RECENT COMMENTS
Planned and proposed roundabouts and traffic circles
From the minutes of the Monday, April 1 meeting of the Church Hill Central Civic Association:
Tom Flynn, a City of Richmond transportation engineer presented on traffic calming strategies in the neighborhood:
Roundabouts (for example at 25th and M). There are plans to build a roundabout at 25th ST and Nine Mile, with the contract probably issued around December 2013. Initially, there will only be landscaping in the middle, but electrical and water connections will be built in so that a fountain could later be added, if a donor is found to fund this project.
Smaller residential circles (for example, the small circles in the intersection on Marshall St.). The idea behind these is that most people are not comfortable driving around them at 30+ mph, so they keep traffic speeds in the 20-25 mph range, reducing crashes. They also provide a visual reminder of the intersection (and pretty landscaping). Most of these circles are added at citizen request – a citizen or civic group requests a circle, the city investigates the location, and the city moves forward if appropriate (including input from the surrounding blocks). The group discussed possible new circles at Chimborazo and N, down the M St. corridor, along Jefferson, and the 33rd-35th and Broad St. intersections. We’ll send this list to Tom for consideration. There was further discussion on whether these circles do calm traffic, since it seems that some drivers still fly through them and some residents do not know how the yielding works. We’ll be reaching out to RPD to see if there can be some sort of increased enforcement on yielding to help prevent accidents.
I think the circles on Marshall are a bust. They are too small to really slow traffic. Some of the traffic on Marshall really moves, and some of the more blind intersections are more dangerous IMO than they were with a stop sign.
If the sizing is better I think they are a great idea. I heard that the buses are the reason they are so small on marshall.
The circles on Marshall street need yield signs. We also need one at Marshall and 32nd street.
More dangerous? Did you check the actual accident data? The number of accidents that caused injuries increased 40% when they installed the stop signs. Its hard for me to believe that they went up again. I’ll look in to it and get back to you all.
I swear… people have the dumbest ideas of where to put these… why not put them at every intersection then? This is too much.
I did not check data, I would be interested to hear. Just my feeling. At some of the roundabouts it is hard to see down Marshall when crossing, the cars not really slowing concern me trying to get across without being able to see far enough to be sure it is clear.
It would be nice to have one at Chimborazo and Broad ST. there are people who drive at least 45 – 50 mph headed east on Broad St. In addition, we have several families with small children living right on Broad. However, it might present a problem for trucks trying to reach Chimbo Mkt. for deliveries. Although, it wouldn’t make me sad to see Chimbo. Mkt. close, but something needs to be in that building (NOT MORE APTS). 🙂
I really appreciate the Chimbo market – it has a decent selection and I can walk to it. It is a real boon for those in the neighborhood without transportation.