I am pleased to learn that a project to address the inadequacy of the Keele and Lloydtown Aurora Rd intersection has been initiated by York Region. Lead solution is a roundabout. Preliminary design is underway; public consultation will be held prior to finalizing design. Construction is planned for 2015.
York Region determined in 2012 that roundabouts will be considered for intersection improvements. Earlier I did report that one was to be constructed at Dufferin and King-Vaughan intersection.
From personal experience I have no trouble believing that roundabouts are superior to signalized intersections in terms of safety and traffic flow. (Of course my statement is based on well designed ones!) I anticipate that a happy unintended consequence of the decision to install a roundabout will be a calming impact on the east/west direction i.e. traffic will be slower.
The staff report can be read here.
Debbie,
Belated reply to your newsletter.
Having learnt to drive in England and as a frequent visitor, I am a huge supporter of roundabouts. They invariably improve traffic flow, saving money and time for drivers.
Traffic lights slow down traffic and in the GTA and North York these are rarely linked, let alone controlled from a central computer; in fact traffic control in the GTA and Vaughn is a disaster and costs drivers hundreds of millions of dollars a year in wasted time and fuel, apart from the increased pollution from idling engines.
So let’s have more roundabouts and please get someone to wake up our pathetic traffic management in this Province.
YR has made a strategic choice: for new intersections roundabout feasibility will be assessed and considered to be the preferred option pending analysis.