Commentary; Posted: 11/1/06
Italy visit proof roundabouts will work
Rick Ashbach
Guest Columnist
A quick reminder by my ëmuch olderí brothers and sisters was a Forest Lake with no traffic lights. Of course that was back in 1960. I donít remember those early days but do remember the traffic jams at Broadway and Highway 61 when it was the only intersection controlled by traffic lights, especially before the freeway was built.
Backups would run a mile in either direction on holidays and the fishing opener. Friday and Sunday nights had some jams during the summer too.
Forest Lake hasnít been immune to traffic problems. As the area entices more and more people to visit and live we have seen more and more traffic congestion and controlled intersections.
Well that time is upon us again in regards to Broadway. It is bustling with many businesses for our residents and it is the only access to the west side of the freeway unless traveling north to Wyoming or a couple miles south to Highway 97.
Congestion is at an all time high. Additional traffic lanes on the bridge are more than 10 years out and Broadway has the highest traffic accident rate in the county. Changes need to occur to reduce traffic accidents and to provide convenient access to businesses.
I have spent almost two years reviewing engineering designs, studying options to solve the problems and have learned much along the way.
It was difficult for me to accept a non-traditional alternative of roundabouts. My experience of using them in rural settings was great because traffic keeps moving and it eliminates waiting for a light to change.
My experience in urban areas is limited to the nightmarish East Coast traffic circles. With them you have to work the horn and blinkers simultaneously while performing stretching exercises on your neck.
Today I am writing after a return trip from northern Italy. The region I was in has aggressively replaced traditional intersections controlled by stop signs and stop lights with roundabouts.
In my travels the roundabouts encountered where of all sizes and types. They were installed for traffic exiting/entering the interstate, installed at the busiest city intersections, and the quietest rural intersections. Some of these roundabouts were designed and operated exactly like those proposed for the Broadway corridor.
My last visit to the area was 2003 and very few roundabouts were encountered then. It is apparent the government has made a major commitment to roundabouts. I believe the commitment was to reduce fuel consumption, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce the severity of traffic accidents.
My travels were similar in 2003 and this time so I was surprised to find much easier travels this time as compared to 2003. One route in 2003 had just one roundabout, now there is only one traditional intersection. Those changes reduced my travel time by 20 percent.
The biggest joy was most of the time you did not have to wait for traffic. You quickly looked in the roundabout for traffic, then move into and through the roundabout.
Before leaving to visit Italy I was in favor of roundabouts to reduce the severity of traffic accidents and to minimize the amount of land purchases from businesses. Eliminating accidents will help businesses. Not taking land will give them a greater chance of survival because it wonít reduce parking or services offered.
However, my concerns have been the newness of roundabouts, the change in driving behavior required, and if drivers will truly yield before entering the roundabout.
Based on my use of roundabouts and what I witnessed in others using roundabouts in northern Italy, I believe they will move traffic very well through the Broadway corridor.
They will dramatically reduce major traffic accidents, they will improve travel time, and they will reduce congestion. These are pluses for us and the businesses.
It is clear that roundabouts make better use of the capital dollar because they move traffic along the way. Whereas, traditional intersections require extra capital (extra lanes) to store traffic while the light is red.
Roundabouts will keep the traffic flowing rather than stacked and waiting for the green light.
Rick Ashbach is a Forest Lake City Council member.
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