Improvements to Sessom Drive are scheduled to kick off in fall 2015, according to a presentation given to San Marcos City Council on Nov. 18.

The city addressed drainage issues along the road in 2010 using funds from a 2005 bond election. The Texas Department of Transportation also repaved the road and improved guardrails in 2011.

Laurie Moyer, director of engineering and capital improvements, said in 2006 the city received about $590,000 from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the group responsible for organizing transportation in the Austin area, to complete the projects. The total cost of the project is expected to be about $2 million, and the remaining cost $1.41 million will be funded by the city.

"They understood and we talked to them at the time that we had other things that were going to happen first, but we're now at the point where we need to move forward and finalize this project," Moyer said.

The project will add 8- to 10-foot-wide sidewalks along most of Sessom between Aquarena Springs Drive and North LBJ Drive.

Moyer said the outside lanes along Sessom will be designated as shared-use lanes intended for bicycles and motor vehicles.

"We recognize the fact that only experienced bicyclists will want to go out there and tackle that," Moyer said. "We're going to try to sign it and slow folks down, but the sidewalk is wide enough that if someone is uncomfortable they could be up there and ride their bike on the sidewalk."

The intersection of State Street and Sessom will also be addressed to improve site distance and crosswalks. The improvement includes realigning State with Sessom.