Due to an overwhelming amount of citizen feedback, The City
has decided to remove the traffic pattern in the McKenzie Towne roundabout. Our
crews will be removing the painted lines located in the roundabout the week of
December 10, weather permitting, during low traffic times. In conjunction with
the line removal, crews will also install temporary curved line segments to
divide each line on the east and west of the roundabout.
Although the nature of this work may require lane closures
and/or detours for up to two hours, we will give adequate notice to the
affected communities and businesses prior to its start. We expect to have a
more exact date and time of when this work can be completed, by next week.
The line segments will be installed to pronounce the
definition of the two lanes located in the roundabout, and assist motorists as
they revert to an un-painted roundabout. The signs and lines located outside of
the circle will remain in place. The City of Calgary always has citizen safety at the forefront of every
project we endure. The removal of the lines in the McKenzie Towne roundabout
will still meet municipal and national safety standards.
A few frequently asked questions have been raised throughout
this process:
Why can’t we have one continuous dotted centre line
dividing the roundabout’s lanes?
Using a continuous dotted line within a roundabout would
actually negate the ‘yield to the vehicle on the left’ rule while inside the
roundabout. The line would create the illusion that motorists would have
to yield to vehicles on their right. This design would potentially create major
points of conflict for motorists, and does not adhere to both national and
municipal safety standards.
Why aren’t there lines painted on Prestwick Boulevard
exit, Inverness Gate and McKenzie Towne Gate S.E.?
These roadways are not wide enough for two standard lanes to
be created. This means that two vehicles could not travel side-by-side and stay
within the lanes without potential conflicts arising.
The City recognizes that the immediate installation and
removal of these lines has a significant impact on area motorists. For this, we
appreciate your cooperation and patience.
I'm confused. I thought the issue was that it was redesigned from a two lane traffic circle to "multi-lane roundabout".
ReplyDeleteIf all that is happening is the removal of the lines within the circle, but the lines and signage approaching the circle remain, what is changing?
Will traffic be permitted to travel the circumference of the circle from both lanes as instructed by the drivers handbook illustrated for a traffic circle, or will we still have to follow the new rules of a "multi-lane roundabout" (where the outside lane cannot travel the circumference and the inside lane cannot exit every leg)?
Prior to the new lines, I think the traffic circle worked well so long as you knew the rules. Overall I love it.The one rule I'd put in place (like we can just make rules up) is to suggest that if entering the circle from the right hand lane you must take the first exit. I'm not entirely sure why this rule doesn't exist. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteJay. I think this whole issue started when the city DID "just make rules up".
ReplyDeleteI agree though. The circle was better before the city tried to reinvent the wheel.
It's simple mistakes like this that make me want to run for city council.
Can we also make a rule at select stop signs that you yield to the left? But not have a standard to this? How fun would that be? To wonder every time you come to a four way stop whether to yield left or right. As distant as this may sound. That is what I feel about the provinces decision to redefine traffic circles.
But, I'm only a voting citizen.
So what is the answer going to be for the roads that are now considered single lane? Please say that no one is considering leaving them that way. If they were too small for double lanes, why have they WORKED as double lanes?
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with AC.
DeleteThere was harmony before with the way we were driving it. I am not a city engineer and obviously have little weight in this but, if lane sizes are a safety concern, can I see the plans in place to widen lanes in downtown Calgary? Or are the city engineers planning on declaring half of them not lanes.