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Council directs staff to pursue single-lane design for Meyer-Lancaster roundabout, authorizes contract addendum
Summary
After technical presentations and debate over safety, future-proofing and cost, council indicated a preference for a single-lane roundabout with provisions to limit future reconstruction costs and voted to authorize a supplemental contract with Lake City Engineering to continue design work.
Rathdrum City Council members signaled support for a single-lane roundabout design at the Meyer-Lancaster intersection and authorized the mayor to execute a contract addendum with Lake City Engineering to continue geometric design and utility coordination.
Engineers from Lake City Engineering presented conceptual differences between a single-lane roundabout and a multi-lane (two-lane) layout. The consultant cited the NCHRP design guidance and noted single-lane roundabouts are generally safer when traffic volumes do not yet justify multi-lane approaches. He estimated that a multi-lane roundabout could increase initial construction and design costs by roughly 10% to 15%, though he cautioned that the estimate was preliminary and that detailed designs were required to firm up numbers.
Councilmembers raised safety concerns based on driver behavior observed at a nearby roundabout (Bakel and Meyer). Several members said giving motorists extra lane width can encourage higher speeds and risky lane changes. Engineers recommended "future-proofing" minor elements where practical — for example, locating crosswalks slightly farther back — while avoiding overbuilding unused roadway today that would need later replacement.
Council direction through roll-call discussion excluded the full multi-lane option and narrowed choices to either a single-lane roundabout or a hybrid that keeps a single circulating lane but allows dual-lane approach/right-turn channelization. Council members, citing limited available funds and safety priorities, favored proceeding with the single-lane option and requested staff to continue design work focused on that choice.
Following that discussion, the council voted to authorize the mayor to execute an updated professional services addendum with Lake City Engineering covering items such as geometric design, utility coordination and additional topographic work necessary to maintain project schedule; a supplemental agreement for further tasks will return to council later.
"In general, it's safer to do single lane," the consultant told the council, citing nationwide design guidance and local safety observations.
The motion authorizing the contract addendum passed on the council's roll call.
