Questions regarding Roundabout at
Hermitage Rd and Laburnum Avenue
Alternatives
1.
From the
Planning Commission meeting in July, it appears that no alternatives
were explored mainly
due to the restrictions of the grant. Are there not funds within the
budget to do general traffic studies
on a change of this magnitude? What about Rumblestrips, Flashers,
Raised Pedestrian Sidewalks?
Answer: The grant was received based on the established safety
of roundabouts. We did analyze the
existing signal operation as a base condition, and analyzed the accident
potential of the signal vs. the
roundabout. This information was discussed in detail in the
neighborhood meetings. Rumble strips,
flashers, etc. will not address the fundamental safety problem of a
statue in a signalized intersection.
At one point the city proposed removing the statue and constructing a
standard signalized intersection,
but this was opposed by the community.
2.
It is my
understanding that the traffic studies used to justify the roundabout
were dated 2000. I am
assuming that this is the latest report. Was a new traffic study
contemplated?
Answer: See above. We first assessed the potential traffic
capacity of a roundabout and the improved
safety potential. The results of this analysis provided the basis for
proceeding ahead.
3.
During
Planning Commission meeting in June Mr. Flynn indicated that signs would
go up if needed.
Who and what event will determine if the signs go up? Would CAR have to
weigh in on that issue?
Answer: We’re not clear what “a sign will go up” means. CAR has
reviewed the geometric and signing
concept, and all necessary signage will be provided.
4.
Study
from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, (Mr. Flynn's stated source
for information) said that
roundabouts with unbalanced traffic flow can be "precluded." Do we have
a traffic count on the balance
of the traffic on Hermitage vs. Laburnum?
Answer: As discussed at the meeting if the traffic split is,
say, 90% on main street and 10% on side
street (for example on a Midlothian Turnpike intersection with a minor
cross street), then a roundabout
likely would not be the most efficient solution. Hermitage carries
about 15,000 vehicles on Laburnum.
This is a 45/55 split, which is very appropriate for efficient operation
as a roundabout.
5.
It is my
understanding that a crash involving a Police chase was given as a
reason to support the
roundabout. Please explain how a roundabout would lessen the risk of a
Police chase and/or the
severity of the crash?
Answer: This statement is not correct. We noted at the meetings
that the fatalities had occurred, but
our greater concern (and the basis for the roundabout) was the high
crash frequency (19 per year) and
the high percent of multi vehicle angle
and head-on collisions: two accident types a roundabout will reduce.
6.
Single
lane vs. two lane circles. It has been stated by some in the community
that there are no studies
demonstrating that two lane roundabouts reduce accidents when replacing
traffic signals. The data that I
have reviewed is unclear. Does such a study exist and if so please
provide a copy.
Answer: The attached chart was presented at all the neighborhood
meetings. The survey results show a
crash per million vehicles rate of 3.1 for signals, 0.8 for 2-lane
roundabouts (“High Volume Rbts”), and 0.4
for single lane roundabouts (“Low Volume Rbts”). We also noted that the
accident rate for Monument and
Allen dropped 35% after the 2-lane roundabout was installed, and the
2-lane roundabout in operation in a
West Creek office park had operated extremely safely. Finally, attached
Table 1 and Exhibit 5-9 were
presented to the CPC.
Funding
7.
I
understand that the state has granted through the Federal Government all
of the funds for the installation
of this roundabout. Is that correct? It is also my understanding that
the city has expended $50,000 to date.
Are we disbursing city funds in anticipation of reimbursement? If, for
some reason, the roundabout at
Laburnum and Hermitage is not implemented, but a roundabout is
implemented elsewhere in the city,
is the city required to return the grant monies anyway?
7a. If the
project is "undone," would the city pay the estimated $200,000 to
$300,000 for the work? Are there
projects that would have to be cancelled because of that? If so, can
you name them?
Answer: All federal funded projects require the funds to be
expended, then reimbursed. By this fall, the “soft”
costs-surveys, geo tech, studies and design-will be around $50,000. If
the project is cancelled, the City will
have to reimburse VDOT plus an administrative processing fee, and the
funds can not be used on a different
project. Cancelling this project would not impact other projects, but
no doubt would limit our chances for
receiving future safety funds for similar projects.
Richmond Public Schools
8.
At the
June Planning Commission meeting, Ms. Wolf, 3rd District School Board
member, requested
information regarding the installation of a cross-walk in the middle of
1600 block of Laburnum Ave. but
did not receive any information. Did the Administration seek a formal
letter of support from RPS? Ms.
Wolf has stated that no information has come to the transportation
committee of the Richmond School
Board.
Answer: We did not solicit formal support from RPS. We did,
however, conduct two neighborhood public
meetings at Mills Godwin Elementary School, as well as meet with the
school principal and his staff to
further explain the project (Mr. Hudson attended one of the neighborhood
meetings).
Richmond Police Dept.
9.
At July
Planning Commission meeting, Mr. Flynn stated that the Police "fully
support" this project.
Who specifically with RPD is authorized to give this approval? Is there
a process to get approval in
writing from the Police Department?
Answer: We did not solicit “formal support” from RPS. We did,
however meet briefly with Cpt. Shamus
of the special Events Division, and more extensively with his staff to
answer questions and further discuss
roundabouts in general. It’s fair to say that they support the project,
especially given the anticipated
safety benefits.
Richmond International
Raceway
10.
Was
anyone with Richmond International Raceway been contacted? If so, what
was their response?
Answer: RIR was not contacted. Race day circumstances were
discussed with RPD.
A.P. Hill Monument
11. Doesn't the
monument obstruct views of pedestrians and other vehicles? Is there
another 2 lane
circle with a sizable monument in the middle of it to which we can
derive safety information?
Answer: Pedestrian and driver view (of each
other) will not be obstructed. The Monument/Allen 2-lane
roundabout has the Lee Statue in the middle. Again, crashes dropped 35%
here.
12. Can the
traffic department "take off the table" the possibility of requesting
that the statue and graves be
moved? If "everything is on the table," has anyone considered the cost
and the potential opposition to
moving a grave site?
Answer: A key advantage, in this particular location, of a roundabout
is the statue/gravesite is not touched.
The proposed landscaping will, in fact, enhance this historic site.
Other
13. What makes
this intersection the prime candidate for a roundabout versus other
intersections in the
city? Has a roundabout considered for the intersection of Boulevard,
Westwood, Hermitage and
Brookland Parkway?
Answer: The existing geometric shape
coupled with the existing accident pattern, makes this intersection
an excellent candidate for a roundabout.
The Boulevard/Westwood/ Hermitage/Brookland Parking intersection
also is a roundabout candidate. The
cost to convert no doubt would be considerably more.
-
I have heard some
say that the Lee “Roundabout/Circle” is working. However, Mr. Flynn
stated that this
would be first two lane roundabouts in the city? If so, then how
would one compare the two or could you
explain the differences in the intersections?
Answer: The Monument/Allen roundabout and A P
Hill are fundamentally the same, and accordingly, are
comparable in how they operate. The A P Hill one is the first
2-lane roundabout well designed. Monument/Allen
is a hybrid which includes design short falls such as the circle
being too large, and parking permitted within circle.
In
conclusion, the benefits of this project are:
1.
Overall driver delay will be reduced;
2.
By allowing all left turn movements, adjacent neighborhood
“cut-thru traffic” should be reduced.
3.
The statue and remaining intersection will be enhanced with
increased landscaping.
4.
Most import, crashes, and especially the severity or crashes,
will be reduced.
