(Off-campus route map)
There are five off-campus routes serving the San Marcos area: Post Road, Blanco River, Aqurena Springs, Clarewood, and Ranch Road. Night bus service provides service to these routes using three bus routes after 8:00 pm, and CARTS provides service to areas of town which are not as densely populated and are not served by Tram route service.
The Ranch Road route originates at the Student Center on Tomas Rivera Dr.; all other off-campus routes originate at the Commons on Bobcat Trail. Additionally, the CARTS bus provides service connections to their route system at the top of Bobcat Trail behind the Tram buses and across the street from parking services. Finally, intercity route service is provided to allow for additional non-auto trips between campus or the city of San Marcos and San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kyle, and Austin.
Night Bus
This route provides late evening service Monday through Thursday; service has been expanded beginning January 14th, 2008! There are now three buses departing from the Commons every 40-50 minutes beginning at 8:25 through 11:25 PM. Each route serves a different zone in town and all bus stops off campus are served. These routes now provide service to campus until 10:45 PM; the last route leaving campus at 11:25 PM is outbound service only.
Additional evening transportation is available from parking services via a van service. You may find out more information about this service by visiting their web site or calling 512.245.7233.
Off-Campus service provided by CARTS
There are several low-density locations throughout the city of San Marcos where Bobcat Tram does not provide service. In most of these areas CARTS, the local Rural Transit District (RTD), provides fixed-route public transportation service to shopping centers, downtown, the outlet mall and campus. CARTS' service connects to Tram service at our service hub on Bobcat Trail, near the Commons and Parking Services, to their intermodal bus and train station via route 9 or route 10 which both offer service to and from their station. Bobcat Tram will now pay your fare to ride to or from campus on the CARTS' CAT bus. Students, faculty, and staff who wish to ride to campus instead of drive may show a valid Texas State I.D. to the CARTS driver and ride for free! The RTD also offers Paratransit service for persons with disabilities which restrict them from accessing fixed route service. Students, faculty and staff with disabilities that would prevent them from using the fixed-route CARTS service to campus may now use this service as well at no cost. Call 800.456.7433 for more information.
