FAQ: But what about...

Lots of people have questions about the one-lane roundabout and why it is the best solution for the Shelburne-St. Paul-Willard intersection. Here are a few answers.


Does the Burlington Fire Department support the single lane solution?

Yes. Fire Chief Mike O’Neil from the Burlington Fire Dept (BFD) testified at December's Transportation Energy & Utilities subcommittee meeting. He said that even if the roundabout were to become blocked by an accident, BFD has alternate routes, so the single lane design does not pose a problem for them. As standard procedure, the fire department has alternate routes planned all over the city, which they use anytime there is a blockage in a preferred route.

CONCLUSION: A single-lane roundabout is the safest solution for cars, pedestrians, and neighbors alike.


Will it be hard for motorists to get used to navigating through a single lane roundabout?

No. Roundabouts have been used extensively throughout the United States and Europe. In December, Burlington Fire Chief Mike O'Neil spoke to colleagues in Hanover, NH, where two roundabouts have recently been built. They reported that, while it took motorists a few months to get used to the roundabout, the process went quite smoothly.

CONCLUSION: A single-lane roundabout will clarify who has right of way at each point, making it easier and more predictable for motorists to navigate this complicated intersection.


What is CCTA's position on a single-lane roundabout?

A recent CCTA memo says, "There is no doubt that the new roundabout project [regardless of the design chosen] will delay traffic moving through that intersection. From a safety perspective this is a good thing and should reduce the number of accidents currently occurring at this intersection. What is unknown to us is whether the delay will cause CCTA to alter our service in some manner."  

What is important to note is that both designs -- the single-lane roundabout and the so-called "hybrid" design -- would cause traffic to back up slightly.  In fact, according to a study commissioned by VTrans, the peak-hour delay for northbound traffic with a single-lane roundabout in the year 2019 would be less than one second longer than the delay for the hybrid design (3.8 vs. 4.7 seconds).  The "hybrid" two-lane version does not offer a "miracle cure" for traffic.  In fact, it is in most respects inferior to the two-lane version.

The broader point is that almost everyone -- CCTA included -- agrees that traffic should slow down at this dangerous and poorly designed intersection.  Therefore, to say that CCTA is opposed to a one-lane roundabout is to distort the truth.  CCTA's goal is simply to ensure that the much-needed slowing of traffic at this intersection is compensated for by improvements in transit efficiency elsewhere.

The real solution to transit delays is to be found elsewhere on Shelburne Road.  CCTA has indicated that if they were able to either increase to every-15-minute peak hour service or give buses the ability to delay red lights on Shelburne Road, the resulting increase in efficiency would more than outweigh any delays at the roundabout.

CONCLUSION: There is no reason to settle for a less safe, less efficient, less economical design for the roundabout when CCTA's scheduling concerns can be addressed more effectively and more reliably through other measures.