Transportation Master Plan Update (Ongoing)
Whether you walk, pedal or drive in Round Rock, the City is seeking your input for its Transportation Master Plan update.
Citizens can also provide input online at the Transportation Master Plan project team portal at roundrocktexas.gov/tmp. The website includes surveys for residents and travelers to provide feedback related to congestion, safety, funding priorities and other issues. The site also includes information about past public input on the plan so far.
The Transportation Department is currently working on the 2023 Transportation Master Plan update. Click the links to view the Transportation Master Plan Draft and 2023 Draft TMP Map.
About the Current Transportation Master Plan
In order to meet the transportation demands of population, employment and economic growth, the City developed the Transportation Master Plan, which consists of two basic elements, a roadway element and a bicycle/pedestrian element. The transportation plan is presented as an Ultimate Roadway Network and a Roadway Table. The network shows existing and planned arterials, which include bicycle facilities, for the ultimate growth of the City.
The Transportation Master Plan encompasses the transportation system within the city limits as well as the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The City also coordinates with our regional planning partners. The updated Transportation Master Plan was adopted by City Council on Oct 12, 2017.
Goals
- Ensure that the citizens of Round Rock are afforded an adequate future transportation system.
- Ensure the efficient utilization of the dedicated 1/2 cent sales tax.
- Identify the major deficiencies in the existing transportation network.
Objectives
- Evaluate the existing transportation network.
- Identify current and future land uses and travel patterns, as well as, population and employment forecasts.
- Identify environmentally-sensitive areas.
- Develop roadway design standards.
- Incorporate citizen participation into the planning process.
- Identify the necessary transportation network improvements.
Planning for Ultimate Growth
To maintain the quality of life enjoyed by the citizens’ of Round Rock, extensive future planning for the City’s transportation infrastructure is essential. An adequate transportation network is considered by many as the backbone to organized growth in any community. The total development of land within the present city limits, as well as, the ETJ at a certain time in the future is a reasonable conclusion from studying the development of communities that are similar to Round Rock. By planning for the ultimate growth of the city, the Transportation Master Plan establishes the ultimate roadway network and protects adequate rights-of-way to meet future transportation needs. The plan also provides property owners with a tool to minimize conflicts during development.
Land Use and Demographic Information
The City’s adopted existing and future land use plan was used as the basis for forecasting future demographic information needed for the Transportation Master Plan. Adjustments were made to the city’s land use plan in response to newly approved or anticipated development projects. Based on future land use, population and employment forecasts were made for the ultimate growth scenario, as well as, the years 2007 and 2017. The forecasted totals were then disaggregated to Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs). These zones were used in the travel demand modeling process.
Traffic Demand Modeling
Using the population and employment data, computer models were used to forecast future travel on a transportation network between the various TAZs in the study area. The model generated traffic volumes for existing, as well as, forecasted trips. By studying the traffic volumes and the capacity of the roadways, the level of congestion was determined. A volume to capacity (V/C) ratio greater than one (1) normally reflected a need for roadway improvement. The modeling process was used as a tool to determine needed major transportation improvements. However, some recommended improvements were based on professional judgment.
Environmental Issues
During development of the Transportation Master Plan, consideration was given to Neighborhood and Community Resources, Water Quality, Air Quality, Historical Meteorology, Hazardous Materials, Threatened and Endangered Species, Natural Areas and Ecosystems, Parklands, Wetlands, Floodplains and Historic and Cultural Resources. Identifying environmentally-sensitive areas early during the planning process reduces the risk of cost overruns, schedule delays and design complexity.
Financial Analysis
In 1997, the Citizens of Round Rock authorized the adoption of a ½ cent sales and use tax dedicated to roadway improvements. In 2001, the City of Round Rock voters approved General Obligation Bonds including authorization of $37.1 million for streets, sidewalks, landscaping and traffic signal projects. The transportation project list was developed based on the City leveraging available funds to obtain additional funding from state, county and private sources and the City directly funding transportation system improvements.
In 2019, the City put in place funding strategies to accelerate transportation improvements that are components of the $1.2 billion Transportation Master Plan approved in October 2017. The City of Round Rock has a target of investing a minimum of $240 million from 2019 to 2024 to improve roadway capacity and connectivity in a program we call Driving Progress.
