Roundabouts on the Rise: How Kyle Is Building Safer, Smarter Roads for the Future

Roundabouts are becoming a familiar sight across Texas – and for good reason. They’re safer, more efficient alternatives to traditional intersections with traffic signals or stop signs. 

Still, many drivers approach them with hesitation and even a little fear. That reaction isn’t unique to us in Kyle. Change, no matter how beneficial, often takes time to embrace. So, before you pump the brakes completely on roundabouts, here’s a look at some of the positives. 

Safety. Studies show that roundabouts can lower fatal crashes by 90%, cut injury crashes by 75%, and reduce overall crashes by 40%. Their design reduces the number of conflict points (or potential angles you, your car, or a person can be hit) from 32 to 8 and nearly eliminates the possibility of a head-on collision. 

Keeps You Moving. Roundabouts promote a steady flow of traffic. Think about when you hit a stop sign or a red light. It’s late, no one else is coming, but you have to sit there and wait it out while your engine idles and your gas is used. With roundabouts, you’re moving – unless of course there’s a train moving through town – reducing vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by an estimated 23%-34%.

They’re Cost Effective. While initial roundabout construction cost varies site by site, they have lower long-term maintenance costs compared to traditional signalized intersections. In fact, the service life of a roundabout is approximately 25-years compared to 10 years for a typical traffic signal.

More Reliable: Here’s one you may not have thought about, roundabouts operate during a power outage. No matter the conditions, roundabouts will keep traffic flowing safely, if used properly.

As our city continues to grow, investing in modern, efficient road design is key to prioritizing safety and keeping up with traffic.  We are committed to building a safer, better-connected road system for the future — and roundabouts are a key part of that plan.

Currently, Kyle has 20 roundabouts in planning and design, construction or completion and two more being contemplated. Of those 20 roundabouts, 12 are part of the 2022 Road Bond program. These projects are strategically located throughout our community to improve safety, reduce congestion, and enhance mobility. They are planned for the following intersections:

These are roads that impact all of us, and they will definitely be conversation starters. As roundabout plans move forward, we want to be part of that conversation. We look forward to connecting with anyone in our community who has questions, concerns, or simply wants to share their thoughts.

Earlier this month we got to have some great conversations at the Roundabout Open House held at Kyle City Hall. At this event, anyone could drop-by, talk to city staff, engineers, and members of Council. Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day to share their concerns, ask questions, and learn more and look forward to more conversations in the coming months.

Prior to the Open House, the Kyle Department of Transportation and Public Works gave an in-depth roundabout presentation to City Council offering an overview of roundabouts specifically linked to the 2022 Road Bond Program, as well as infrastructure improvements and long-term mobility goals. To watch the presentation, see the Kyle Special City Council Meeting on our City of Kyle YouTube page. 

For more information on roundabouts, please go to kyleroadbonds.com/roundabout101.