08-13-2008, 01:33 PM
Since I'm a traffic engineer idiot, I rely upon the expert. I made a quick call to a local mainland traffic engineer about these roundabouts.
1. Roundabouts have a long history of effectively and efficiently moving traffic at meeting of roads. They absolutely improve safety because T-bones and head-ons are virtually eliminated. They remove problems related to U-turns and turning obstructions. Overall he said roundabouts absolutely improves traffic when used.
2. Roundabouts are nothing but a type of traffic control. Just like traffic lights or a stop sign may or may not be appropriate at a specific intersection; just like a yield signs may or may not be appropriate at a specific location; just like a turn or merge lane may or may not be appropriate for a specific location; just like 2, 3, 6 or fifty lanes may or may not be appropriate at a specific location. And, just like one location may have completely different traffic and safety issues from an intersection a short distance away.
He said it's a bit naive to think roundabout should be automatically used because of their positives without ever studying the traffic patterns, issues, safety, flow rate, congestion, and those specific items where roundabout are never recommended. So can anyone point me to the traffic engineer study conducted at any of the intersections so I can ask his opinion? I'm sure nobody is advocating for or against roundabouts at a specific location in Puna based only on what worked at a specific location in North Boondock.
1. Roundabouts have a long history of effectively and efficiently moving traffic at meeting of roads. They absolutely improve safety because T-bones and head-ons are virtually eliminated. They remove problems related to U-turns and turning obstructions. Overall he said roundabouts absolutely improves traffic when used.
2. Roundabouts are nothing but a type of traffic control. Just like traffic lights or a stop sign may or may not be appropriate at a specific intersection; just like a yield signs may or may not be appropriate at a specific location; just like a turn or merge lane may or may not be appropriate for a specific location; just like 2, 3, 6 or fifty lanes may or may not be appropriate at a specific location. And, just like one location may have completely different traffic and safety issues from an intersection a short distance away.
He said it's a bit naive to think roundabout should be automatically used because of their positives without ever studying the traffic patterns, issues, safety, flow rate, congestion, and those specific items where roundabout are never recommended. So can anyone point me to the traffic engineer study conducted at any of the intersections so I can ask his opinion? I'm sure nobody is advocating for or against roundabouts at a specific location in Puna based only on what worked at a specific location in North Boondock.