The email below is from David Temple to follow up on his Tuesday Select Board meeting comments in support of installing a roundabout at RTE 27 and West Street instead of new traffic lights and to share his data sources (NB- David did not include a reference to the Roman philosopher Cicero materials he cited). David noted that all who study the issue seem to agree that roundabouts are safer and significant improvements over lights for multiple reasons.
MassDOT prefers we install a roundabout thereso much that we would lose our Federal earmark for $1.3m. and it would cost the town over a $1m. more to install traffic lights instead.:
I spoke in support of installing roundabouts instead of traffic lights in Medfield, and I presented documents from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Massachusetts Dept, of Transportation, and the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation. They asked for electronic copies, for which I have attached links. Please forward them to the board and Kristine. Thanks.
Medfield02052's Blog 
Why don’t we just mirror the traffic lights at intersections rte 27 and 109.
I think roundabout is not a good solution.
Thank you
LikeLike
Pete,I must be missing something…I don’t see David’s email in what you sent.Colleen
LikeLike
David’s email was at the end of the post and I will insert it below here:
I spoke in support of installing roundabouts instead of traffic lights in Medfield, and I presented documents from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Massachusetts Dept, of Transportation, and the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation. They asked for electronic copies, for which I have attached links. Please forward them to the board and Kristine. Thanks.
https://www.iihs.org/topics/roundabouts
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-are-roundabouts#:~:text=Roundabouts%20are%20more%20efficient%20than,shorter%20than%20at%20traffic%20signals.
https://movingnorthcarolina.net/roundabout/
LikeLike
There is a very large volume of traffic that crosses the Rt 27/West St intersection during the morning and evening rush hours. Having driven thru many roundabouts over the years I personally am more stressed driving thru a roundabout than at a two way intersection. I wonder if the studies that have been made cover the actual volume of traffic that pass thru a roundabout versus a better designed “standard” intersection. I would think that if the roundabout actually allows for a lower volume of traffic going thru the new intersection, then perhaps an idea as simple as speed bumps at our current intersection wouldn’t also work.
LikeLike
I’ve always preferred either Rotary or Traffic Circle to Roundabout.
LikeLike