ON THE MOVE Vol. 25, No. 4 Fall (October) 2012 Sharing Knowledge. Improving Communities. A "Roundabout" Way to the Future by Nicholas R. Jones, P.E., Director with excerpts from FHWA-SA-08-006 Roundabouts: An Informational Guide http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/00068/ The first roundabouts in Utah The following material is ex- were designed and constructed in cerpt from the Federal Highway 1996 in the Provo/Orem area. One Administration (FHWA) document at the Seven Peaks Water Park and FHWA-SA-08-006. It outlines another at the entrance to Utah Val- some of the benefits of roundabouts. ley University were opened at about If your city is considering a round- the same time. Over the years they about in its future, this information have become more popular and have about this safe and innovative ap- been constructed in many locations proach to intersection control may mostly in urban areas of Utah. be helpful. New concepts are often in- What is a Roundabout? timidating to some and take a little getting used to. However, once in A roundabout is a type of circu- place and used for a while, they be- lar intersection with yield control of come popular, easy to use, and offer entering traffic, islands on the ap- many advantages. proaches, and appropriate roadway curvature to reduce vehicle speeds. A Look Inside Modern roundabouts are differ- ent from rotaries and other traffic An Overview of MAP-21 .................................................. 3 circles. For example, roundabouts Psychological Infrastructure Development: Road Work on are typically smaller than the large, the Mind ....................................................................... 6 high-speed rotaries still in use in some parts of the country. In addi- UDOT Local Government Programs Corner .................... 7 tion, roundabouts are typically larg- I've Got a Question: The Best Way to Set Speed Limits.. 8 (continued on page 2) Fall/Winter LTAP Training................................................ 9 Partner Happenings ......................................................... 10 On the Move Page 1 UDOT Annual Conference 2012..................................... 12 October 2012 er than neighborhood • Fewer stops and hard accelera- traffic circles used to tions, less time idling calm traffic. • Save money • Often no signal equipment to in- A roundabout has stall, power, and maintain these characteristics • Smaller roundabouts may re- (also see illustration, quire less right-of-way than tra- right): ditional intersections • Generally circular • Often less pavement needed shape • Complement other common • No need to change community values lanes to exit • Quieter operation • Yield signs at en- • Functional and aesthetically tries pleasing • Geometry that forc- *see full report for statistical details es slower speeds • Can have more than Education is Key one lane • 76% reduction in injuries* • Counterclockwise circulation • 35% reduction in all crashes* Education is vital to the accep- • Slower speeds are generally saf- Why Consider a Roundabout? tance and success of a roundabout. er for pedestrians Navigating a roundabout is easy. • Reduce congestion But because people can be appre- Compared to other types of in- • Efficient during both peak and tersections, roundabouts have dem- non-peak hours onstrated safety and other benefits. • Typically less Roundabouts: delay • Improve safety • Reduce pollu- • More than 90% reduction in fa- tion/fuel use talities* On the Move To learn more about roundabouts, visit Page 2 October 2012 safety.fhwa.dot.gov hensive about new things, it's im- portant to educate the public about What Others Are Saying roundabout use. "Personally, I love them, and I'll tell you why. You only have to There are just a few simple stop one lane of traffic, then go to the middle and wait. The cars guidelines to remember when driv- can't go much faster than 20 mph through the roundabout so the ing through a roundabout: crossing aspect is great." • Slow down. Denise Haltom, School Crossing Guard, Suamico, Wisconsin, • If there's more than one lane, Green Bay Press-Gazette, February 6, 2001 use the left lane to turn left, the right lane to turn right, and all "We have had a lot of people not very happy about the idea of lanes to go through, unless di- roundabouts, but after they are constructed, rected otherwise by signs and those fears mostly go away." pavement markings. Brian Walsh, Washington State Department of Transportation, • Yield to pedestrians and bicy- Seattle Times, June 5, 2002 clists. • Yield at the entry to circulating "We all know people speed up to get through a yellow light. But traffic. at the roundabout, all the vehicles have to slow down … we have • Stay in your lane within the almost 50 roundabouts now, we have a lot [fewer] personal