. This allows San Marcos residents to ride the Texas State Bobcat Shuttle at no cost. Similarly, Texas State students can ride the SMTX The Bus at no cost.
For 30 years San Marcos Transit has helped connect people to work, school, services, and one another. As San Marcos continues to grow, the system remains committed to evolving alongside the community — strengthening access, improving mobility, and keeping San Marcos moving forward.
To learn more about all transportation services, visit sanmarcostx. gov/transit.
