Roundabouts proposed for Fishweir Creek intersection

[thelakelander]

It was around 2006.

[Florida Power And Light]

For decades plain OL' traffic light signals were sufficient.

Why now the considerate Roundabouts?

........projected increased density/ traffic.......

[tufsu1]

^ could be simply because they work better and are far safer

[thelakelander]

They take up a ton of land though, making it pretty much non tax revenue generating. Sometimes we tend to force them into places they don't fit. I long for the day when when we kill signals and roundabouts at some of these urban core intersections and go for four way stop signs. Superior traffic calming,  less long term maintenance and no extra right-of-way needed. Just have to be willing to live with a bit more traffic congestion.

[Charles Hunter]

In this case, it looks like the Fishweir Roundabout fit within existing right-of-way; maybe some corner-clips.

And, from my experience, fewer people know how to navigate 4-way stops than know how to use a roundabout.

[thelakelander]

^Difference is they all tend to completely stop at some point, which is best for pedestrians and cyclist.

[Transman]

No R/W is being taken from looking at the drawings.  That will speed up the time it takes to start building it.

[thelakelander]

My bringing up R/W was a general statement about roundabouts. Not for this particular project which doesn't have a R/W issue but also excluded bicycle facilities initially (I've been told it will be modified to include bicycle lanes now). I see too many of them (roundabouts being proposed) on a consistent basis at work that I question the merits or need in certain situations.

[Florida Power And Light]

Just exactly what the neighborhood didn't ask for.

The latest neighborhood buzz has been " traffic calming", some residents would rather see attention, and funds applied to " Traffic Calming".

DOT attributes the Roundabout idea to DOT Jim Knight, for Pedestrian Safety.

[Des]

DOT attributes the Roundabout idea to DOT Jim Knight, for Pedestrian Safety.

I drive on this road every weekday, morning and afternoon at varying times and sometimes more than twice a day. I've never thought the traffic at these intersections was bad, and I don't think it's too hazardous for pedestrians currently. I often see parents crossing the road with their kids from the new apartments towards the flower shop and if they followed the crossing signals they got through just fine without having to hurry.

Do you think these roundabouts would potentially make it more dangerous for parents to cross with their children? That corner is pretty blind and people go through pretty quickly, 30 mph or so. And it looks like people could get up to 30 mph from the plan that they've provided us.

I think someone already mentioned that to go from Geraldine to St Johns they would need to make a u-turn at the southern roundabout, which looks pretty annoying.

[Sonic101]

Add crossing lights to the roundabouts for the pedestrians.

For the few people that would have to go all the way around the 'bouts, oh well, they're side streets anyway, would probs cut back on the number of people using those intersections anyway. To go North on I-75 from the Flint airport you have to go all the way around a roundabout, it replaced a jug-handle (still on satellite view), works fine there.

[Josh]

The problem with the current design requiring drivers to go across the bridge to turn around at the next roundabout is that plenty of drivers will choose not to, and will simply make an illegal U-turn on the bridge as long as there is no median or something else to prevent that.

[Charles Hunter]

The problem with the current design requiring drivers to go across the bridge to turn around at the next roundabout is that plenty of drivers will choose not to, and will simply make an illegal U-turn on the bridge as long as there is no median or something else to prevent that.

That can be 'fixed' by extending  the raised median/traffic separator across the bridge to connect the two roundabouts.

[Florida Power And Light]

District 14 Town Hall Haul meeting this evening.

District 14 Councilwoman in learning curve mode. After all she had a full plate.

Dot  referenced earlier present at meeting.
Cause for Roundabout was Traffic Study that arrived at grade C/D

I asked question- was projected traffic increase / ADT ( average daily traffic) a consideration in Roundabout implementation?
To this, was informed will need to get back to me on this.

Regards C/ D Trafific study grade, some noted that all seems fine at the old fashioned signalized intersections, pretty much like what experienced for the past decades.( although St Johns Village occupancy rate not discussed)

Councilwoman noted Roudabouts might " increase value" of the neighborhood, " just like the San Marco".
A thought occurred, something not to be interjected or tolerated at the meeting:
The area is already over rated. A nice place......
The neighborhood prestige and value could be compromised thanks to a  soon to begin botched Fishweir Creek Dredge project, unmitigated increasing traffic/ speed/ calming and eventually the West Side flows in to Western RAP District, at the edge of The Upscale Roundabouts.

[FlaBoy]

My main concern would be the omission of dedicated bike facilities. If they aren't included here, you're looking at Roosevelt being the next north/south corridor.

I actually really love this plan generally. I think it will beautify the streetscape in the area and can potentially have some public art in the roundabouts.

I think the pedestrian level looks pretty good. I would hope they would insert some of the lighted crosswalks similar to the one by the Shoppes at Avondale.

The inclusion of bike lanes would not be difficult. They could also just double track the bike lanes down Herschel where the old trolley tracks were once south of the final traffic circle on St. Johns. There is plenty of room to keep the parking spots and make bike lanes on that side. You would just need an appropriate barrier for dedicated lanes.

I think the tough thing would be business traffic for Harps and the Hardware store on Geraldine. Might cause traffic into the neighborhood from business traffic. For the most part though, huge improvement for the area and potentially the beginning of streetscaping the remainder of that business district.