Roundabouts for traffic control at intersections

[james weatherford]

A few links I put together for the PCDP Transportation Working Group
(they need updating):

www.alaskaroundabouts.com/index.html
www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/fall95/p95a41.htm
www4.nationalacademies.org/trb/onlinepubs.nsf/web/NCHRPSynthWeb)
www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00068.htm
www.dot.state.ny.us/roundabouts/howto.html
www.engr.orst.edu/~taekrtha/round.html
www.abnaengineering.com/abna
www.ksu.edu/roundabouts/
www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00068.htm
www.roundaboutsusa.com
www.akcelik.com.au/SIDRA/roundabouts.htm
www.ksu.edu/roundabouts
www.roundabouts.net/roundabouts.html

www.azdot.gov/CCPartnerships/Roundabouts/PDF/Traffic_Speed.pdf
www.dot.state.az.us/CCPartnerships/Roundabouts/faq.asp
www.ite.org/traffic/documents/tcir0019.pdf

www.ci.davis.ca.us/pw/traffic/roundabouts.cfm
depts.washington.edu/hiprc/practices/topic/pedestrians/environment.html
www.citebc.ca/No95_Roundabout.html
www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3734/is_200209/ai_n9139900
www.walkinginfo.org/de/curb1.cfm?codename=16c&CM_maingroup=Intersection%20Design
www.sdearthtimes.com/et0501/et0501s12.html

www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/ReporterOnline/index.asp?DISPLAY=ISSUE&ISSUE_DATE=072000&ARTICLE_NUMBER=130
www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/southcentral/2000/08/14/features/22640.htm



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Rob Tucker]

One thing I always liked about roundabouts was that they work when the power is out. When there's a big storm, hurricane or earthquake and emergency services are needed it's nice to not face gridlock due to dead traffic lights.

I got to use them all over Europe too. Driving on the other side of the road into a four lane roundabout was an adventure but, like anything, you get used to it.

Oh yeah, I also like the fact that they are safer and less deadly. Idiots who run red lights scare the stuffing out of me.

[gtill]

So now everyone who drives from Keaau to Pahoa will have to make a full tight circle at 20 mpn, and accelerate back to 55 how many times for one trip out. Dr W, how many of these do you propose? What I saw in the movies,all the streets were busy from 3-4 diections. So we burn gas brakes and tires bothways every day.

Local procrment is often th best as you get service and parts on what you buy plus they'll usually keep a stock on hand if needed.

[Guest]

I've opened up a new place on my blog to post comments either anonymously or in view of others for the H-130 project.

It's at the top of my blog and I will compile information there.

I cannot make continuous comments on the H-130 Project on Punaweb due to the limit of posts.

(Rob T - sorry for going over the limit tonight... but the future means more then one nights worth of going over the post limit)

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blog

[JerryCarr]

Once people learn to use roundabouts they have actually been proven to reduce gasoline consumption by reducing full stops. (They might reduce brake wear for the same reason, but I haven't seen any research on that point.) They reduce the severity of accidents by eliminating most T-bone collisions. Are they a cure-all? Certainly not. Will they require re-education and a learning curve? Absolutely. Are they worth trying? I certainly think so, because the State DOT's approach has been proven time and again NOT to work.

We really don't have anything to lose by trying something different.

Cheers,
Jerry

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by JerryCarr

...
We really don't have anything to lose by trying something different.

---

OUCH... Jerry, do you understand the Millions of Dollars that are being put into this H-130 project?

If we as residents of Puna can lose something by not being smart from the get go... then I'm working on the wrong project.

I hope my efforts are more then just "anything to lose".... As I will be working hard for my grandchildren's kids future, and I don't even have a grandchild yet[:o)]

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[rbakker]

They are good in power cuts, but one benefit you get from roundabouts every day is that you don't have to make pointless stops when there's no or very little traffic around. Very minimalistic too, there's not much that can go wrong - unlike poorly programmed traffic lights.

Some countries jazz up roundabouts by putting all sorts of interesting things in the middle (eg works of art, I saw an enormous book somewhere) which then become reference points for giving directions, maybe an idea for Puna.

[JerryCarr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Damon

quote:

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Originally posted by JerryCarr

...
We really don't have anything to lose by trying something different.

---

OUCH... Jerry, do you understand the Millions of Dollars that are being put into this H-130 project?

---

Of course I realize the MILLIONS of dollars the DOT is about to put into the 130 project. That's why we need to look at alternatives. You used to live on Oahu, Damon. Just look at how well the State DOT's usual methods have worked there! They may well be wasting those millions by pursuing the same failed policies. It's time to think outside the box.

Cheers,
Jerry

[oink]

quote:

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Some countries jazz up roundabouts by putting all sorts of interesting things in the middle (eg works of art, I saw an enormous book somewhere) which then become reference points for giving directions, maybe an idea for Puna.

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A big bronze bud?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[JWFITZ]

Roundabouts are a great idea, move traffic, save fuel, and I bet would cost about as much to build as the equivalent installed stoplight. As well, I expect for the first 6 months they'll be good drunk driver collectors.