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07/20/2006: "Traffic Circle Proposed For FH"

(Drawing of proposed traffic circle for Friday Harbor)

The Town of Friday Harbor will hold a Public Hearing Tonight, July 20, On FH Roads: The hearing will be at the Town Hall, 5:30 PM to review the Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan for the years 2007 through 2012.

Two items of note that may attract some interest and input from the public are discussion items about the removing, or at least altering, the "bump-out" of the "sidewalk-used-as-a-street" next to the Mullis Senior Center, and proposals for improvements of the intersection at Argyle and Spring street.

Two proposals have been made to address traffic flows on Spring street. One plan is to construct a traffic circle at the Argyle and Spring street intersection. The proposal lists three things that will be improved by a traffic circle: 1. Pedestrian and vehicular conflict resolution, 2. will slow down traffic without impeding traffic flow, and 3. it will improve the "quality and character of the urban setting".


Traffic circles are not uncommon in other countries, but are rare in the U.S., and as a result it is not quite clear if San Juan drivers would know what is expected of them when they enter one. The Friday Harbor proposal states that "Key to a traffic circle is calm, slow traffic where drivers have plenty of time to avoid pedestrians and other vehicles while pedestrians are able to understand and anticipate vehicular movements"., Given the number of drivers in Friday Harbor who drive through stop signs, and fail to use turn-signals, it may be too much to hope that this key to proper use will be used.

As shown in the drawing above, the circle would have landscaping and park benches under shade trees are also recommended. An estimated cost to complete the project has been projected to be over $355 K

A second proposal has been submitted to the Town by the consulting company of Gray & Osborne, who were asked by the Town to develop and alternatives to the same intersection, but to also include Nichols street as part of the review of traffic flows at the intersection of Argyle and Spring. They have come up with three possible solutions, all of which turn the existing "Y" of Spring and Argyle into a more traditional "T" intersection. The plans do not include any landscaping or pedestrian accommodations beyond the standard marking of crosswalks. The three alternatives vary in projected cost from $43 K to $58 K.