AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2025-53, increasing the speed limit from 60 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour on northbound and southbound FM 110, from approximately south of Yarrington Road to north of State Highway 80; authorizing the installation of signs and traffic control devices reflecting the new speed limits; directing that the traffic register maintained under Section 82.067 of the San Marcos City Code be amended to reflect the new speed limits and penalties to be applied; including procedural provisions; and declaring an effective date; and consider approval of Ordinance 2025-53 on the first of two readings.
Body
Meeting date: December 2, 2025
Department: Public Works (Sabas Avila, Director of Public Works)
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $0. TxDOT is responsible for installation.
Account Number: N/A.
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
Fiscal Note:
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Background Information:
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has requested that the City consider updating the posted speed limits on FM 110 based on their March 2024 engineering and traffic investigation. Under Texas law, all speed limits are prima facie limits, meaning they must be “reasonable and prudent” and supported by an engineering study. TxDOT establishes prima facie limits using several factors, including the 85th percentile speed, which reflects the speed at or below which 85% of drivers are traveling under normal conditions.
TxDOT’s speed study for FM 110, covering the corridor from IH 35 to SH 80, shows that prevailing speeds range from 64-70 mph in multiple segments. Portions of FM 110 within San Marcos city limits are currently posted at 60 mph, which does not align with the measured operating speeds. The strip map also notes that the roadway is a two-lane facility with 24-foot pavement, no significant grades or curves that justify a lower limit, and no reported crashes within the City limits during the review period. Based on these findings, TxDOT recommends increasing the posted speed limit for the northbound and southbound traffic to 65 mph on the following segments of FM 110 within the City’s jurisdiction:
1. Beginning under Control-Section 3545-01, starting from mile point 7.976 (1.116 miles North of SH 21) to mile point 8.674 (0.418 miles North of SH 21).
2. Beginning under Control-Section 3545-01, starting from mile point 9.070 (0.022 miles North of SH 21) to mile point 9.418 (0.326 miles South of SH 21).
3. Beginning under Control-Section 3545-03, starting from mile point 0.000 (0.326 miles South of SH 21) to mile point 0.173 (0.499 miles South of SH 21).
4. Beginning under Control-Section 3545-03, starting from mile point 0.524 (0.008 miles South of the Union Pacific Railroad line) to mile point 0.840 (0.324 miles South of the Union Pacific Railroad line).
Under Texas Transportation Code §545.356, municipalities have the authority to establish prima facie speed limits on roads within their jurisdiction, including segments of the state highway system, when supported by an engineering and traffic investigation. TxDOT has asked the City to adopt the recommended changes because these segments fall within City limits. If the City chooses not to adopt the updated speed zones, TxDOT may request action by the Texas Transportation Commission to implement the changes independently.
If approved, the traffic engineer pursuant with City Code §82.067, shall update the traffic register which contains a record of every location in the city where any traffic control device or special regulation is made applicable, whether by ordinance or by the traffic engineer's authority established under Chapter 82.
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Recommendation:
City staff concurs with TxDOT recommended and proposed speed limit of 65 mph on F110 within city limits from approximately Yarrington Rd to SH 80.