In yesterday's post I spoke of the need for leadership in ensuring that the best possible traffic features are installed on 27th Street.
To recap a bit: Roundabouts provide continuous movement of vehicles through an intersection at lowered speeds without any full stops. Unlike traditional intersections with stoplights, vehicles in roundabouts slow to yield to other vehicles in the circle and then merge into the flow. This continuous movement saves time, fuel, and money.
After reviewing a report comparing intersections to roundabouts (as prepared by consultants HNTB), the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint 27th Street Steering Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Common Councils of their respective cities that they pass a resolution in favor of roundabouts on 27th Street.
Oak Creek will vote on it at their next meeting (tomorrow night); in Franklin, however, the item was removed from this Tuesday's agenda by Alderman Ken Skowronski and Mayor Tom Taylor.
Alderman Skowronski feels that the 27th Street Steering Committee is a “sub-committee” of the Franklin Economic Development Committee (which he chairs and of which I am a member), and that the EDC should take it up before it goes to council.
Mayor Taylor has said that he's heard anti-roundabout sentiment from constituents, and is therefor against them.
I doubt that I can change Alderman Skowronski's predisposition against roundabouts. He is under the erroneous impression that they may slow traffic, when in fact studies show that traffic proceeds more efficiently and indeed faster from point to point while maintaining slightly slower (safer) speeds enroute - - not coming to a full stop and waiting for people to turn in front of you really helps move things along.
I sent an email to Mayor Taylor asking that we discuss his contention that "anti-roundabout sentiment from constituents" should indeed stop him from ensuring the best outcome for 27th Street by endorsing - - or allowing to be endorsed via common council vote - - construction of roundabouts.
This is where LEADERSHIP comes in - with more than a little help from cold, hard facts.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performed a study titled Crash Reductions Following Installation of Roundabouts in the United States in 2000 on 24 U.S. intersections that had been converted both signalized intersections
and stop-controlled intersections to modern roundabouts. Similarly, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) also completed a related study in 2002. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
also produced Roundabouts: An Information Guide in 2000 with safety statistics contained.
Some of their findings:
- 38 - 40% average reduction in all crash types
- 74 - 78% average decrease in injury accidents
- 90% average decrease in fatalities or incapacitating injuries
- 30 - 40% average decrease in pedestrian accidents (depending on the
roundabout location and existing pedestrian volumes) - As much as a 75% reduction in delay where roundabouts replaced signals
But there are a few members of the public who are wary of roundabouts; it's human nature to fear the unknown. Others are annoyed by them; how they cause you to have to think for a bit while driving. It's also human nature for those with fears, apprehensions and/or anger to become the squeaky wheels, while those content to participate in change generally remain silent.
So, on the one hand you have overwhelming statistics indicating the safety and efficiency superiority of roundabouts, and on the other hand you have... people who might be annoyed?
If the potential displeasure of a segment of the electorate is the "problem," rest assured that I have your answer below. I brought these charts to the Joint 27th Street Steering Committee meeting, but it turned out that I didn't need them; HNTB incorporated these findings (published by the Washington State Department of Transportation) into their explanation that "Community Acceptance" could in fact be a positive in favor of roundabouts over intersections - - favorable opinion of roundabouts DOUBLED after drivers used them, and those strongly opposed shrank enormously from 41% to 11%.
Click on each chart to embiggen.
ABOVE: Public Opinion BEFORE driving roundabouts
ABOVE: Public Opinion AFTER driving roundabouts
On the "After" chart, see that blue line in favor of roundabouts STRETCH skyward? And the green "Strongly Oppose" line is receding like an earthworm into the ground.
So, the mayor can rest assurred that the "negative feedback" he is experiencing now will indeed flip to the positive side once drivers experience roundabouts regularly. And, as this community's leader, it falls to Mayor Taylor to ensure that we attend to facts and legitimate research before succumbing to the frailities of mere intuition and human nature.
At the very least, that means making sure it roundabouts are discussed by our common council.
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