Traffic circle, not signal, seen as way to go
Roundabout would reduce wasted energy
By Marcia Ames
mames@patuxent.com
Posted 3/04/09
Instead of spending $60,000 to $70,000 to repair or replace various light fixtures, support wire, "antiquated" controls and rusting poles associated with the signal at Edmondson Avenue and Old Frederick Road, the county would spend about $100,000 to install a "roundabout," said David Fidler, spokesman for the county Department of Public Works.
According to the Federal Highway Administration Web pages, a roundabout with traffic flowing around a center island offers less congestion, less frustration, fewer collisions, less pollution and less expense than a traffic signal.
"The real cost of a traffic signal is not the initial $80,000 to $100,000 of installation, but the maintenance and repair over the years plus the electrical power," Fidler said.
He added that a roundabout uses no electricity, requires less paved surface than a four-square intersection and reduces the energy a car wastes when idling at a stop light.
"We see this as a step toward a greener Baltimore County," he said.
Furthermore, the Edmondson Avenue and Old Frederick Road intersection does not carry enough traffic to warrant a signal, he said.
Motorists have complained of having to wait at the site for a green light when there are few other vehicles or none at all on the two streets, according to Councilman Sam Moxley, who represents District 1 which includes Catonsville.
County officials plan to notify property owners in the immediate area, community associations and the Westchester Elementary School and Catonsville Middle School PTA groups for input sometime this month, he said.
"Before we do anything, or commit to one plan or other, I want to hear what the communities have to say," Moxley said.
Residential neighborhoods border the intersection at issue, which is about one block north of Westchester Elementary, at 2300 Old Frederick Road, and about one block east of Catonsville Middle, at 2301 Edmondson Avenue.
"We asked the county to look at the intersection, based on complaints we've received from constituents over the years," Moxley said.
"Meanwhile, the county was looking to upgrade the light there."
While Fidler said he did not know the signal's age, he described it as old and needing repair or reconstruction.
The public works department has enough money in its budget for repairs, replacement or the installation of a roundabout, he said.
The latter project would use land in the county right-of-way, according to Fidler.
"There would be no property takes," he said.
Brick paving would border the inner and outer edges of the circular roadway as well as an existing triangular island that divides Edmondson Avenue to the east.
At the center of the roundabout, existing pavement would be replaced with soil, seed, mulch and a tree.
Existing traffic islands on Edmondson Avenue, which include one east of the intersection, would continue to support plantings.
The roundabout project also would include new or reconstructed sidewalks and pedestrian ramps for the area.
Construction could begin as soon as late this summer, Fidler said.
user comments (3)
user robnaud says...
I live in the corner house and I am very againest this circle. (as are all the neighbors I have spoken with) The circle would leave NO light for walkers to use to safely cross the street. A large number of families and school children use the light to cross the intersection. Also a circle would result in a lot of horn blowing day & night. Futher more the comment about not needing to take any land is a lie! The intersection is not wide enough on its own!
Posted 5:55 PM, 03.04.09
user scottb says...
Modern roundabouts have 50% fewer crashes and 90% fewer fatalaties than signals and similar intersections. The reason is that modern roundabouts operate at 15-20 mph, slow and go, not the high and deadly speeds that signals permit. Slower speeds mean more time to see and be seen and avoid crashes. Even when crashes do occur the damage is usually minor. Modern roundabouts have splitter islands at each road that provide a refuge for pedestrians. This is great for children and seniors because they only have to get across one direction of traffic at a time. Noise? Instead of all the stopping and starting, engines reving and sounds of brakes, roundabouts can be much quieter than a signalized or stop-controlled intersection. This is one reason advocates for the blind dislike modern roundabouts since the blind use traffic noise to negotiate intersections. A single-lane compact modern roundabout needs about a 120-foot diameter circle of space to be constructed inside of, but there is another version, called a mini-roundabout, that can be smaller and use less space, though it is usually used in villages where speeds are already low.
Posted 2:58 PM, 03.05.09
user robrooks says...
An interesting debate will be developing on this. I'm not opposed to the roundabout (easy for me to say...I don't live at the corner) however I'd be concerned not about the speed of drivers in the circle, but once they get beyond it and head down Old Fred Road towards Oella. It is currently a speedway in front of Westchester Elementary and I don't see this circle improving without one also being put at Devere and Old Fred or some other traffic controls put in place.
Posted 9:47 PM, 03.05.09
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