Amador County – The company that designed a roundabout proposed for Plymouth’s busiest traffic intersection is offering the city a “test drive” of a similar, life-sized demonstration next weekend at the fairgrounds. Rebecca Lester of Dokken Engineering said Wednesday that her company plans to have a full-sized “roundabout” demonstration and driving display Saturday, May 22nd at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. Lester said a model she “was using at the farmers market last summer was so effective that we've decided to do a full size demonstration of the roundabout alternative and invite the public to ‘test drive’ it.” Lester said the layout will be set up at the Fairgrounds off Empire Street near Highway 49, at the baseball field. Test drives will be allowed 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22nd. The Dokken project design team will be there to answer questions and discuss concerns. The company asks people to “bring whatever vehicle you would like” except for “permit loads.” People can also walk around the site and watch. Drivers must be properly licensed for their vehicles, and must sign a liability waiver. Amador County has 11 signalized intersections but no “high volume single lane roundabouts,” Lester said. “A roundabout is a circular intersection where all traffic circulates in a counter clockwise direction, and entering vehicles yield to circulating traffic.” Compared to a traffic signal, speeds are slower through the intersection but there is no waiting for a “green light.” Lester said in addition, “accident rates are lower and collisions tend to be less severe.” She said roundabouts are new to the area, “so before the project-decision is made, we wanted to give you an opportunity to see (and test drive) the roundabout alternative for the Highway 49 and Main Street intersection.” The intersection’s improvement has 4 project options. Those include: building nothing; having a roundabout; putting in a signal; or making minor improvements. The environmental document will be released for a 30-day public review period early this summer, Lester said. At the end of the public review period, a public hearing will take comment. The Plymouth City Council will make a formal recommendation to Caltrans identifying the city’s preferred alternative, and Caltrans will select the final design alternative. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:01
Plymouth to Test Drive Full Sized Roundabouts At Fairgrounds
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Amador County – The company that designed a roundabout proposed for Plymouth’s busiest traffic intersection is offering the city a “test drive” of a similar, life-sized demonstration next weekend at the fairgrounds. Rebecca Lester of Dokken Engineering said Wednesday that her company plans to have a full-sized “roundabout” demonstration and driving display Saturday, May 22nd at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. Lester said a model she “was using at the farmers market last summer was so effective that we've decided to do a full size demonstration of the roundabout alternative and invite the public to ‘test drive’ it.” Lester said the layout will be set up at the Fairgrounds off Empire Street near Highway 49, at the baseball field. Test drives will be allowed 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22nd. The Dokken project design team will be there to answer questions and discuss concerns. The company asks people to “bring whatever vehicle you would like” except for “permit loads.” People can also walk around the site and watch. Drivers must be properly licensed for their vehicles, and must sign a liability waiver. Amador County has 11 signalized intersections but no “high volume single lane roundabouts,” Lester said. “A roundabout is a circular intersection where all traffic circulates in a counter clockwise direction, and entering vehicles yield to circulating traffic.” Compared to a traffic signal, speeds are slower through the intersection but there is no waiting for a “green light.” Lester said in addition, “accident rates are lower and collisions tend to be less severe.” She said roundabouts are new to the area, “so before the project-decision is made, we wanted to give you an opportunity to see (and test drive) the roundabout alternative for the Highway 49 and Main Street intersection.” The intersection’s improvement has 4 project options. Those include: building nothing; having a roundabout; putting in a signal; or making minor improvements. The environmental document will be released for a 30-day public review period early this summer, Lester said. At the end of the public review period, a public hearing will take comment. The Plymouth City Council will make a formal recommendation to Caltrans identifying the city’s preferred alternative, and Caltrans will select the final design alternative. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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