University Star

The City of San Marcos is gearing up for the one thousand spectators who are expected to fly into Central Texas for a nearby international racing event.

The San Marcos Regional Airport will make multi-million dollar renovations in preparation for the November Formula One race in Austin. Stephen Alexander, airport manager from Texas Aviation Partners, said flying into the San Marcos airport will be an easy option for race attendees because it will not be as congested as the Austin airport.

Laurie Moyer, managing director of community services, said the City of San Marcos is expected to invest $1.5 million in five capital improvement projects that will renovate some of the original infrastructure of the airport. The bulk of the budget includes a projected $950,000 replacement of a 60-year-old water line that has been in place since 1947, when the municipal airport was developed.

Moyer said she was able to leverage an extra $5 million from the Texas Department of Transportation, raising the grand total of airport updates to $6 million. Approximately $4 million of the funding from the department will go toward the renovation of Runway 13/31. The city will spend approximately $394,000 on the same project, Moyer said.

Moyer said the acquisition of a 42-acre, Texas State-owned track adjacent to Highway 21 is a key venture. She said after discussing and finalizing a price of $95,000 for the track, Texas State is ready to transfer the area to the airport. Moyer said the Texas Department of Transportation would fund a 90 percent grant match that will go toward the purchasing of the track.

Councilmember John Thomaides, Place 3, said the airport should be developed and large enough for commercial uses like FedEx or UPS aircraft deliveries.

Alexander said although the airport is capable of the expansions, he does not see commercial uses in the future because of the proximity of the San Antonio and Austin runways.