Roundabouts

Modern roundabouts are the safest traffic control device available and are used throughout the world. Their use is increasing in the United States because they provide a safer environment (especially for pedestrians and bicyclists), increase intersection capacity and calm traffic. A roundabout is a small circular island in the middle of an intersection around which all vehicles must travel. Roundabouts are dissimilar to the old-style traffic circles or rotaries. Contrary to the high-speed entry to most traffic circles, modern roundabouts require entering drivers to slow down and then yield to circulating traffic.

There are many benefits to using a roundabout as a traffic control device. Roundabouts reduce crashes by 50 to 90% by:

• slowing vehicles down,
• reducing the number of decisions drivers have to make, and
• reducing the number of conflict points

Pedestrians and bicyclists find intersections controlled by roundabouts easier to navigate because:

• vehicles are moving more slowly,
• left-turns for bicyclists are simplified,
• traffic can be crossed one direction at a time, and
• the splitter island acts as a refuge where they can stop and wait for a break in traffic

Roundabouts also provide many other functional and aesthetic benefits. They:

• increase intersection capacity,
• reduce electricity and maintenance costs,
• can be landscaped using a wide range of treatments such as fountains, flower gardens or statues, and
• act as a gateway into a community or as a focal point.

Genesis Group's talented team of Transportation Engineers and Landscape Architects provides the following services related to roundabouts:

• Training courses
• Conceptual design
• Detailed design
• Streetscape/landscape design
• Traffic calming scheme design
• Public participation coordination
• Alternate road network design