Residents go around again on traffic plan

A consultant from a firm that builds roundabouts answers homeowners' questions about a proposal to install them on Linebaugh Avenue.

By LOGAN D. MABE

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

WESTCHASE -- Homeowners are going round and round over the concept of putting roundabouts on Linebaugh Avenue, and the issue may come full circle soon if the community association decides to use them instead of proposed traffic signals.

The Westchase Community Association brought in a consultant on roundabouts Thursday night to provide residents with answers about the traffic designs, which are often misunderstood and even more often maligned.

Michael Wallwork, a roundabout designer with Genesis Group, was commissioned by the association to study the feasibility of roundabouts on Linebaugh Avenue at Countryway Boulevard and Radcliff Drive.

Terrabrook, the developer of Westchase, is obligated to install a traffic signal at Linebaugh and Countryway, an intersection that county traffic officials say is sorely in need of one.

But community association members want to consider using roundabouts instead of traffic signals as a way to manage traffic better, maintain lower speeds on Linebaugh and reduce serious accidents at intersections.

"The first thing people say is, "We hate traffic circles,' " said Wallwork, who has been building them for 20 years. "People will tell you stories about getting lost in a traffic circle."

That got a good laugh from the crowd of about 150 homeowners, many of whom later groaned when Wallwork admitted to designing the troublesome roundabout at Clearwater Beach.

But he defended the concept, which is common in many European cities and becoming more common in the United States. He said his company has done successful roundabouts in Hilton Head, S.C., Jackson, Miss., Denver and Montpelier, Vt.

Wallwork said they reduce the number and severity of crashes, decrease traffic delays, limit speeding, increase road capacity and save money in the long run.

After his presentation, though, he and the board got an earful from residents who spoke in favor of and in opposition to the concept.

"Once you get in that inner lane, you'll never get out," said William Steinfeld, a former Boston resident. "There are more jokes about the rotaries in Boston than the Kennedys."

But Wallwork noted traffic circles are larger, faster and more dangerous than the downsized roundabouts.

Pamela Voute favored the idea.

"I think they are superior to a traffic light," said Voute, who negotiated as many as 30 of them a day when she lived in England for many years. "I can't say strongly enough how safe they are."

Harold Hackney said residents want a speedy solution to the confusing four-way stop at Linebaugh and Countryway.

"Most people in this area don't want roundabouts," Hackney said. "They want red lights, and they want them quickly before someone gets killed."

Nothing is likely to happen quickly. Westchase general manager Brian Sewell said that the developer is in the permitting process for a signal at Countryway but that it will be December at the earliest before one is installed.

Wallwork said it takes two to eight months to build a roundabout. Terrabrook has pledged $120,000 for the traffic signal. A roundabout costs in the neighborhood of $260,000, Wallwork said, so residents would have to find the balance.

Community association president Bob Argus mentioned a third option. The county has equipment that could be used to set up a temporary roundabout "fairly quickly," and that idea got the support of about three-quarters of homeowners at the meeting in a show of hands.

The association's governmental affairs committee will consider the matter again Wednesday night. Residents are invited to attend.

- To reach Logan D. Mabe, call 226-3464 or e-mail him at mabe@sptimes.com.

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