Talkin' Whitehead Road round-a-bout blues....

             The WRTF met again this morning along with our traffic consultant to discuss his observations and recommendations to improve the area.  Jeffrey A. L'Amoreaux, P.E., is a member of Arora and Associates, P.C.'s Taffic Engineering Group that is responsible for preparing traffic signal designs, signing and striping plans, assisting with the development of traffic control plans and detours, and providing traffic operational analyses in terms of capacity and level of service determinations.  Although our community has many social media-based traffic experts with thoughts and opinions on the round-a-bout, we thought it best to turn to an engineer with a practice focused on traffic design to help guide our work to improve the area!  (allow me a little bit a pushback....!).

            In the spirit of transparency, I am sharing his "draft" report that formed the basis of our discussion today.  The link to the document is here: 

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:37131a50-8e3c-4b30-9534-44d3ddcdac08     (you have to cut and paste it to view).

• The solar-powered "Yield" signs have been ordered.  They will be prominently located at the three entries to the round-a-bout and motion will activate a blinking light sequence.  
• The Whitehead Road entry point (which is the location for most of the crashes) will be modified and re-configured (by street striping) to promote a more cautious entry.  
• The entire area will be re-signed (i.e., removing ineffective signs, and replacing and locating DOT required signage with maximum impact sizing and colors).  
• The digital sign 500ft from the US Southbound entry point will be replaced with a more permanent sign.  
• The interior of the round-a-bout will be completed with the installation of 3 wind turbines that will be a symbol of the Town's commitment to renewable energy (and will create the energy needed to illuminate them at night).  Completing the interior will provide orientation to motorists unfamiliar with the area or who fail to recognize the round-a-bout due to inattention.
• Police presence in the area will continue to slow motorists down.  NOTE: It cannot and will not be a 24/7 365 day detail --- the police resources are limited and we have 22 square miles to cover on a daily basis. 

        The above is not a complete list of the work to be done to assist motorists in better managing the round-a-bout.  Unfortunately, spending the "people's money" requires compliance with state law.  As a result, for those that feel frustrated by what they have concluded to be a delay in the process, you should know that there is a process that we MUST follow to spend tax-payer money.  The things we could accomplish quickly (i.e., installing the digital road sign, installing the reflectors around the perimeter of the round-a-bout, and requiring removal of signs and reduce shrubbery to increase visibility), we did.  Items that require the expenditure of money (not provided for in the municipal budget) takes a little bit more time and planning to turn into reality.   Stay tuned.