Improvements are coming to East Main Street in early 2020. 

Round Rock City Council voted at a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, June 13 to reject bids for the project, pushing back the projected start date of construction to early 2020. Only one bid was received through the City’s competitive sealed process at a cost that would have been double the original $1 million budgeted. Transportation staff stated that the high bid could be due to the parklets’ unique design and scope, and expect to work with the project’s design firm to make the project more attractive for bidders.

The improvements, which were designed by Studio 16:19, include six parklets along East Main Street from Mays Street to Sheppard Street in Downtown Round Rock. The parklets will include new trees, tables and chairs, additional landscaping, lighting elements and expanded walkable space for pedestrians. The contract also includes design for additional lighting and sidewalks to allow pedestrians safer access to Main Street from adjacent underutilized parking lots. 

The project is a result of the Downtown Improvement Plan that was approved by City Council in 2016. The plan aims to create a walkable, attractive district, improve access to and through Downtown and to upgrade any outdated infrastructure. City staff met with Main Street business and property owners in early 2018 and received support to proceed with the proposed improvements. Final designs were completed in spring 2019.

Initial renderings and a map of the improvement locations are included below.

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