Traffic Flow and Public Opinion: Newly Installed Roundabouts in New Hampshire, New York, and Washington

Roundabouts can provide substantial safety and traffic flow benefits compared with conventional intersections, but they often are opposed in the planning stage by local residents and elected officials who question their effectiveness. The purpose of the present study was to measure public opinion before and after construction of roundabouts in several communities and to evaluate the impact of roundabout construction on traffic flow. Three communities where stop-sign- or traffic-signal-controlled intersections were replaced with roundabouts in 2004 were the subjects of this research. Overall, 36% of drivers supported the roundabouts before construction compared with 50% shortly after construction. Roundabouts had very positive effects on traffic flow. Average intersection delays during peak hours at the three sites were reduced by 83-93%. Traffic congestion, as measured by the vehicle-to-capacity ratio, was reduced by 58-84%. These results provide further evidence that roundabouts can improve traffic flow and that public support for roundabouts increases after they are in place.

• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Authors:
  • Retting, Richard A
  • Mandavilli, Srinivas
  • Russell Sr, Eugene R
  • McCartt, Anne T
• Publication Date: 2005-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 9p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Highway capacity; Highway safety; Highway traffic control; Intersections; Peak hour traffic; Public opinion; Roundabouts; Traffic delays; Traffic flow; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Public support
• Geographic Terms: New Hampshire; New York (State); Washington (State)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I73: Traffic Control; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01014914
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 3 2006 8:19AM