Below is my email requesting roundabouts on McCulloch Road.

From: rj@www.fixmyroadway.com [mailto:rj@www.fixmyroadway.com]

Sent: Friday, November 27, 2015 8:31 AM
To: Orange County
Subject: Will a roundabout work at McCulloch and Worchester?

Respected Orange County elected officials and staff,

I am copying UCF staff so they are aware of this correspondence, Seminole County officials as McCulloch is the dividing line between Orange and Seminole and MetroPlan as I understand a traffic study of this area will occur early next year.

Over the past 5 years as traffic has increased, we have tried three times to get a stop light put in at McCulloch Road and Worchester Drive because residents of University Estates cannot exit safely onto McCulloch Road. Each time the requested study is performed the numbers do not support a light. Even thought there is three times the traffic on McCulloch needed for a light, there is only 75% of the needed number of cars exiting University Estates. A traffic light will most likely never be approved. But after thinking it through and talking to many people about a light the conclusion is that it probably is not the best idea. Something must be done soon as each year as UCF grows larger, our problem gets worse and it is only a matter of time until my biggest fear becomes a reality.

An idea that some people have expressed is putting in roundabouts. Because it is sort of out of the norm, the first thought that comes to mind is “no way”, but when you really think it through it makes all the sense in the world especially at these intersections. Please watch this video (https://youtu.be/WwvVkxSfFTw) and keep an open mind as you view it as many people believe that the dynamics of this road makes it a perfect fit for a roundabout. A traffic light would stop traffic on McCulloch and bog down N. Tanner causing a buildup of commuter traffic. But a roundabout would keep traffic flowing and also allow residents of University Estates and Madision Park to exit safely.

After proposing this to our community both on Facebook and NextDoor the general consensus is it is a good idea. There was no negative feedback. At the bottom of this email is a full listing of the comments from Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fixmyroadway/) and NextDoor (you have to be part of the neighborhood to view the site) for your review. The Facebook post was viewed 556 times and the NextDoor post went to the residents of University Estates who subscribe to NextDoor.

I respectfully place a formal request for two roundabouts on McCulloch Road. This seems to be an opportune time for this request as District 5 has been allocated 28 million for road in East Orange County from the INVEST money. These roundabouts would be placed at each entrance to University Estates. If statistics are right, the 105 accidents that have occurred on this stretch of road in the past two years will be dramatically reduced. I would appreciate a response to my email and some indication on where Orange County stands on this issue.

Sincerely,

RJ Mueller
407-913-5563

NextDoor.com comments:

I think it would be better than doing nothing, but I believe we would still have trouble entering the roundabout because of the steady stream of traffic coming through it. They don’t have to yield to let you in, you have to wait for an opening.

I think this is a great idea. As for the steady stream of traffic coming through it, they don’t have to yield to let you in, but they will be going slower than they are currently due to the very nature of it being a roundabout and not a straight street.

I think it is a great alternative to a light; however, there needs to be two roundabouts — one for each UE entrance. The east entrance is a problem due to the opposing apartment complex. There are always cars going in/out of that complex.

I’m glad this idea is again being considered as I still think it’s the best solution for UE residents. I concur they’re needed at both UE entrances vs. just one.

It is a good idea and it seems to be the only thing that could alleviate the problem at the moment. If there was a petition that went around to university estates residents as well as Madison would that help with the hard heads in Orange County?

Another reasonable approach is to request the county adjust the timing of the traffic lights at McCulloch/Tanner on weekdays from 7-9am in order to provide an extra interval of time when the lights turn from red to green, this will create larger gaps between cars heading west on McCulloch and allow our cars additional space to get onto McCulloch.

Benefits of a roundabout:

Efficient traffic flow:
30-50% increase in traffic capacity
Reduction in pollution and fuel use:

Improved traffic flow for intersections that handle a high number of left turns
Reduced need for storage lanes
Money Saved:
No signal equipment to install and repair
Savings estimated at an average of $5,000 per year in electricity and maintenance costs
Service life of a roundabout is 25 years (vs. the 10-year service life of signal equipment)
Community Benefits:
Traffic calming
Aesthetic landscaping

Lives Saved:
Up to a 90% reduction in fatalities
76% reduction in injury crashes
30-40% reduction in pedestrian crashes
75% fewer conflict points than 4-way intersections
Slower vehicle speeds (under 30 mph):
Drivers have more time to judge and react to other cars or pedestrians
Advantageous to older and novice drivers
Reduces the severity of crashes
Keeps pedestrians safer

If they’re re-timing the light, please start at 6:30 AM. I have a difficult time getting out before 7.
But then they’d also have to look at retiming the McCulloch/Lockwood/Orion light in the evenings as well.

All of Elaine Powell’s information is good proof that the roundabouts should be the way to go. Thank you for the comprehensiveness of your reply, Elaine!

Great idea!

Facebook.com comments (https://www.facebook.com/fixmyroadway/):

The City of Oviedo is beginning to use roundabouts as a new way to control traffic at intersections. You can see how well it works where Oviedo Blvd., Frankling St., and Geneva Dr. all meet. According to their website at http://www.cityofoviedo.net/node/164….
Benefits of a roundabout:
Efficient traffic flow:
30-50% increase in traffic capacity
Reduction in pollution and fuel use:
Improved traffic flow for intersections that handle a high number of left turns
Reduced need for storage lanes
Money Saved:
No signal equipment to install and repair
Savings estimated at an average of $5,000 per year in electricity and maintenance costs
Service life of a roundabout is 25 years (vs. the 10-year service life of signal equipment)
Community Benefits:
Traffic calming
Aesthetic landscaping
Lives Saved:
Up to a 90% reduction in fatalities
76% reduction in injury crashes
30-40% reduction in pedestrian crashes
75% fewer conflict points than 4-way intersections
Slower vehicle speeds (under 30 mph):
Drivers have more time to judge and react to other cars or pedestrians
Advantageous to older and novice drivers
Reduces the severity of crashes
Keeps pedestrians safer”

In Lusaka, capitol of Zambia, Africa, there are much bigger roundabouts than here in the States. If they are bigger, it would help heavier traffic.

Sounds good!

Yes! Roundabouts are all over Europe and the Northwest and we need more here in C. Florida. Often times we are even to quick to add a traffic light where a roundabout could better serve the roadway.

I think it would only help if it were further east from the entrances of the subdivisions. If it’s implemented at the intersection itself I don’t think it will help because it won’t stop the constant flow of traffic to where UE traffic can make the left turn.

Problem with roundabouts is nobody in the state of Florida knows how to use them

They need to lower the speed limit on mcculloch. With all the traffic the speed limit should be 30 mph.

All right hand turns work all the time. Proven fact.

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