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Big stink about roundabouts overblown?
County Commissioner Shannon Staub is a big fan of a specific
style of roundabout -- according to Staub, what is planned for Venice is safer,
greener, and more efficient
-- public records letters compiled John Patten, 07/02/07
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jpatten@veniceflorida.comGot a comment?
Make
it here
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click
on pic for larger image:
Labeled satellite image of intersection
of Jacaranda Boulevard and East Venice Avenue (pic: Google Earth)
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Dear Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners:
I am writing to express my concern for the proposed roundabout at the
Venice Avenue and Jacaranda Blvd. intersection. Three generations of my
family depend on the security, safety and consistency the traffic lights
provide at that extremely busy intersection. If the figures quoted recently
in the Herald Tribune are correct, over 40,000 vehicles pass through that
junction on a daily basis. I believe it is an unreasonable expectation that
motorists will either understand or follow roundabout guidelines. Everyone
understand the rules at a traffic light and drivers benefit from a more
secure turning option. Kudos to the new set of traffic lights at the
intersection of Jacaranda and Center Road. The operation is smooth,
efficient and more importantly, safe. Please consider this same option at
the Venice Avenue site. I hope you will give this a closer look. Thank you.
Sincerely,Joan Herrick
Venice, FL 34292 |
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County Commissioner Janet Staub responds:
Thank you for the compliment about the Center Road/Jacaranda
Blvd. intersection. The main issue of flooding is
hopefully solved... hope we get enough rain this
summer to test it.
As for the roundabout being considered for Venice Ave and Jacaranda Blvd.,
the primary reason we are looking at roundabouts is safety.
The Commission had a presentation from the "roundabout guru" who has built
roundabouts internationally. He has never had to take one out that he designed
and was built to his specifications. I am unsure if you had roundabouts or traffic circles where you lived but there
is a big difference.
We are looking at safety as our primary issue.
It has been proven that with properly designed and installed roundabouts,
overall crashes are reduced by 39%, fatal crashes by at least 75% and up to 90%,
and non-fatal crashes by 40%. As well pedestrian crashes are reduced by 40%.
Roundabouts are shown to be much safer than signalized intersections.
Roundabouts are designed for the largest vehicle that is expected to use the
intersection. We specifically inquired about this and were told that tractor
trailer trucks use roundabouts routinely. Also that building roundabouts near
interstates is actually done a lot. In fact some states are using roundabouts at
interstate interchanges.
The volume examined for the site is based on projections to 2030...not just the
current volume. Roundabouts are used in areas with many more vehicles than we
are expecting.
I believe that our drivers are no different than those in other cities,
counties, states. Studies have shown that even with a high percentage of
opposition before roundabouts are installed, the opinion of those after using
the roundabouts are 65% supported the change and only 15% opposed (the
remainder had no strong opinion one way or the other).
One thing that folks don't often think about is the environment and
intersections. Roundabouts allow for much less emissions into the atmosphere so
benefits of fossil fuel emissions play into the benefits of having roundabout.
The Board directed our staff to proceed with the process needed to get to public
hearings. We will be meeting with the City of Venice Council and hope to have a
presentation by the expert. If we can't have him at that meeting, we will offer
to have it at a Venice City Council meeting. There will be public meetings and
public hearings. We always have public meetings to educate and to receive input.
That's about all I can tell you. You might go to the internet and check out
roundabouts. They are becoming more the norm since safety issues are so much
improved.
By the way, in case interested, the cost for a roundabout verus a signalized
intersection is about $3+ million less for the Venice -Jacaranda intersection.
Maintenance of roundabouts are about $5000 less than signalized intersections.
I hope you will keep an open mind on this issue and attend the public meetings.
An added benefit will also be that the "gateway to the City and County" can be
enhanced with something special inside the circle...
Take care and thanks for listening to me.
Shannon Staub, Commissioner
Sarasota County Commission
1660 Ringling Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34236
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