San Marcos staff present targeted update to airport master plan; fuel farm, terminal site and runway work prioritized

City staff and aviation consultants presented a targeted update to the San Marcos airport master plan at a Sept. 16 work session, outlining planning priorities including replacement of the fuel farm (2026), siting for a potential passenger terminal, runway 17/35 improvements and new roadway access to support future terminal development.

City aviation staff said the 2021 master plan remains broadly appropriate but that changes in fleet mix and interest in larger aircraft and potential air carrier service prompted a targeted update rather than a full rewrite. Consultants from Texas Aviation Partners and Garver Engineering described the update as focusing on three deliverables: confirming an airfield development plan (runways, taxiways and approaches), identifying a preferred terminal site and fuel farm location, and updating capital-improvement priorities and funding strategy.

Consultants presented two potential terminal sites and identified a preferred location adjacent to the airport management area with good airfield access and direct connections to State Highway 21. The preferred layout would include a consolidated loop road for passenger drop-off and arrival lane alignment with existing signals on SH 21 and FM 110. Consultants also described a proposed perimeter road to allow fuel trucks and maintenance vehicles to move inside airport fencing without using public streets.

The update identifies a preferred site for an ultimate fuel farm on the south side of the field and a new electrical vault location to free up central apron space for future development. Consultants said the air traffic control tower's ultimate relocation site was chosen to provide separation from hangars and to protect development areas. The work also calls for decoupling runways 17/35 and 13/31 as an immediate safety improvement and for strengthening runway 17/35 to accommodate larger aircraft.

Staff presented a capital improvement plan that prioritizes the fuel-farm replacement in 2026 and included runway and apron rehabilitation. Consultants noted most projects are eligible for Federal Aviation Administration and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) aviation grants and that a typical grant split is roughly 90% federal/state and 10% local, although that can vary by program. Staff said they will seek council approval on the master plan update and will update the airport layout plan drawing for TxDOT Aviation review, then pursue grant funding for projects in the CIP.

Councilmembers asked about the location of the proposed new access road and whether that roadway and other improvements would be eligible for grant funding; consultants said the new entrance alignment would generally be eligible for FAA/TxDOT aviation funding at the standard program share and showed the proposed roundabout and intersection alignment at SH 21 and FM 110. Councilmembers also asked whether the airport would institute operating-hour curfews; staff said the airport operates 24/7 and no curfew is proposed.

Staff said the update is intended to preserve space for a future terminal and related infrastructure while prioritizing urgent airfield safety and infrastructure needs; no action was requested at the work session, and staff said they will return with an approval item and updated airport layout plan for TxDOT Aviation.