The city of Round Rock has finalized a design agreement for the Northeast Downtown (NEDT) Phase 2 Improvements Project, launching the next step in the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. While a definitive cost has not yet been revealed, construction is expected to begin within the next two years, building on more than $250 million that has already been invested in the heart of the city.
The second phase of the NEDT project will prioritize a pedestrian-oriented corridor running along Sheppard Street located adjacent to Brushy Creek. The length of the project will span from Veteran’s Park to the Round Rock Public Library, connecting with critical amenities and services in a nine-block zone.
The project will include utility upgrades, pedestrian and cyclist connections, enhanced landscaping, improved hardscapes, parklet incorporation, context-sensitive parking and mature tree preservation. Additional improvements revolve around stormwater management, implementing best practices to secure water quality, sustainable plants and pavement upgrades.
The core vision of the project depends on amplifying pedestrian connectivity and accessibility for the downtown area, highlighting a sustainable approach to ensuring residents and visitors can easily and safely traverse the city’s heritage sites.
While the NEDT Phase 2 Improvements project focuses on the Sheppard Corridor, the effort represents only the latest efforts the city has invested in revitalizing its downtown area. Round Rock has already begun either design or construction for several nearby park, trail and roadway projects with more than $237 million in planned investments. A selection of these projects includes the:
- Paseo and Griffith Building Remodel.
- Town Green.
- Flats Park.
- Lake Creek Trail.
- Kenney Fort Boulevard Segment 5 and 6.
- Old Settlers Boulevard extension.
- Red Bud Lane North.
- Gattis School Road Segment 3.
- Wyoming Springs Segment 1.
Photo by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, from Wikimedia Commons
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