Thanks everyone who weighed in with your comments. I was disappointed to see engineers repeating some tired canards, such as
- People don't know how to drive modern roundabouts.
- Old people can't handle them.
Anyhow, two years have passed and now the modern roundabout at US 41 and Fruitville Road near downtown Sarasota is up and running. You can go drive, walk, bike and skate it yourself. A fantastic vantage point is the 8th floor Embassy Suites balcony on the SE corner--take your video and still cams with the widest-angle lenses you've got. More details in this recent article in
Roads and Bridges magazine:
A CITY OF VISIONARIES, ROUNDABOUTS, AND THE ARTS
A look at successful roundabout projects in Sarasota, Florida
https://www.roadsbridges.com/city-visionaries-roundabouts-and-arts
This is a serious modern roundabout moving a lot of traffic. Interesting features include HAWKs at ped Xings and special striping with RPMs to delineate circulating lanes. Please post here what you think after you've experienced it directly for yourself.
Ken Sides, PE, PTOE, CNU-a, LCI, RLRM
Sam Schwartz Engineering
Chair, ITE Roundabout Committee
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Ken Sides PE, PTOE, CNU-a, LCI
Sr Transportation Engineer
Sam Schwartz Engineering
Tampa, Florida
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-30-2019 10:32 AM
From: Fraser Howe
Subject: Round is Resilient!
ASCE offers several online courses on roundabout design, and how to identify & correct deficiencies in existing roundabouts. I have teken a couple for PDH credits and recommend them to my fellow engineers.
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Fraser Howe P.E.,F.ASCE
Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2019 11:22
From: Harold Watters
Subject: Round is Resilient!
As one of the individuals presently experiencing the after effects of Hurricane Michael, I could not agree more with brother Ken. Having worked in Traffic Engineering for several years, I am of the opinion that well designed roundabouts should be used instead of traffic signals. Signals waste a lot of time, energy and money. They cause catastrophic crashes when violated. Roundabouts eliminate these issues. The cost associated with a well designed roundabout is possibly higher when compared to a signalized intersection, but in the long run they will save thousands of dollars and most likely lives.
The problem I have seen is the lack of commitment from engineering managers in a political position to construct roundabouts. These individuals are more interested in protecting their "positions" than providing safe and cost effective measures to the public. Engineers have the responsibility to reach out to politicians to educate them on safer designs as private citizens, through ASCE, or public service. If we don't advocate for safety, no one will.
Anyway, I have heard thousands of times...."We just want a red light!" It makes you wonder how many of the operators of vehicles on the road today managed to get a driver's license. Perhaps in the future there will be more people who will stand up for what is right and less of those who are just trying to protect a job position.
His obedient servant,
Harold "Mac" Watters, PE/PSC, Life M.ASCE
Professional Engineer, Land Surveyor and Cartographer
Panama City, Florida
Original Message:
Sent: 05-27-2019 18:51
From: Ken Sides
Subject: Round is Resilient!
Modern roundabouts are the most resilient intersections every invented. No power needed: they operate the same after a major storm as before: normally, safely and efficiently. Unlike storm-damaged signalized intersections there is no need to divert badly-needed emergency crews to repair the traffic signals, because there aren't any. Unlike power-dependent signalized intersections, there is no need to divert badly needed police operate the intersection and no need to divert badly needed emergency crews to restore power to the intersection.
For more details about Hurricane Michael and modern roundabouts, see the attached Round is Resilient! article from the Journal of the Florida Engineering Society.
-Ken
Ken Sides, PE, PTOE, CNU-a, LCI
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