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“ROUNDABOUTS FIRST” POLICY IN NEW YORK STATE What is it and how did it get developed?

“ROUNDABOUTS FIRST” POLICY IN NEW YORK STATE What is it and how did it get developed?. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual Can be found on-line at: https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/ hdm/hdm-repository/chapt_05.pdf 5.9 INTERSECTIONS AT GRADE

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“ROUNDABOUTS FIRST” POLICY IN NEW YORK STATE What is it and how did it get developed?

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  1. “ROUNDABOUTS FIRST” POLICY IN NEW YORK STATEWhat is it and how did it get developed?

  2. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual Can be found on-line at: https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/ hdm/hdm-repository/chapt_05.pdf 5.9 INTERSECTIONS AT GRADE General objectives for intersection design are: • To provide adequate sight distances. • To minimize points of conflict. • To simplify conflict areas. • To limit conflict frequency. • To minimize severity of conflicts. • To minimize delay. • To provide acceptable capacity for the design year.

  3. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual Roundabouts are frequently able to address the above objectives better than other intersection types in both urban and rural environments and on high- and low-speed highways. Thus, when a project includes reconstructing or constructing new intersections, a roundabout alternative is to be analyzed to determine if it is a feasible solution based on site constraints, including ROW, environmental factors, and other design constraints. Exceptions to this requirement are where the intersection: • Has no current or anticipated safety, capacity, or other operational problems. • Is within a well working coordinated signal system in a low-speed (<80 km/h) urban environment with acceptable accident histories. • Is where signals will be installed solely for emergency vehicle pre-emption. • Has steep terrain that makes providing an area, graded at 5% or less for the circulating roadways, infeasible. • Has been deemed unsuitable for a roundabout by the Roundabout Design Unit.

  4. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual When the analysis shows that a roundabout is a feasible alternative, it should be considered the Department’s preferred alternative due to the proven substantial safety benefits and other operational benefits. Note: A feasible alternative is a reasonable solution that meets the objectives in a cost effective and environmentally sound manner. The preferred alternative is the feasible alternative that the Department is leaning toward recommending for design approval. The preferred alternative can change if a new feasible alternative is identified and as the feasible alternatives are evaluated during preliminary design.

  5. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual When the analysis shows that a roundabout is a feasible alternative, it should be considered the Department’s preferred alternative due to the proven substantial safety benefits and other operational benefits. Note: A feasible alternative is a reasonable solution that meets the objectives in a cost effective and environmentally sound manner. The preferred alternative is the feasible alternative that the Department is leaning toward recommending for design approval. The preferred alternative can change if a new feasible alternative is identified and as the feasible alternatives are evaluated during preliminary design.

  6. Chapter 5 of NYSDOT’s Highway Design Manual Designers should refer to the roundabout pages on the Department’s Internet and IntraDOT sites for the latest requirements, guidance, and public involvement materials for roundabouts. Additionally, designers should contact their Regional expert or the Roundabout Unit in the Design Services Bureau for guidance and assistance throughout the development of the roundabout design. The initial layout, preliminary plans, and advance detail plans for the roundabout should be reviewed by designers with considerable roundabout design experience. For multi-lane roundabouts, roundabouts with more than 4 legs, and roundabouts with unusual geometry, the Roundabout Unit should be included in the review by e-mailing the ProjectWise location to roundabouts@dot.state.ny.us.

  7. The NYSDOT Roundabout Design Unit (RDU) • NYSDOT formed a committee in 1997 to investigate the potential use of roundabouts in New York State. • By 1999 the first project was going through final design. • In 2001 a full time roundabout specialist title was created and NYSDOT’s draft guide on roundabouts was released. • In 2002 two more full time roundabout design specialist titles were created, now forming the RDU. • Since 2002, the RDU has designed or reviewed over 200 roundabouts in New York and several other states. • The RDU is responsible for NYSDOT roundabout policy and has contributed significantly to national roundabout design policy and practice. • Has presented educational talks and seminars statewide and gained positive press coverage. • Provides free roundabout design assistance to communities across NYS and beyond.

  8. RDU wants Roundabouts Considered at all Intersections In 2003 at a NYSDOT design conference the idea of considering roundabouts at every intersection reconstruction was first presented. A few regional offices were not comfortable with roundabouts – either because of existing traffic circles or personal preferences – and unfortunately, it only takes 1 or 2 people high up enough in a regional office to stop the realistic consideration of roundabouts. Decentralized design makes statewide implementation challenging. The RDU didn’t see someone not wanting to consider a roundabout, as an acceptable form of intersection control, any different than someone saying they wouldn’t even consider any signalized intersections.

  9. What is a Roundabout?It is a type of intersection control, just as signals and stopsigns are examples of intersection control.

  10. Roundabouts are circular intersections designed so that: 1. Entering traffic must yield to circulating; 2. Entering vehicles are deflected by splitter islands, creating a low / similar speed environment; 3. Circulating vehicles must travel around a non-mountable center island.

  11. NYSDOT’s Decentralized Design Each Regional Office has it’s own Design Staff and Preferred Intersection Designs

  12. RDU finally gets Roundabouts Considered at all Intersections In 2004 the RDU has a meeting with the Legal Affairs Division at NYSDOT. Considering the possible exposure to liability if a roundabout wasn’t even considered at a particular intersection, Legal Affairs supported the idea of requiring the inclusion of roundabouts into the preliminary design process. In NYS, once you have the Legal Affairs Division on your side, things get done rather quickly. Having a Chief Design Engineer that was completely supportive didn’t hurt either.

  13. The NYSDOTRoundabout Design Unit would like to thank everyone for their early morning interestand attendanceat this session.

  14. NYSDOT Roundabout Design UnitCONTACT INFORMATION Richard Schell, P.E. Howard McCulloch Michael Houlihan Roundabout Design Unit 50 Wolf Road, POD 24 Albany, New York 12232 Tel: (518) 485-7503 Fax: (518) 457-2916 E-mail: roundabouts@dot.state.ny.us

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