Roudabouts a Safer Choice?

     The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released some  information regarding the roundabout. Here are some of the highlights. Most accidents occur at channelized, high speed, right angle intersections. Roundabouts remove left hand turns, which are the most dangerous traffic maneuver, deflecting and slowing speeds in a circular manner, resulting in a 90% reduction in fatalities and a 35% reduction in all crashes.  Roundabouts move a higher volume of traffic than a standard traffic signal (see Myth Busters link below). Economically speaking roundabout often have a higher installation cost but lower maintenance cost over the lifetime of the infrastructure. Environmentally roundabouts are "greener" with reduced emissions from reduced idling times. Roundabouts are able to accommodate large delivery trucks and emergency services with "truck aprons". 

     Concerning nonmotorized users roundabout are safer for pedestrians because they only need to cross one direction of traffic, and often fewer lanes, and they have a "splitter" or pedestrian island refuge.  Cyclists may choose to dismount and use the roundabout as a pedestrian or in a vehicular fashion. Helena has existing roundabouts on the outskirts such as the South Helena Interchange that have proved successful, with a future one in the planning process at Lincoln Road and Green meadow. The Green America's Capitals plan suggested a roundabout as a solution a "Mini-Malfunction Junction". This option would use the existing right-of-way, so additional lanes would not be required. Have the citizens Helena come around on this safer, more efficient, and environmental alternative to the standard traffic signal?

     Additional examples of roundabout in Montana include the recently installed roundabout in Great Falls at the Montana Department of Transportation Headquarters. Also the the series of roundabout on Shiloh Ave in Billing leading to the airport. 

 

USDOT FHWA Us Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration short film

Modern Roundabouts: A Safe Choice

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/roundabouts/fhwasa10023/transcript/audio_no_speaker/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHzly_6lWM


Additional resource
Myth Busters: 4 Way Stop vs. the Roundabout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvoFjirrgYA

Memo for Henena Specific Senerios for a Garenteed Ride Home Program

Guaranteed Ride Home: a Program to Encourage Commuting Alternatives

This memo provides a definition of a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) and outlines some scenarios for the Helena area.

“Community-based guaranteed ride home (GRH) programs provide a way for employees who commute to work by public transportation, carpool, vanpool, biking, or walking to travel when an unexpected need to do so arises. For tens of thousands of U.S. workers registered in GRH programs, this ability to get home in the case of personal or family illness or emergency or after unexpected changes to their work schedule on a given day, is often “safety net” that gives them the same peace of mind as if they had their personal vehicle with them at all times.”[1]

Potential Scenarios for a Guaranteed Ride Home in the Greater Helena Area

Scenario 1

    An employee working at the Capital Complex who carpools from the North Valley needs to work unexpected overtime and is unable to carpool home. The employee utilizes a car from the motor pool and returns the car the following day.

Scenario 2

    An employee working at St. Pete’s regularly rides their bike to work. An intense thunderstorm approaches during their normal time to commute home. The employee receives a complimentary HATS token to commute home safe and dry with their bike.

Scenario 3

    An employee who teaches in East Helena but lives in Helena takes the East Valley Commuter route to work.  The teacher has a child who is sick that needs to be picked up from school in Helena. The employee receives a cab ride home and is able to pick up their child.

Scenario 4

    An administrator at Helena High regularly takes the HATS fixed route to work. The administrator becomes ill during work and receives a ride home from a designated coworker.

There are many options to satisfy the assurance of a guaranteed ride home. Potential options: cab vouchers, HATS tokens[2], a shared vehicle, a shuttle, a designated employee able to provide a ride, a rental car, etc. 

Complimentary Programs: TAWSE, employer incentives for health and wellness, and a bonus for reduced parking in new developments

Potential Partners: Helena Chamber of Commerce, MBAC, Large Employers, and Lewis and Clark County Green Team

Additional resources include:

-“Guaranteed Ride Home Programs: Giving Peace of Mind to Commuters”

-“Guaranteed Ride Home Program Handbook”

-“iCommute Guaranteed Ride Home: Never be Stranded”

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[1] HATS (Helena Area Transit Service) tokens are single use vouchers that grant the bearer are ride on the bus.

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[2] “Guaranteed Ride Home Programs: Giving Peace of Mind to Commuters.” Joblinks Employment Transportation Initiative.  March 2009. 

Lewis and Clark County Health Dept and Partners Develop Active Transportation Webinar Series

The Lewis and Clark County Health Department has long been involved in advancing public health by taking the built environment into account. Their latest effort is a  webinar series that will educate the public on some of the fundamental processes behind engineering and planning active communities and the advantages of these investments. The Building Active Communities webinar series includes:

1. Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure 101
    Presenter: Joe Gilpin, Alta Planning + Design
    When: Monday September 23rd, 12-1:30pm

2. Transportation Enginieering and Public Involvement
     Presenter: Ryan Leland, City of Helena
     When: Monday, October 7th, 12-1:30pm

3. Making the Case for Active Communities
     Presenter: Roger Millar, Smart Growth America
     When: Monday, October 23rd, 12-1:30pm

From more information please contact Audrey Schadt at audreyschadt@montana.edu

Broadway Pedestrian Tunnel

Construction is underway on a new pedestrian tunnel beneath US Highway 15. The tunnel begins where Broadway terminates, allowing nonmotorists to safely cross the highway. In addition to the tunnel will be a paved shared use path along the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) headquarters that will connect with a sidewalk and existing shared use path on US Highway 12. This project emerged from the Transportation Coordination Committee (TCC) and will provide vital north/south connectivity for all nonmotorists. Construction is expected to be completed on the Broadway Tunnel by the end of September, and the shared use path completed by the end of October.

Dooring Cyclists Preventable with a Change of Hands

Instead of opening your car door with your left hand when existing the vehicle try using your right. This technique allows a greater turning motion of the torso, so the motorist may see a cyclist before they make contact with the car door. "Dooring" is amongst the most dangerous collisions that occur between motorists and cyclists, so something as simple as switching hands reduces this risk. See the video on "dooring" brought to you by Bikewalk Helena.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=570060857216&set=vb.183299118487523&type=2&theater 

Helena Open Streets this Sunday September 8 11am-2pm

Open Streets is a free and family friendly event that reimagines our streets a place dedicated to people rather than automobiles. While this concept may seem a bit outlandish it wasn't long ago when the streets of Helena where  always shared by pedestrains, horses, automobiles, and bicycles. For this event Last Chance Gulch between Placer and 6th Ave will be transformed into a "car-free" space from 11am to 2pm. There will be a bike parade, helmet fittings, free bike checks and registration, demostrations, live music, food vendors, amongst many other community delights. If interested, please see the official Open Streets poster and and link to the Facebook event page below.

   Open Streets Helena Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/161835684018879/

HATS to Embark on Study to Determine Need for Transit in the North Valley

HATS (Helena Area Transit Service) was one of 17 provides nationally who received a generous grant from the Community Transit Association of America. HATS will use this funding to determine if there is enough demand in the North Helena Valley to justify an expansion of services to the area. This study holds potential to pinpoint the needs of the many low income residents who cannot afford a personal vehicle and seniors "aging in place" who can no longer drive themselves. There will be a series of stakeholder meetings in September and October to glean a first hand account of these needs. I personally had the opportunity to assist in the grant process and look forward to further enhancing public transit in Helena. Please click the link below for an article discussing grant and the assessment process recently featured in the Helena IR
http://helenair.com/news/local/more-mass-transit/article_035a2dd0-113b-11e3-aa9d-0019bb2963f4.html