Successful roundabout example exists

As an author published in the area of traffic safety and a former Transportation Board member, I would feel remiss in not pointing out numerous errors in Joel Williams Thursday “ViewPoint.”
What has surprised me in the discussion of local roundabouts is the obvious, successful, example that already exists.  I was a Transportation Board member when the alternatives for the intersection at North Mesa and San Ildefonso were discussed.  
The stop signs on North Mesa  and San Ildefonso were causing considerable backups, especially a conflict of school buses and commuter traffic.  I don’t know whether county engineers were considering a roundabout before I proposed it at T-Board, but it had certainly not been brought up for discussion at that point. The only realistic alternative was a 4-way traffic signal and I think most users of that intersection would realize the disadvantages of that.
The round
about works, in part, because it is well designed.  There are two through-traffic lanes, one from Barranca Mesa and one to North Mesa, so that, at commuter times when the traffic is primarily in one direction there is a minimal conflict.

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