Allan Appel Photo
After 12 years of asking and waiting, Beaver Hills is about to get a roundabout (or rotary) at the speedway where cars whip around Crescent Street and cross Munson at Winthrop.
Crew laying out the raised crosswalk.
A formal vote for approval for the project emerged at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Traffic Commission at its regular monthly gathering at police headquarters at One Union Ave.
The speeding at Crescent, Munson and Winthrop presents special danger to the kids attending Hillhouse High School or going and coming from the athletic facilities near that complicated intersection.
Last September formal plans for the roundabout were laid by City Engineer Giovanni Zinn and Deputy Director of Traffic, Transportation & Parking Michael Pinto out to the Whalley/Edgewood/Beaver Hills Community Management Team (WEB).
Those plans called for the design to feature a 40-foot wide roundabout in the middle of the intersection, with a mountable curb around the edge and green space at the center. Around the roundabout, the team has proposed splitter islands (traffic islands) designed for speeds of 17 and 15.5 miles per hour. This design allows school buses, fire trucks, and even large tractor-trailer trucks to get through the intersection. (Read more about the roundabout here.)
Much of that work is now completed, with crews this week laying down chalk markings for a raised crosswalk designed to enhance student safety as kids cross over from the school and athletic field house to Bowen Field.
The from request for the roundabout came from Beaver Hills Alders Jill Marks and Brian Wingate.
The roundabout warning sign on Crescent going towards the intersection.
Laid out in traffic-ese language by Director of Transportation, Traffic & Parking (TT&P) Doug Hausladen, the formal request for approval Wednesday night was worded this way: ” “Rescind STOP CONTROL of Munson Street at Crescent Street and Winthrop Avenue at Crescent Street and for establishing YIELD CONTROL of Munson Street at Crescent Street, Crescent Street at Winthrop Avenue, Winthrop Avenue at Crescent Street and Crescent Street at Munson Street. Approval recommended.”
The city has constructed other roundabouts. This one is distinguished in being the longest, most roundabout in coming to reality, Hausladen said. “This will do a lot of traffic calming for Hillhouse and other areas.”
The traffic commissioners, without discussion, approved the request unanimously.
Bike Lanes For Sherman Parkway, Norton Street
The new bike lane markings on Sherman Parkway looking southwest.
Commissioners also voted to approve bike lanes in both directions on Sherman Parkway from Munson Street to West Hazel. Prospect Hills/Newhallville Alder Steve Winter and Alder Wingate had requested these.
Some of those lanes and white-painted bike symbols have already been painted onto fresh asphalt on the west side of Sherman Parkway. Paint markers have been laid down on the east side. This project was also approved unanimously, and without discussion.
There was a small quibble from the commissioners when Hausladen presented plans for establishing yet another set of bike lanes in both directions along Norton Street from Derby Avenue to Whalley Avenue.
He explained that Norton Street’s impressive 47-foot width makes it a natural to use bike lanes as a means to slow down traffic.
Commissioner Stephen Garcia noticed that this request, unlike the Sherman Parkway bike lanes, appeared not to be specifically requested by an alder. “Why not?” he asked.
Norton Street, site of future both-sides bike lanes, looking north.
“There was a paving project [scheduled] and I snuck it in.”
“Are they [the alders] aware of it?”
“I don’t know,” Hausladen said.
In light of that Commissioner Evelise Ribeiro asked if the commissioners should table the request.
Garcia pondered, and then said, “No.”
Traffic Commission Chair Anthony Dawson suggested the vote go forward along with a friendly amendment that Hausladen inform the alders of the bike lanes coming their way.
With that amendment, the vote was unanimous for approval.
Rayshon Jackson: Whalley is more dangerous.
Back at the roundabout-in-progress, Eli Whitney Vocational High School student Rayshon Jackson was walking home when he paused.
He noticed how the cars both entering and circling round the rotary were slowing down as they negotiated the island, where TT&P staffers were working.
“This is perfect,” he said “It really helps the students’ safety.”
Jackson, who lives on nearby Carmel Street, said in his own experience as a pedestrian, he’s a lot more worried negotiating traffic not here at the new roundabout, but at Whalley Avenue.