Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Safety Roundabout topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City presents mini-roundabout as preferred fix for Country Club–Oakmont intersection
Summary
Flagstaff City staff presented a feasibility study recommending a mini roundabout and limited grading as the preferred next-step to address sight-line and speed issues at the Country Club and Oakmont intersection; staff said the design would also support future pedestrian/bike connections and the area’s planned residential build-out.
The Flagstaff City Bicycle Advisory Committee on May 15 heard a presentation from David Nixon, project manager with Capital Improvements, and city transportation staff about a planned safety project at the Country Club and Oakmont intersection. City staff said a mini roundabout is their preferred option after a 15 percent feasibility study and traffic modeling through 2045.
City staff said the intersection currently operates with north–south movements running free and east–west on two-way stop control, and that the roadway geometry and a crest on the north leg create a blind spot. "The hill, it doesn't look as dramatic, of course, in this picture, but by Wyndham, kind of where you see the vehicle at the top is a pretty good blind spot," David Nixon said, describing how grade and sight lines contributed to crashes and speed concerns. The study evaluated lowering the hill about one foot, a 4‑way stop, and a mini roundabout; staff recommended advancing the mini roundabout to the next design phase.
Nixon and consultant materials showed a conceptual mini‑roundabout layout with tightened turning radii, crosswalks with pedestrian refuge areas and ADA curb geometry. Officials said the mini roundabout would slow turning movements and improve sight lines while accommodating the projected future traffic from a planned residential area identified as Section 20 in the regional plan. "WSP, the consultant, took the data that I gave them the results of the model run and ultimately concluded that the mini roundabout configuration is gonna be able to handle trips most efficiently," Chris Fair, transportation planner with the city, said.
Committee members asked about comparisons to other local mini roundabouts and rider experience. Staff noted some local roundabouts are raised and landscaped while others (such as small traffic circles) have a low center island that drivers sometimes drive over; landscaping or a raised center was discussed as a possible deterrent to drivers cutting the circle. Committee members raised bicycle-specific concerns, asking how the design would tie into on‑street bike lanes and future multiuse trails. Staff said a bicycle bypass on a wider curb or trail around the roundabout could be provided and that the project aligns with planned foottrail connections and the Active Transportation Master Plan.
Staff described Section 20 as an undeveloped parcel inside the Flagstaff urban growth boundary that regional planning designates for future residential development; the modeling used a 2045 build-out scenario to test performance. Nixon said the project team will pursue the roundabout option into the next level of design and asked for committee feedback on the conceptual design and multimodal connections.
No formal motion or vote was taken at the committee meeting; staff characterized the next step as advancing design work for the mini roundabout and continuing coordination with stakeholders and future planning for bike/ped connections.
