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Welcome to ADOT’s East Valley
eNewsletter |
EAST VALLEY RESIDENTS WARM UP TO ROUNDABOUTS
The newly opened section of the Red Mountain
Freeway includes two roundabouts engineered to
ease traffic flow at the McKellips and Brown
road access points.
As area residents become more familiar with
roundabout use, many have become big fans of the
way they move traffic smoothly and eliminate
delays. “The first time I drove through a
roundabout,” says east valley resident Bill
McCluskey, “I was a little cranky and anxious. I
didn’t know who had the right of way, and I
wasn’t sure what lane I should be in.
By the second or third time I drove through a
roundabout, I had figured out that I needed to
slow down and yield until I could enter into the
correct lane, and from then on, I’ve been sold
on roundabouts. I enter the Loop 202 at Brown
Road nearly every day, and I jump on the 202 to
US 60 without sitting at a light, wasting time
and gas. The roundabout video on the Web site
was extremely helpful. The engineer in me loved
the graphics in the video…I wish I had checked
it out online sooner.”
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ADOT FACTORS PUBLIC OPINION INTO FREEWAY
DESIGN
The use of Modern Roundabouts in Arizona’s
Freeway construction is a result of Arizona
Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) unique
commitment to including the public in its
freeway planning process.
ADOT holds public meetings in advance of
major freeway projects, and uses the input
from those meetings to refine the master
plans. A series of public meetings were held
in the East Valley as part of the planning
process for the completion of the Loop 202
(Red Mountain Freeway).
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Table of Contents
Welcome
Residents Warm up
to Roundabouts
Public Opinion in
Freeway Design
ADOT Addresses Environmental Concerns
Modern Roundabouts On Line
Speed Reduces Serious Accidents
Contact ADOT
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ADOT ADDRESSES RESIDENTS’ ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS
The selection of modern roundabouts for the
McKellips and Brown road interchanges was a
direct response to input from the public
meetings.
Not only are roundabouts quieter, as they
avoid the sound of trucks, busses,
motorcycles and cars braking and starting
up, they have a significant impact on
driving safety.
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Fatal accidents are reduced by
90%
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Efficient traffic flow increases
by 50%
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Fuel consumption is decreased by
30 %
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Carbon emissions are reduced by
double digits*
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*Additional research and information
available from the
Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.
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Table of Contents
Welcome
Residents Warm up
to Roundabouts
Public Opinion in
Freeway Design
ADOT Addresses Environmental Concerns
Modern Roundabouts On Line
Speed Reduces Serious Accidents
Contact ADOT
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DRIVERS INVITED TO PRACTICE DRIVING MODERN
ROUNDABOUTS “ONLINE”
Motorists encountering roundabouts for the
first time may feel unsure about the “rules”
governing roundabouts. Taking a quick online
tutorial can be a big help. ADOT’s
informative video illustrates six possible
scenarios drivers can encounter when
navigating one of the East Valley’s new
roundabouts. ADOT’s Modern Roundabouts Video
overview is available at
this link.
The animations in the video give viewers a
sense of the flow of traffic, emphasizing
four important roundabout rules:
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1. Always yield to the traffic
already in the roundabout.
2. Enter the right lane if you want
to turn right or go straight.
3. Enter the left lane to turn left.
4. If you enter in the wrong lane,
go around the roundabout and
... .. ....change
to the correct lane. |
Highway Hawk reminds all motorists:
Modern roundabouts get you to your
destination without delays, but they work
best if you
SLOW
down upon approach:
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Slow
down to 15-25 mph when entering.
Let
vehicles already circulating go
ahead.
Obey
all one way and yield signs.
Watch
for pedestrians, bicyclists,
emergency and
large vehicles. |
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Table of Contents
Welcome
Residents Warm up
to Roundabouts
Public Opinion in
Freeway Design
ADOT Addresses Environmental Concerns
Modern Roundabouts On Line
Speed Reduces Serious Accidents
Contact ADOT
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SPEED IN MODERN ROUNDABOUTS SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS
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4-way intersection
Red dots indicate 32 vehicle to
vehicle conflict points in a
standard
4-way intersection. |
Modern Roundabout
Red dots indicate 8 vehicle to
vehicle conflict points
in a modern roundabout. |
Several engineering features of the newly
completed roundabouts promote safety. At
traditional intersections, the most common
types of crashes are right-angle, left-turn,
and head-on collisions. Due to the high
speeds of individuals trying to “beat the
green light,” these crashes comprise 75% of
serious injury accidents, and 90% of highway
fatalities.*
The vehicle to vehicle conflicts that occur
at roundabouts generally involve a vehicle
merging into the circular roadway, with both
vehicles traveling at low speeds--generally
less than 20-30 mph.
*Additional research and information
available from the
Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.
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Our Valley freeway system is
part of the 2004 voter-approved
Regional Transportation Plan. We
are working hard with our
transit partners to implement
the voters’ vision and are
committed to quality, safety,
open communication with our
neighbors, and minimal
inconvenience to the traveling
public. |
This is your electronic connection to ADOT
activities in the East Valley.
This email list will not be shared for
non-ADOT purposes.
Since the 2004 voter-approved extension of
the ½ cent transportation tax, ADOT has been
working diligently with local and regional
governments to implement the Regional
Transportation Plan.
The Regional Transportation Plan is a
comprehensive, multi-modal 20-year regional
plan that provides the blueprint for
transportation investments in the Maricopa
County region through 2025. You can view the
Regional Transportation Plan at
www.mag.maricopa.gov
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East Valley Transportation Projects
Arizona Department of Transportation
Communication and Community Partnerships
Division
Contact:
EastValleyFreewaysInfo@CommentSense.org
Arizona Department of Transportation
206 South Seventeenth Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Copyright Arizona Department of
Transportation 2008.
All Rights Reserved. |
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