How about roundabouts?

Cross-posted from Eye Daily.

Last week, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted to get staff to do a study on the feasibility of installing roundabouts, those circular roads that replace intersections and are a hallmark of driving in the UK.

Shelly Carroll wasn’t too down with the idea, arguing that staff should be focusing on the 25 initiatives recently adopted as part of the sustainable transportation plan (PDF).

“[That plan] didn’t meet the goals of the CAA; that’s why [the motion for a study on roundabouts] is here,” she argued. “To do this really subverts the decision that we made a month ago….We asked staff to do research and come back with a major report and they just did that…. We can’t just go about willy-nilly throwing around any goofy new initiatives we’d like.”

Gary Welsh, general manager of transportation services, admitted that he didn’t consider roundabouts when putting together the sustainable transportation plan, since they tend to take up a lot of space and aren’t that friendly to pedestrians or cyclists. (Faye Lyons of the CAA argued in her deputation to the committee that roundabouts limit noise, air pollution and fuel consumption, using the old argument that traffic that’s moving creates less smog.) Though he didn’t seem to big on roundabouts himself, Welsh nevertheless agreed that they should be studied, adding that study or no study, ”I can’t see a lot being built in the foreseeable future.” He also admitted that doing the study would distract his staff from getting other work done.

Councillor John Parker was hot on the idea. “With the greatest of respect to my dear friend Councillor Carroll, the recommendations [to support sustainable transportation] were not comprehensive. They were directed towards certain goals — good, important goals, but narrow ones. The report doesn’t imply a certain conclusion, it’s just direction to take a look.”

Chair Glenn DeBaeremaeker supported the study as well. “Yes, approving this will distract [transportation staff], but it’s worthwhile to do. We’ll still get our pedestrian scrambles and everything that we want. In the end, roundabouts may only be applicable in one or two or five intersections,” he said.

The motion was easily passed. “Great!” exclaimed DeBaeremaeker after the vote. “That goofy new initiative has been approved.”

photo by Alan Saunders

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