Beginning Monday, March 31, the city of San Marcos will start construction on median replacements at the Hopkins Street intersection with the Union Pacific Railroad between Walgreens and H-E-B. The work, part of the ongoing quiet zone improvement project, is scheduled to occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.
During construction, the inner lanes adjacent to the center turn lane will be closed. The outer lanes closest to the right-of-way will remain open for vehicular traffic. Drivers are encouraged to use caution in the area and follow posted detour signs.
In February 2025, the city of San Marcos received a permit from Union Pacific Railroad to complete construction at the intersection and address deficiencies identified during inspections conducted by the Federal Railroad Administration, UPRR and a third-party consultant in early 2024. The deficiencies have resulted in train horns sounding at railroad crossings for the first time since September 2015.
“We understand the disruption caused by the ongoing quiet zone work, and we appreciate the community’s patience as we work toward resolving these issues,” San Marcos Senior Engineer Rey Garcia said. “The completion of this project will help us reinstate the quiet zones and improve safety at our railroad crossings.”
Minor repairs at 18 intersections identified in the inspection were completed in November 2024. Major repairs to address curb and median replacements are required at six remaining intersections, including the intersection that will begin construction March 31.
The city expects to receive the permits required to begin construction at the remaining five intersections from UPRR by the end of March, and repairs could be complete as early as June 2025. Quiet zones will be reinstated once UPRR conducts a final inspection and confirms that all necessary improvements meet FRA standards.
“We are committed to maintaining and improving the quiet zones to minimize disruptions in our community,” Garcia said. “We are taking steps to prevent future compliance issues, including implementing a new curb design standard to discourage contractors from overlaying next to the curb and reducing curb height.”
For information about the quiet zone project, visit sanmarcostx.gov/ quietzones. The website will be updated as additional permits are received and construction is scheduled at the remaining intersections.
