Why aren't people on the south side concerned about the proposed roundabouts on 17th Avenue South? This is a major road now, and the city can't afford to make a huge error in judgment on it. Spending $585,000 on projects that will have to be removed within five years is a frustration and an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.
I am confused by the Forum's report on this: "About 100 people submitted comments to the city on the options. The biggest responses, said City Commissioner Mike Williams, were to do nothing or install traffic signals.
"As far as the options go, option one carried the day," he said.
How does option one, which is the roundabouts, carry the day when the majority of citizens object to it? What am I missing here?
The roundabouts aren't large enough to slow traffic. People trying to go around to make a left turn are going to have to wait for the oncoming traffic to clear enough to get through. This is going to cause a backup in traffic behind the vehicle turning left because the roundabout is not designed for two vehicles going the same direction. Cross traffic will not be able to merge. Forget about pedestrians or cyclists.
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If you drive 17th Avenue during 8-10 in the morning and 4-6 at night, you will see what I mean about the amount of traffic for the cross roads to encounter without a defined stop in the traffic. It is bumper to bumper. Those little roundabouts will make absolutely no difference in ease of movement or accessibility. Roundabouts work if they are large enough to accommodate the traffic. But the mini versions do not.
Also, why isn't Dennis Walaker's statement about snow removal being considered? We complain now because the city takes too long to remove the snow, and the city is planning these?
Do these roundabouts take into consideration the size of the vehicles traveling on 17th Avenue? There are panel trucks as well as extended cab pickups, among other larger vehicles.
I went to the city of Fargo's Web site and looked at the 17th Avenue South Traffic Study. The photos shown from Hamiliton, Canada do not begin to reflect the amount traffic flow on 17th Avenue. They are very misleading, and do support my opinion that cross traffic will not be able to access the road during heavy traffic times.
Then click on the .pdf file at How roundabouts work in Minnesota (PDF file): www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/otepubl/Roundabout-Brochure.pdf . Note the NEW ROUNDABOUT WARRANTS: (unofficial): TRB Paper No. 02-4149 addresses when roundabouts should and should not be considered for an intersection, 4. Unbalanced Flow: do not consider if volumes on one approach are so high that they preclude movements at other approaches. This is the situation on 17th Avenue South.
I hate being redundant, but this warrants it. There is too much east-west traffic on 17th Avenue. It would preclude merging of north-south traffic during high volume times.
My preference would be stop signs at all intersections. I live in Prairiewood and do exit out the 32nd or 34th Street four-way stops, and it works just fine. At least, I can get out and I know the snowplows will be removing the snow effectively.
I hope the City Commission examines all aspects of this study by the "consultant" and rejects it.
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Opheim lives in the Prairiewood neighborhood of Fargo. E-mail Betty.Opheim@ndsu.edu
