Local community favored roundabout

Governments don't move fast. Case in point is the upcoming change to the intersection of Barclay and Highway 20.

Back in 2009 a group of citizens spent months researching the best way to move pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and trucks through and around town. Their findings were part of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) that was adopted by the City of Sisters in January of 2010.

One of the key components of that research was the preference for a roundabout at both ends of town. As a member of that group, I can tell you that no one came in with a clear vision of what was best. We studied lots of options - including a couplet, bypass, one-way circulation, multiple signals, and roundabouts. We arrived at our conclusion based on irrefutable facts concerning safety and traffic flow. Fast-forward (or slow-forward) five years and ODOT is finally ready to get started after testing and securing approval from the freight industry.

I realize that there are many people who have moved here since 2009 and are unaware of the lengthy and numerous public hearings and workshops on this subject. For those people, the City and ODOT will hold an open house detailing the design and performance of the roundabout. The open house is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 (see related story, page 1) and I encourage you to attend.

For those of us who are longtime residents of Sisters, this is an opportunity to refresh our memory as to why the community was so strongly in favor of the roundabout option to begin with. At one of the public sessions, 94 percent of those in attendance registered their support for the roundabout over a signal after hearing the facts.

Here is a quick highlight of some of the facts that led our community to support, and encourage, a roundabout:

•â¯ALL traffic slows to 15 to 20 mph, which will eliminate the high speeds coming into town. The Barclay and Highway 20 intersection has seen injury accidents in the past due to high speeds, which can be eliminated.

•â¯Roundabouts are vastly safer than signals, showing a 75-percent reduction in injury accidents, and a 40-percent reduction in pedestrian collisions.

•â¯Contrary to many peoples' perceptions, roundabouts actually move traffic through an intersection more quickly, and with less congestion on approaching roads. No need for locals to sit at a red light during the 300-plus days with no traffic.

•â¯Roundabouts are environmentally friendly. They require no electricity to operate and don't contribute to greenhouse gases by having cars idling - then accelerating away - like signals do.

•â¯Several states have them on highways now, with more planned. A larger and busy tourist town like Bend has dozens of them, and they continue to build more. Why? Because they work.

There are of course those who don't like roundabouts because, well, they just don't like them. These people are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. The FACTS are clear - roundabouts are significantly safer than a signal. With this intersection being heavily used by our teenage drivers coming and going from the high school, anything other than a roundabout will result in more injury accidents. After hearing the details at the open house, I am sure you will agree that they are the safest, most efficient, and eye-pleasing option for Sisters.