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More than 90 residents filled the Lake Room at Quail Point Lodge on Thursday, August 20, for a Community Education presentation on the City of Horseshoe Bay’s proposed roundabouts along RM 2147. Horseshoe Bay Mayor Jeff Jones and City Manager Jeff Koska spent the afternoon explaining why the City believes roundabouts are the right solution for two busy intersections, how the projects reached this point, and what residents can expect as planning moves forward.

 

Jones opened the presentation by acknowledging confusion, skepticism, and misinformation surrounding roundabouts. His goal, he joked, was to provide residents with “more than you wanted to know about roundabouts.” More importantly, he wanted residents to understand the proposal is not a quick decision. The City has spent years studying traffic patterns, reviewing data, working with transportation professionals and TxDOT, and considering how Horseshoe Bay will grow.

The decision also reflects input from the Horseshoe Bay community. A community survey found that most responding residents favored roundabouts over traffic signals, while the citizen-led Transportation Committee independently studied the options and reached the same conclusion, recommending roundabouts as the preferred solution for the two intersections. The City of Horseshoe Bay has the presentations and other materials here.

 

Jones reflected on first coming to Horseshoe Bay part-time in 2007. At the time, traffic was light, there were no traffic signals, and the slower pace made returning to Horseshoe Bay enjoyable. As the years passed and Jones became a full-time resident, that pace began to change. Today, more vehicles travel through the community, and growth is expected to continue.

 

 

Two locations need a traffic control solution: RM 2147 at Horseshoe Bay Boulevard and RM 2147 at Bay West Boulevard. Jones said thousands of vehicles travel RM 2147 each day, while Bay West Boulevard carries nearly 5,000 travelers daily. Traffic at the Bay West intersection has increased about 67 percent over the past decade.

Future growth played a major role in the City’s planning. Jones noted that only about 40 percent of buildable lots in Horseshoe Bay have structures. With considerable development still possible, the City believes it must address traffic management before conditions worsen.

 

Safety was central to the presentation. Jones explained that a traditional signalized intersection has 32 potential vehicle conflict points, while a single-lane roundabout reduces that to eight. Roundabouts also remove opportunities for high-speed T-bone and head-on collisions and eliminate what Jones called the familiar “yellow light gamble.”

The safety numbers were significant. Research in the City’s presentation indicates modern roundabouts can reduce total crashes by about 40 percent, with an even greater reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes. Slower vehicle speeds are built into the design rather than depending on drivers responding to a traffic signal. Here is an informational guide from the City.

Jones also compared roundabouts with traffic lights from an operational standpoint. Traffic signals require ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement, while roundabouts have much lower long-term maintenance needs. A roundabout keeps traffic moving during quieter periods instead of making motorists wait at an empty intersection for a red light to change.

Another benefit, Jones said, is that roundabouts calm traffic along the corridor. Because vehicles must slow as they approach, they can discourage drivers from using Horseshoe Bay streets as a shortcut. Jones pointed to Carmel, Indiana, known nationally for its extensive use of roundabouts, as an example of a community that has embraced the concept.

 

The proposed Horseshoe Bay roundabouts would each have a single travel lane. The City considered multiple lane configurations but, after reviewing the intersections and working with TxDOT, determined a single-lane design was the best fit for RM 2147.

Jones also discussed opportunities to make the roundabouts attractive additions to Horseshoe Bay. Images shown during the presentation illustrated how landscaped central islands can become community features, but he emphasized the images were examples, not final designs.

 

City Manager Jeff Koska continued the presentation by noting that Horseshoe Bay already has two roundabouts within the community. He said that after reviewing the research himself, he believes modern roundabouts provide the best solution for the two RM 2147 intersections.

Koska emphasized that today’s roundabouts are considerably different from the large, fast-moving traffic circles many drivers may remember. Modern roundabouts are deliberately designed for lower speeds, clear yielding, and easier navigation.

 

Pedestrian and bicycle safety was another important part of the discussion. Planned designs include pedestrian crossings, and cyclists will be considered as the project develops. During the question-and-answer session, residents raised concerns about pedestrian access, and Jones explained crosswalk planning will be incorporated into the final design. 

 

Large trucks were another frequent topic. The proposed roundabouts will include a truck apron around the center island, giving larger vehicles and trailers extra room to complete a turn. While the slower route may discourage some large trucks from using RM 2147 as a shortcut, vehicles that need to travel through Horseshoe Bay will still be able to navigate the intersections.

 

 

Koska also recognized the committee members and professionals who have worked extensively on the project. He said the planning process is about 30 percent complete, with significant work ahead. Utility relocation, right-of-way coordination, final design, engineering, and construction preparation must all take place before construction begins.

 

 

The Horseshoe Bay Resort has helped by donating land needed for the project and volunteering to assist with landscape design. Koska also recognized the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association and the Resort for their help securing the property needed for the roundabouts.

Once construction begins, Koska said the goal is to complete the work in sections, likely working on about one quarter of a roundabout at a time. This approach aims to keep traffic moving along RM 2147 during construction rather than closing the intersections completely.

 

The City’s current planning estimates place the Bay West Boulevard roundabout at about $2.63 million and the Horseshoe Bay Boulevard roundabout at about $3.2 million. These preliminary estimates may change as engineering and design advance. Here is a copy of the presentation.

During Q&A, funding was a hot topic and was addressed. Jones said TxDOT has not yet made a final funding commitment, but emphasized that the agency has been closely involved and supports the project. TxDOT now has specialists focused specifically on roundabouts as the state considers greater use of them throughout Texas.

The afternoon concluded with an active question-and-answer session that reflected the strong turnout. Residents asked about costs, growth, bicycle and pedestrian access, large trucks, construction impacts, and the overall timeline. Once construction begins, City officials hope the two projects can be completed in about 12 to 18 months.

 

The presentation made clear that Horseshoe Bay is changing, and managing that growth while maintaining the community's character will require planning. Jones repeatedly returned to one point throughout the afternoon: Horseshoe Bay needs traffic control at these intersections, but that does not necessarily mean traffic lights.

For a community that has long appreciated life without signal lights, the City believes modern roundabouts can provide a safer, calmer, and more efficient alternative while preparing Horseshoe Bay for the growth still ahead.