N N a a t t i i o o n n a a l l R R o o u u n n d d a a b b o o u u t t C C o o n n f f e e r r e e n n c c e e 2 2 0 0 0 0 5 5 D D R A modern roundabout intersection with light rail running through through light rail running A modern roundabout with intersection on September 29, 2003 as part full operation the center began Light Rail Center of the University of Utah Health Sciences the University Extension in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is located on station and the South Campus Line between the Stadium at roundabout made center-running tracks possible station. The a clear is The roundabout a major campus intersection. is as the intersection priority rail trains enhancement for the light allowing the giving priority to vehicular traffic to switched from priority. trains full was observed rail crossings The use of similar roundabouts with served as Europe and Australia. These by the author on trips to the USA. As roundabout in for the application the inspiration more common in theusage becomes USA, creative uses such was made This project should be considered. as this one the Utah Transit Authority of the cooperation through possible and the (UTA), the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) University of Utah. Bill Baranowski, P.E. RoundaboutsUSA R Intermodal Solution A A F F T T TRB National Roundabout Conference, May 2005 Paper Author: Roundabouts and Light Rail Combined: An Innovative An Innovative Roundabouts and Light Rail Combined: (801) 581-6081 581-6081 (801) RoundaboutsUSA Bill Baranowski, P.E. (801) 569-5047 References Utah Transit Authority Steve Meyer,P.E. 466-4697 (801) University of Utah Anne Racer, Planning Dir. N N a a t t i i o o n n a a l l R R o o u u n n d d a a b b o o u u t t C C o o n n f f e e r r e e n n c c e e 2 2 0 0 Background left, is the in blue at shown section The second Extension at the Medical Center light rail University of Utah Campus. It begins at the Rice- South Eccles Stadium Station and follows Campus Drive and Wasatch Drive for 1.4 miles. and three three stations The extension includes major intersections. rail Extension opened The Medical Center light to on September It has the potential 29, 2003. 9,000 campus’ serve many of the hospital outpatient-clinic employees and the 500,000 LRT year. The existing north-south visitors per per day; an average of 20,000 riders line carries the 2.5 mile extension to the Stadium carries per day. During Winter 6,000 riders the recent Olympics the LRT system carried over 140,000 There is an on the busiest days. riders per day which of parking on campus existing shortage for transit provides an excellent opportunity growth. rail track alignments Several alternative light corridors were within the existing roadway locations, proposed along with station and pedestrian control options, intersection stations and design of the locations. The crossing future traffic existing and allowed for intersections the 1.4 mile extension. needs along described in this The roundabout intersection report is located at South Campus Drive/Campus of the major is one Center Drive. This intersection vehicles the campus with 2,000 entrances into AM and PM peak travel per hour during both the periods. ons. The first section, shown in red below, is in red below, ons. The first section, shown 0 0 5 5 D D R R A A F F T T TRB National Roundabout Conference, May 2005 Rail Project Stations Existing TRAX MapSystem University of Utah Light Narrative Description Background Lake County is the 15-mile north/south line in Salt rail constructed light section of The original between Sandy City and Salt Lake City completed in December 2000. The Main Street to two secti University of Utah Trax line includes located on 400 South/500 South between Main Street east to the Rice Eccles Stadium on the the Rice Eccles Stadium South/500 South between Main Street east to located on 400 University of Utah campus. It was completed in 2001. N N a a t t i i o o n n a a l l R R o o u u n n d d a a b b o o out allows center running u u t t C C o o n n f f e e r r e e ile traffic is strictly controlled as they controlled strictly ile traffic is n n c c e e des of the tracks. Thedes of the tracks. roundab over side running on South Campus Drive. 2 2 0 0 ions intersection. at this key Thephotos below show where om side running to center-running improved access and of the Stadium. 0 0 5 s within the existing roadway corridors were 5 D D R R A A F F T T center running west TRB National Roundabout Conference, May 2005 Side-running to Center-running Transition Point Pedestrian Undercrossing light rail and enables left turns by automobiles in all direct the tracks shift from side running to The change in track alignment on South Campus Drive fr operation of the shuttle vehicles and buses running on both si proposed along with station locations, intersection control options, and pedestrian crossing and control options, intersection locations, proposed along with station 3 key analyze alignments, review the proposed track was asked to designer locations. The and to give recommendations placement of the tracks and stations. for the intersections advantage operational Center-running track is an This locations. intersection to only those at signalized is reduced The number of track crossings Campus side of South Drive. Right-in right- on the north several gated crossings has eliminated South Campus for the driveways on both sides of Drive. Two-lanes of out access is maintained traffic is one-lane of and of the roundabout tracks north on each side of the traffic are provided Automob south of the roundabout. provided on each side the and intersections signalized at gated crossings, tracks only are allowed to cross the University of the Shuttles and allows the continued operation roundabout. Center running tracks and the Huntsman both sides of South Campus Drive UTA transit bus stops on near the Library a traffic possible where Sports Center. The roundabout option makes center-running light rail within the given right of way constraints. be possible signal would Track Alignments and Station Locations rail track alignment Several alternative light N N a a t t i i o o n n a a l l R R o o u u n n d d a a b b o o on. Yield signs control the u u t t across the top of the “T”. C C o o n n f f e e r r eration not as extremewas for drivers. e e p n n c c e e 2 2 ore the Roundabout Constructi intersection with Central Campus Drive. The intersection 0 isted at the two corners and 0 0 0 5 5 e to a roundabout o g D D R R A A F F T T TRB National Roundabout Conference, May 2005 free movements the chan g center with the were prepared to show the traffic impacts Computer analysissimulations and line on South Campus Drive at the running Trax Because of the existin corner the southeast a roundabout with bypass lanes on included two alternatives considered northbound and westbound with double left-turns in the and a signal-controlled intersection directions. reports for the traffic capacity was used to generate analysis software) SYNCHRO (traffic signal a Level of to produce analysis software) was used RODEL (British roundabout the signal and geometry MovieService (LOS) analysis based on the of the roundabout. type simulations of changes were created using VISSIM a common simulation vehicles merging and making lane rail and roundabouts. model that is very effective at modeling both light LOS analysis. results of the table summarizes the The following South Campus Drive/Campus Center Drive Intersection bef Before the roundabout was constructed, the intersection of South Campus of Drive and Campus the intersection Before the roundabout was constructed, running with South Campus Drive along the top of the “T” Center Drive was a “T” intersection at the two of the “T”. Bypass lanes existed at the top controlled traffic Yield signs east west. of the major entrances to the is one of the “T”. This intersection across the top corners and the AM and hour in both PM peak travel periods. vehicles per campus with about 2,000 traffic along the top of the T-intersection. Bypass lanes ex South/Foothill Boulevard, which to 500 is Campus Center Drive, which connects The south leg Salt80 near the connecting downtown Lake City to Interstate arterial is a major 6-lane east-west approximately is 320 feet to the south is located mountains. The 500 South intersection roundabout. The two double left-turn traffic towards the a traffic signal with heavy controlled by Campus with one lane of center of South Drive (the top of the “T”) run in the light-rail tracks traffic in and two lanes of vehicle intersection west of the to the vehicle traffic in each direction bypass that existed before the dual lane The of the intersection.