U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Highway Administration 

Outreach to Key Stakeholders 

Hosting General Information Brieffngs 

to Promote Roundabouts 

Location 

Austin, Texas 

Roundabout Selling Points 

for Elected Officials, 

Real Estate Industry, 

and the Public 

🗸 “Green Solution” 

• Less pollution 

• Less noise 

🗸 Reduced roadway congestion 

🗸 Improved traffic safety 

🗸 Neighborhood centerpiece 

🗸 Contributes to a sense of place 

Strategies Employed 

🗸 Conducted a technical brieffng for 

elected officials, decision-makers, 

and other professionals (e.g., real 

estate industry with a vested 

interest in local property values). 

🗸 Scheduled the event in coordination 

with a technical training course to 

include experienced roundabout 

consultants as presenters. 

🗸 Emphasized the beneffts that 

officials and their constituents 

would realize as a result of installing 

roundabouts. 

🗸 Built personal relationships with 

key representatives from multiple 

agencies. 

Introduction 

After experiencing the safety and operational benefits of roundabouts in their city, Austin 

Transportation Department (ATD) staff decided to undertake an effort to promote their 

wider use in Texas. The ATD hosted an informational briefing in an effort to encourage 

other agencies in the State to begin using roundabouts—a proven strategy for improving 

safety, operations, and quality of life in local communities. They invited people from 

fellow public agencies, industry groups, and other stakeholders to learn about Austin’s 

positive experiences with roundabouts. In addition to describing the general benefits 

of roundabouts at the briefing, they advised attendees how to explore the use of 

roundabouts in their own cities. 

Background 

The City of Austin experienced rapid growth and faced a number of transportationrelated challenges over the last 20 years. That resulted in increased traffc and more 

congestion, and more people regularly walking and biking throughout the city. 

Consequently, the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) went looking for creative 

solutions to address multimodal safety, mobility, and capacity issues – and found 

roundabouts as one of the solutions. 

Realizing that many other cities and local agencies in Texas would benefit from their 

experience and expertise with roundabouts, ATD decided to share that knowledge with 

elected offcials and professionals in other jurisdictions using an informational briefing as 

a way to educate and inspire others across the Lone Star state. 

Approach 

As the state capitol, the City of 

Austin has the opportunity for 

regular interaction with elected 

offcials throughout the State. 

ATD staff also maintains regular 

communication with peers 

from other cities and public 

agencies and professionals 

in related fields such as 

emergency response, freight 

transportation, and consultant 

services. Over the course of 

regular discussions with these 

individuals, ATD determined 

that roundabouts were an important topic that would benefit from a more formal 

and detailed discussion tailored to the needs and interests of all stakeholders. Working 

with supportive state and local elected offcials, ATD staff conducted an informational 

briefing entitled “Enhancing Quality of Life with Roundabouts,” at the Texas State Capitol 

Building. ATD staff led the briefing with roundabout consultants providing much of the 

FHWA-SA-14-012 

Revised June 2020

Figure 1: Announcement for the Roundabout Informational Briefing
 

Lessons Learned 

• Define the differences between

roundabouts and traffic circles clearly.

There are still common misperceptions

about roundabouts.

• Tailor the benefits of roundabouts to the

audience. For example, if the audience

includes developers, discuss how

roundabouts can help them save money

on some capital improvements.

• Peer involvement is critical. Consultants

can provide technical expertise, but

elected officials and decision-makers

can be more open to conversation with

another public agency.

• Identify and invite roundabout champions.

Reach out to agencies and stakeholders

to find those who are favorable to

roundabouts.

• Conduct continuous outreach. After

initial contact, champions must maintain

relationships with colleagues and

stakeholders to facilitate long-term

partnerships. 

• Identify stakeholders of varying interests

that can help provide support to a

common goal (i.e., pedestrian groups,

bicycle advocates, developers, elected

officials, municipalities or public works,

etc.). Remember, there is no single target

audience. 

Learn More 

Austin Transportation Department 

City of Austin, Texas 

512.974.1150

http://www.austintexas.gov/email/transportation

Jeffrey Shaw 

Intersections Program Manager 

FHWA Offce of Safety 

202.738.7793

jeffrey.shaw@dot.gov

Figure 2: Roundabout at Auditorium Shores, Austin, TX 

Source: Google Earth Pro 

“These roundabouts would not have been 

possible a few years ago, but working with TxDOT 

and other regional leaders to better understand 

how these innovative intersections work have 

opened up new horizons.” technical presentation. Organizers 

scheduled the briefing to coincide Gary Schatz 

with a two-day workshop Assistant Director - Transportation Management 

Austin Transportation Department on roundabouts for fellow 

transportation professionals to 

make the entire effort even more valuable for all parties involved. 

Before the briefing, ATD staff provided handouts and other materials to attendees to 

supplement the formal presentation. As attendees arrived, consultants played a video 

that highlighted geometric and operational characteristics of roundabouts, comparisons 

to traffc circles, and methods for all road users to traverse a roundabout. The video and 

handouts introduced attendees to the basics of well-designed modern roundabouts and 

their benefits before the actual briefing began. 

The formal technical briefing began 

with an overview of roundabouts, 

their characteristics, and how they are 

designed to operate compared to other 

intersection designs. The presentation 

continued with more detailed 

technical information on roundabouts, 

describing the ranges of locations 

where roundabouts are working, 

and discussing the benefits they can 

provide to a city. The following points 

were made about roundabouts: 

• Facilitate a continuous flow of traffic, thereby reducing congestion.

• Reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes due to lower speeds (15-20 mph).

• Accommodate more vehicles than other traffic control or intersection designs when located

and designed appropriately.

• Accommodate emergency vehicles, school buses, and other heavy vehicles.

• Contribute to a more friendly setting for pedestrians and bicyclists, including school-age

children, due to lower vehicle speeds.

• Reduce congestion and delay, which leads to environmental benefits such as lower fuel

consumption, less pollution, and less noise.

• Contribute to a sense of place as community gateways or neighborhood centerpieces.

Results 

The briefing brought together a variety of elected offcials, decision-makers, and 

stakeholders with different levels of understanding of the definition and purpose of 

roundabouts. In addition to addressing questions and concerns, the session provided 

an opportunity to establish contacts, providing a network resource for stakeholders to 

continue the discussion in the future. It also allowed public sector and industry peers to 

meet in a common setting while subject matter experts provided information tailored 

to their needs and interests. Attendees left the briefing with a better understanding of 

the characteristics and benefits of modern roundabouts, and the knowledge of how to 

use roundabouts to improve traffc safety and operations in their communities. 

More Information 

Austin Transportation Department: http://austintexas.gov/department/transportation 

Mobility 35: https://my35construction.org/