HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works February 8 20051
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
February 8, 2005
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in
the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson None
Sam Crawford
Also Present:
None
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY TODD HARRISON, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, REGARDING THE POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF
ROUNDABOUTS IN PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR STATE
ROADS IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2005 -108)
Todd Harrison, Department of Transportation, stated his presentation is
geared around one of the Guide Meridian projects his department is working on.
The department is hosting an open house on February 16 in Lynden to discuss
roundabouts and other aspects of the project.
He showed slide photographs (on file). The project improves safety by
having a divided median and relieves congestion by adding additional lanes. The
decision to divide the median came from earlier design work and a public input
process. A divided median prevents left turns from driveways and unsignalized
intersections, so it creates difficulties in terms of access and circulation.
Roundabouts have become an idea solution over the last six to eight months.
Another project is a widening and safety project from Horton Road to Ten
Mile, started in 1998. About 90 percent of the property is purchased. There will be
some construction this summer. Main construction starts in 2007.
Marco Foster, State Department of Transportation Engineering Manager,
stated he would explain the history of the project.
Crawford asked if the roundabouts are a decided thing. Foster stated it is.
Foster stated the purpose is to reduce congestion and increase safety for six
and a half miles from Badger Road to Pole Road. There are between 9,000 to
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
15,000 cars that use the Guide Meridian. Eleven percent of those are trucks. The
posted speed is 50 miles per hour. Traffic volumes increase three percent per year.
From 1999 through 2003, accidents occur from one end of the project area
to the other. There have been 314 accidents in that time. Of those, 261 resulted
in injuries and there were three fatalities. Half the accidents are rear -end
accidents. Eleven percent of the accidents are head -on and seven percent are t-
bone accidents. Most recently, the second week of January, a driver suspected of
driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol crossed the middle of the road and had
a head on accident. The Guide Meridian was closed for four hours. Accidents still
occur.
Brenner asked if a DUI would be as likely to occur on a roundabout, but not
as fast. Foster stated that is correct.
Harrison stated the head -on accidents aren't necessarily at the intersection.
They are mostly between the intersections. That is one reason for a divided
median.
Foster referenced a slide. Triangles on the project route map indicate
intersections along the Guide. Currently, some are signalized. Intersections
historically have a high frequency of accidents. As they widen the road, there will
be a higher frequency of accidents. High speeds result in severe accidents. He
realized they needed to address that through the design. The proposed median is a
cable barrier that will reduce the potential for accidents and conflict points by
eliminating all the vehicles turning in front of one another.
With a divided median down the highway, they will have some circulation
problems. Many unsignalized intersections will be restricted to right -in /right -out
movement. The two -way left turn lane in Lynden would remain unchanged.
Brenner asked if there could be a middle lane that will allow people to pull
out. Foster stated that doesn't eliminate high -speed head on accidents. There
would still be a lot of opportunity for high -speed accidents. The barrier will
eliminate those accidents.
Brenner asked about certain roads that dead end at the Guide. Foster stated
he is getting to that explanation.
He recognizes the divided median will restrict the side roads, and people will
have a hard time circulating around the corridor.
Harrison stated intersecting roadways and driveways will only be able to turn
right.
Foster stated the project then evolved to include u -turn locations for people
to turn around. The department received comments from folks about the design.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 2
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
People questioned the concept of the u -turn ideas and locations. The design team
worked further to devise a better way of addressing concerns, which resulted in the
roundabout design at Ten Mile Road, Pole Road, Wiser Lake Road, and Badger
Road. A couple of side roads will be restricted to right -in and right -out only access,
but there will be more opportunity to navigate around the corridor.
Harrison stated this is a key decision for the project. This project was funded
in 2003 by the State legislature with the five cent gas tax. It is a fully funded
project. In 2004, after Vancouver B.C. received the Olympic bid, they realized this
project was scheduled to be constructed during the Olympics. The legislature has
allowed the department to finish the project now by 2009. Getting the roundabouts
and footprint is key to enable the State to begin buying right -of -way this summer.
Approaching the roundabout, the speed limit is reduced from 50 miles per
hour to around 15 to 25 miles per hour. There is not a posted speed limit. The
roundabout keeps traffic moving while reducing the number and severity of
accidents because people slow down. The roundabouts facilitate truck movement.
As trucks pull into a roundabout, they don't have to completely stop. Waiting for a
left turn at a light causes accidents. That won't happen because someone entering
the roundabout always yields to vehicle on the left. The roundabouts are an ideal
solution. There are 67 roundabouts that are in place statewide. Sixteen
roundabouts are in construction and 12 more are on the drawing board.
