Division Street roundabouts draw support

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The engineering firm URS has proposed up to five roundabouts on Division Street in Traverse City. Special to the Record-Eagle

April 27, 2010

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Tue Apr 27, 2010, 07:33 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Don't be afraid of roundabouts.

That's the message engineers, city leaders and a long string of area residents had for city commissioners at a jam-packed Monday meeting.

Officials are in the process of determining the best way to redesign busy Division Street, a main traffic artery and gateway to the city. Goals include "calming" traffic in the stretch and making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

URS, an engineering firm tasked by the city with creating conceptual redesigns, proposed up to five roundabouts from 14th Street to Grandview Parkway.

Despite intense skepticism from some in the community, engineers contend roundabouts are a golden ticket to smooth traffic in the stretch.

"Contrary to belief, they actually reduce delay," said URS engineer Laura Aylsworth. "Every time a traffic signal turns red, you have to stop, and then the cars start to back up. With a roundabout, everybody comes in and keeps progressing ... you might not be going 40 anymore, but you're also not going to be going zero sitting at a stop light."

Roundabouts reduce left-hand turn danger, engineers contend, and also provide significantly safer pedestrian crossings.

Many residents spoke in support of roundabouts. Some experienced them in Europe or other American cities, and others simply researched the devices.

"For everybody here who hasn't experienced one and is looking at these pictures and think that maybe they're going to be a scary place, they are — the first time," Spruce Street resident Brian Slawnik said. "And then you get through it, and realize just how easy you move through."

Ray and Raymond Minervini, developers of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, both spoke favorably of roundabouts. Property owners at the Commons support the idea, Raymond Minervini said.

"We would hope that the community would be open minded and consider the roundabout proposal with facts rather than knee-jerk responses," he said.

A roundabout is proposed for Division and Eleventh Street, the Commons' main outlet and one of the busiest and most dangerous intersections in the city.

TART Trails Director Bob Otwell called roundabouts a "wonderful" thing and said TART might help with a public campaign in support of them.

Commissioners seemed largely in favor of roundabouts, but said they'd like to see some more research before moving forward.

Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Soffredine wants to know how they might affect nearby neighborhoods, and commissioner Mike Gillman referenced people who aren't sold on the devices.

"If you were to sit here tonight and just listen to the people who came here before us ... you would have thought the community is unanimously in support of roundabouts," he said. "I hate to tell you, but that's not true."

City residents likely would have the ability to weigh in on the plans. Voters must approve use of parkland bordering the Grand Traverse Commons and Grand Traverse Bay, and three of the five proposed roundabouts likely would consume parkland.

Commissioners will continue to discuss the issue and could put it before voters in August.