Speed limit reduction is implemented on Hunter

Motorists along Hunter Road had better watch their heavy feet.

The city of San Marcos has reduced the speed limit to 30 mph — generally the slowest a municipality can designate — along the road that is variously known as Hwy. 80, Hopkins Street and Hunter Road, from Guadalupe Street to Wonder World Drive. The previous speed limit along that stretch of was previously 35 (along Hopkins) to 40 (Hunter Road nearing Wonder World Drive).

The city did so based on “concerns raised by citizens and residents along Hopkins,” city spokesman Trey Hatt said in a press release without further elaboration. The press release did say, in an apparent reference to the Hopkins Street portion, that the stretch “is characterized by a combination of historical, residential, restaurant and retail properties which generate significant bike and pedestrian activity.” From the area of Jack’s Roadhouse south to Wonder World it changes to few residences, but does include the VFW hall, a horse pasture, the San Marcos Ice Company and entrances to Purgatory Creek Apartments and a CVS Pharmacy.

The city acquired the power to change the speed limit along that road last year, when the Texas Department of Transportation removed that portion of the name-changing roadway from the state highway system and transferred “maintenance and jurisdiction” to the city “including the ability to set speed limits as allowed by the Texas Transportation Code.” The state had previously had the authority to set speed limits.

The speed limit change passed on second reading Sept. 4 as part of the city council’s consent agenda, which generally includes items that do not get any further discussion. No one showed up to protest the change during a public hearing, Hatt said.

The very next day, Sept. 5, the new speed limit signs went up. Hatt said San Marcos Police will in most cases issue warnings to offenders through Oct. 5. 

The city says residents with questions can contact the transportation department at 512-393-8021. The city did not respond by press time to an email asking if any other roadways are being considered for lowered speed limits.

Cities may set speed limits of 15 mph in alleyways and 25 mph “if the road is in an urban district, is less than four lanes, and is not a state highway.”

“Highways numbered by state outside urban districts” have state-set speed limits of 70 mph daytime and 65 mph at night. Outside urban districts, state highway speeds are 60 mph daytimes and 55 at night.