A benefit is the potential accident savings. Accidents will still occur, but the
design will eliminate the head on collisions that result in fatalities. Roundabouts
address the problems at the intersections. Compared to traffic signals,
roundabouts reduce accidents, including injury accidents. Fifty -three percent of
accidents involve injuries. They can reduce that risk by 76 percent with a
roundabout. There is a dramatic safety benefit while not compromising congestion.
A recent roundabout on Highway 203 has a comparable volume with the
intersection at the Guide Meridian and Pole Road. He showed a video of the
performance of this roundabout. This roundabout experiences very high peaks of
volume, twice the volume of non -peak times. This intersection had a higher than
normal accident rate. Cars used to experience a backup of one mile, and now cars
experience a delay of four rolling cars.
Part of the decision is based on the actual traffic projections. He presented
an animated simulation using a software model for current traffic volumes and
traffic growth. The simulation shows the Guide Meridian and Pole Road intersection
in the year 2030 during rush hour. There would be queue lengths of up to 650 feet
with a stop light. Roundabouts are about the same footprint, with the same or less
cost. Roundabouts don't require any additional right -of -way, and take less right -of-
way on the side roads because the roads don't require a longer left turn lane.
Foster stated a back up of 650 feet equals a 1.5 minute wait at the red light.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 3
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Harrison showed the slowed animation of the roundabout design. The
simulation software is calibrated to real life designs.
Nelson stated the right lane right turn would, in essence, bypass the
roundabout. Harrison stated that's correct.
Harrison read the presentation on what drivers think about roundabouts.
There is a lot of skepticism because roundabouts are rare. Before a roundabout is
constructed, over 50 percent of the public are opposed or strongly opposed, but
change their minds after the roundabout is constructed. A recent article in the
Bellingham Herald showed the result of an online poll where most people thought
the proposed roundabout couldn't be a serious idea. The experience on Hwy 203
was that the learning curve is quick.
The project timeline includes an open house next week. Project design
complete is scheduled for March. The department will buy property this summer.
start construction in 2008, and finish construction in 2009. There are still access
issues they need to work through in the agricultural communities. They will do
education on why roundabouts are good and receive input to fine -tune the design.
Crawford asked if the radius of design will accommodate larger trucks. When
there is a long, 65 -foot trailer, a roundabout is counterintuitive. He asked about
the truck issue. Foster stated the trucking industry is very interested in
roundabouts. The department staff is meeting at the end of month with the
trucking association. The Cordata roundabout is much smaller than the
roundabouts that will be designed for the Guide Meridian. There is a roundabout in
Monroe that has a very large number of gravel trucks driving through it. The
amount of energy it takes a truck to slow down through a roundabout versus
coming to a complete stop shows that roundabouts are truck -user friendly. The
truck drivers will realize it's a lot better than coming to a complete stop. He's
highly confident he can get the drivers to testify to the benefits of roundabouts.
Nelson stated many trucks use the roundabouts onto the Autobahn in
Germany.
Harrison stated trucks have to make 90- degree turns at signalized
intersections. They have to go from a dead stop to make that turn. With the
roundabout, the trucks don't have to stop and have a broader curve.
Joe Rutan, County Road Engineer, stated his first concern with the
roundabout idea was about the trucks. However, he found the roundabout in
Monroe to be very quiet, without squealing brakes. There is also an off -ramp from
the freeway there. It was very impressive. The trucks do take up both lanes when
they swing around. Everyone in his office has been convinced that the design will
be beneficial for the trucks.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 4
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Crawford stated one truck in the video does a u -turn, which a truck couldn't
do at an intersection.
Nelson asked if the State is considering bike lanes on the Guide. Harrison
stated not a bike lane, but they are widening the shoulders considerably.
Nelson asked if bikes would use the roundabout. Foster stated there are two
opportunities for bicyclists. The department would provide a way to cross at
pedestrian crosses. Experienced bikes could go through the roundabout with the
traffic.
Nelson asked if the crosswalk impedes the purpose of the roundabout to
keep the traffic flowing. Foster stated he doesn't believe so. He hasn't seen that.
Harrison stated in a roundabout, drivers only have to look one way, not both
ways. It's a little safer. However, they still have the same issue of cars, bikes, and
people mixing.
Dina Swires, Department of Transportation Traffic Engineer, stated in their
experience with existing roundabouts, there hasn't been a reported
pedestrian /vehicle accident. In high accident locations, the department monitors
pedestrian accidents. There are accidents at some signalized locations.
Harrison stated that at the Highway 203 roundabout, there hasn't been an
accident at that roundabout yet.
Crawford asked if landscaping the roundabout center point is an added
maintenance cost. Harrison stated it is not. It is an opportunity for public art and
that kind of thing. Landscaping is a maintenance issue. They tend to landscape as
low maintenance as possible.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 5
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 2/8/2005, Page 6