injuries. roundabout and use your right- We have fewer fatalities." turn signal to indicate your in- James Brainard, Mayor, City of Carmel, Indiana, www.nbc17.com, tention to exit. November 8, 2007 • Always assume trucks need all available space—don't pass them! not all features of existing round- • Clear the roundabout to allow abouts meet current recommended Original source photo by Lee emergency vehicles to pass. practice. Please refer to FHWA's Rodegerdts. Photo has been web site for recommendations on altered to illustrate roundabout and Note: Design standards for current design practice. updated signage. roundabouts continue to evolve, and An Overview of MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act with select excerpts from http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/MAP21/summaryinfo.cfm Overview transforms the policy and program- dition, matic framework for investments to • reducing traffic congestion, On July 6, 2012, President guide the growth and development • improving efficiency of the sys- Obama signed into law P.L. 112- of the country’s vital transportation tem and freight movement, 141, the Moving Ahead for Progress infrastructure. • protecting the environment, and in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). • reducing delays in project deliv- Funding surface transportation pro- MAP-21 creates a streamlined, ery. grams at over $105 billion for fiscal performance-based, and multimod- years (FY) 2013 and 2014, MAP- al program to address the many MAP-21 builds on and refines 21 is the first long-term highway challenges facing the U.S. trans- many of the highway, transit, bike, authorization enacted since 2005. portation system. These challenges MAP-21 represents a milestone for include: On the Move the U.S. economy–it provides need- • improving safety, Page 3 ed funds and, more importantly, it • maintaining infrastructure con- October 2012 and pedestrian programs and poli- making through performance-based the eligibilities generally continuing cies established in 1991. This sum- planning and programming. under core programs. mary reviews [some of] the policies and programs administered by the MAP-21 Creates Jobs & MAP-21 Accelerates Project Federal Highway Administration. Supports Economic Growth Delivery & Promotes Innovation The Department will continue to make progress on transportation op- MAP-21 authorizes $82 billion MAP-21 incorporates a host tions, which it has focused on in the in Federal funding for FYs 2013 of changes aimed at ensuring the past three years, working closely and 2014 for road, bridge, bicy- timely delivery of transportation with stakeholders to ensure that lo- cling, and walking improvements. projects. Changes will improve in- cal communities are able to build In addition, MAP-21 enhances in- novation and efficiency in the de- multimodal, sustainable projects novative financing and encourages velopment of projects, through the ranging from passenger rail and private sector investment through a planning and environmental review transit to bicycle and pedestrian substantial increase in funding for process, to project delivery. paths. the Transportation Infrastructure Fi- nancing and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Investment (Finances) MAP-21 Strengthens America’s program. It also includes a number Highways by Setting the Course of provisions designed to improve Authorizations for Transportation Investment in freight movement in support of na- Highways tional goals. MAP-21 extends current law (SAFETEA-LU) for the remainder MAP-21 expands the National MAP-21 Supports the of FY 2012, with new provisions for Highway System (NHS) to incorpo- Department of Transportation’s FY 2013 and beyond taking effect rate principal arterials not previous- (DOT) Aggressive Safety Agenda on October 1, 2012. Funding levels ly included. Investment targets the are maintained at FY 2012 levels, enhanced NHS, with more than half MAP-21 continues the success- plus minor adjustments for inflation of highway funding going to the ful Highway Safety Improvement – $40.4 billion from the Highway new program devoted to preserving Program, doubling funding for in- Trust Fund (HTF) for FY 2013, and and improving the most important frastructure safety, strengthening $41.0 billion for FY 2014. highways—the National Highway the linkage among modal safety Performance Program. programs, and creating a positive Administrative Expenses agenda to make significant progress MAP-21 Establishes a in reducing highway fatalities. It FHWA administrative expenses... Performance-based Program also continues to build on other ag- are provided as a separate authori- gressive safety efforts, including the zation of $454 million for FY 2013 Under MAP-21, performance Department’s fight against distract- and $440 million