Traffic circle complaint
Any story on traffic circles tend to be instant conversation starters. I’ve gone on record as stating that I’m a supporter of traffic circles but might be in the minority. Read most of the comments in these stories to see where a good chunk of the readers (or at least those that comment) stand, hint – they’re not fans. A resident has some concerns and wanted to share them with the community.
Thought I’d give you some feedback from the new traffic circle at Riverside and New Kent . I live two blocks down on Dorchester and frequently drive through and walk by it each day.
At first we were thrilled of the idea for a traffic circle, as people frequently speed through that stretch. But, in my opinion, this has been a giant failure. From the day they started building it, my wife and I noticed that it was too far off-centered and made the lane traveling East on New Kent too large. When approaching from the West bound side, it seems too easy to just go straight through as opposed to traveling around the circle. While there are markings painted on the street, these are hard to see at night.
Whether by choice or ignorance, we see people drive the wrong way through the traffic circle daily (and still at a high speed). It’s almost more dangerous now, because as we walk our dogs or drive through it we aren’t sure whether drivers will obey the traffic pattern or not.
I’m not sure if they need to clearly delineate the direction more — lights at night? a ‘Do not Enter’ sign? an ‘X’ marking? — but something needs to change.
I have a message into Kathy Graziano’s office to see if more folks are having the same issues and see if she had a response or comment on the situation.
That is the worst piece of engineering I’ve seen. Umesh Dalal needs to find out who got paid off on this project
I hit the darn thing in the fog the other night. I can’t believe anyone sober designed that thing.
solution = 4 stop signs. It worked everywhere else.
I live on a corner with a 4 way stop. It is rare that I see someone come to a complete stop and occasionally see people that don’t even slow down. There is no perfect solution until people just slow down, obey the speed limits and traffic laws. I’m not holding my breath.
The city seems to prefer the high cost and relative ineffectiveness of the traffic circles as opposed to a cost-effective 4-way stop (or even simple speed bumps). Wonder if anyone deems the one at New Kent & Prince Arthur a success?
We need actual roundabouts not traffic circles. If you don’t force people to slow down, they won’t.
The thing I find odd is that it doesn’t slow traffic at all in the east/west directions, but has such tight radii as to be almost cumbersome to make left turns in both directions. Seems it should have been made more circular, or possibly rotated 90 degrees (obviously while keeping the lanes proper widths- more like 12-14 feet maybe.)
In the case of the southeast lane- being 22′ wide it’s easy to see how someone could mistake that as a two-way, as most lanes are 11′-12′ wide.
This was a plan requested by immediate neighbors. Was discussed at the civic association meeting, and was approved/recommended by a wide margin. Community had a chance to discuss.
Requesting a roundabout is one thing, but did they request one so poorly designed and implemented? This thing is a danger to navigation and as one poster pointed out, does absolutely NOTHING to slow down traffic in the East/West direction.
I really like it. I’ve driven around it, ran around it. I think it’s great. I think it’s better than the other one.
These circles are a boondoggle. Richard, I believe the statisics you cite may refer to roundabouts, not these little circles. These things are dangerous – people are not going around to the right, but continuing to turn left, which could lead to a headon collision. In addition, they’re a waste of money, not only for construction, but for continued upkeep. Mr. Flynn has convinced Ms. Graziano that people “love” them, but that is not what I’m hearing. It seems like more a case of Mr. Flynn finding places to use up federal funds…our tax money.
Rather than change the “circle”, could they build in a landscaped curb to narrow the eastbound lane?
I agree with Sean and Marsha.
Is someone at City Hall having and affair with the circle builder? These circles are, for all practical purposes, useless.
If anyone is in doubt that the design of this particular roundabout is ineffective in controlling traffic, take a look at the shot I got there this afternoon.
I am planing on doing a little ditty on the design of this one and was collecting photographs to compare this one and others in South Richmond that DO control the flow of traffic for one of my blogs and I wasn’t there even ten minutes when this fella came through.
I blurred the car because given the placement and design of this “circle”, it’s not clear he was aware of it’s purpose.
PS, I posted the photo on the Hills and Heights Flickr page.
@tvnewsbadge – be sure to get the ones on Boroughbridge. The one at Reedy is…special.
These circles slow down drivers because the drivers are confused. They are impediments and hazards not traffic helps. In Europe they do these correctly: large enough to accommodate real vehicles (in my neighborhood you can’t get a bus around the circles) with appropriate traffic signage. These circles are disasters waiting to happen. Four way stops are at least understandable. You’ll never get everyone to obey all the rules all the time. Ergo: traffic court.
While I appreciate the original intent of the traffic circles to improve safety and efficiently move traffic, someone really dropped the ball on the circle at New Kent, Riverside, and Bruton. It has made it more unsafe for drivers and pedestrians. It is offset way too far and is confusing to drivers coming towards it from Westover Hills Blvd. It provides no speed or flow control to drivers approaching it from the west. Everytime I drive around it I shake my head in disappointment and frustration that we spent real money on that circle to create such a road travesty and an eyesore in our neighborhood.