Traffic Headache of the Week: Annapolis Road Circle
In the first installment of Patch's series reviewing traffic problems in the area, we analyze the roundabout at Annapolis and Sappington Station roads in Odenton.
There are few things that get folks more riled up than traffic circles.
For whatever reason, people seem to have a love/hate relationship with them.
The traffic circle on Annapolis Road in Odenton has gotten some attention in the last year due to a change in design, as well as increasing traffic stemming from nearby development.
There is a lot going on at this roundabout. There are cars coming from both directions on Annapolis Road, so you have a lot of traffic coming from the west toward Gambrills and from people coming from the east into Odenton.
It's also the connector to Sappington Station Road, which feeds into the Lions Gate development and Shelter Cove apartments and directs people to Maryland Route 32.
On top of that, Odenton Road and Higgins Drive connect into the circle as well. (Traffic from Odenton Road has increased as many drivers use it to avoid Annapolis Road.)
Soon, the circle will also have to accommodate traffic from the new Haven at Odenton Gateway apartments, the new Patient First facility, and the big medical office building.
Last year, the State Highway Administration (SHA) decided to close off the inner lane of the circle, hoping that it would reduce the number of "side-swipe" accidents. SHA officials said drivers were not yielding properly and driving too fast.
Lanes heading into the circle were also reduced.
"Reducing the approaches to one lane each and doing so within the circle simplified the pattern for motorists," SHA spokesman Charlie Gischlar said in an email. "In addition, the improvement SHA initiated and completed has slowed the traffic moving through the roundabout. Crashes have decreased, which made our improvements successful."
Of course, the SHA's primary focus is safety. But does it take longer to get through the circle than in the past? Motorists said that, anecdotally, it appears that way.
I have no record of how long it took to get through the circle prior to the changes. But, I did perform a basic experiment to determine the impact of the circle during rush hour.
At off-peak times when traffic was light this week, it took me about 55 seconds to get from the traffic light in front of the shopping center to the opposite end of the circle.
At 5 p.m., it took me only a few seconds longer.
But at 6 p.m., it took 1 minute, 34 seconds. So that's a 39-second increase in time, or a 70 percent bump.
There was a queue of about a dozen cars during this time, and I can tell you from experience that it can get much worse than that.
Granted, we're still talking about a relatively small difference in time. If there was a traffic light instead of a circle there, drivers would probably wait longer. But that's no consolation to someone who has a morning train to catch or has already had a long commute home.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the circle is that there are still some drivers who just don't get it. Accidents there still happen, usually because someone forgot to yield. This should not happen, because the one-lane configuration makes things a lot simpler for drivers.
So let's review the basic rules of the roundabout:
- Reduce your speed (duh).
- Move up to the yield line and wait for an acceptable gap in traffic.
- Do not enter next to or in front of someone already in the roundabout.
- Yield to those coming from the left.
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Patch will review a new traffic headache in the Odenton-Severn area each week, based on your suggestions.
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Ryan Stavely
1:44 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Does the SHA have any stats that show a reduction in accidents like they claim would happen?
Also, for reasons that I've never been able to figure out, the circle backs up Sappington Station road in the morning all the way to 32 at least once a month, making it impossible to get out of Lions Gate.
ScottRAB
2:40 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
this problem indicates the lane use is not working well. A review of the turning demand would indicate if the circle is striped correctly for the demand.
Raif10
1:52 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
The problems stemming from roundabouts here amaze me, especially considering they have been safely and effectively used around the world since the 19th century.
Susan Kim
2:23 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
"SHA officials said drivers were not yielding properly and driving too fast."
This still occurs daily, LOL.
Ryan Stavely
2:33 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
But now we get to wait in line for the pleasure of people pulling out in front of us! :)
ScottRAB
2:38 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
driving too fast would indicate the circular roadway is too large. the key to safety and efficiency at a modern roundabout is operational speeds near 20 mph.
Stephanie Chastain Mowery
2:26 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Try going through the circle at 7 am on a school day.....it's not an easy task.
ScottRAB
2:30 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Modern roundabouts are the safest form of intersection in the world. Search www.iihs.org for FAQs and safety facts.
A look at crash patterns that are happening might shed some light on the issues at the roundabout. The lane striping might need to be reviewed to see if it is sufficient.
Ryan Stavely
2:53 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
The crash patterns cited by SHA when they took a lane away were mostly collision between vehicles in the circle and vehicles traveling east on 175 not yielding to traffic already in the circle - in part because drivers coming off of Sappington Station were ignoring the "right turn only from right lane" (insufficient striping/signage) and partly because they're idiots that pull out in front of people.
Calique
3:51 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
PUT IN A DIVERGING DIAMOND!!! :oD
ScottRAB
8:12 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I didn't realize this was a freeway over or under pass situation.
Betty Fowler
4:26 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
the circle isnt the problem, its inconsiderate drivers. Before the circle there was a light there, and with the light was a lot of accidents. At first the circle seemed stupid for such a busy road, but it has cut down on serious accidents and to those speeding through the circle, you are the problem.
Ryan Stavely
4:41 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Speeding through the roundabout isn't a problem IF you have the right of way.
The problem is that SHA made it only one lane, leading to long backups to even get to the circle.
The Truth
7:48 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
The fault is not with the roundabout. It is with the drivers that don't know how to navigate them. Learn the rules of the road people.
Calique
9:35 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
People don't care to learn the rules, Mr. Truth!! They just think they should be able to force you out of their way.
The Golden Rule would go far on our roads. I try to think of the other guy while also leaving a generous personal space round myself. I just try to stay as far away from other drivers as I can.
Michael Pack
9:40 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Please use your vehicle turn signals when entering and exiting the traffic circles. Thank you.
Ryan Stavely
10:26 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Signalling on entering seems kind of non-sensical, there is only one way you can go. Signalling to exit would be a huge help. I always do it, but I rarely see anyone else do so.
Tim Lemke
10:46 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
The guidelines for roundabout usage from SHA say it's not necessary to use your turn signal when exiting straight. Certainly, you should use a signal when exiting right.
In a one-lane traffic circle like this one, there really is no need to signal when entering.
Ryan Stavely
11:42 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Actually, even the guidelines for "going straight" say to use your signal:
"When you have passed the last exit before the one you want, use your right–turn signal and continue to use your right–turn signal through your exit. Maintain a slow speed. "
Valerie Frances
11:14 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
I love round-abouts. They are very common in other parts of the world. They are traffic calming rather than traffic stopping which facilitates heavy traffic. As with anything in life: slow down, think about what you are doing, be generous and yield.
Dove Robison
11:39 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
I would like to see the stats regarding crashes from when there was a traffic light and now with the circle. Many of the crashes with the circle aren't reported as they are minor and do not require a report. However, when there was a traffic light, the crashes were more significant. Both types cost the consumer.
Ryan Stavely
11:44 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Agreed. I would love to see the stats from the traffic light, 2 lane circle and 1 lane circle to compare.
J.P. Nolan
10:20 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Once again our state agency leaders and their minions continue to show their lack of reality and in some cases stupidity. Why would you undertake the cost to provide a two lane traffic circle and then make it a bottle-neck because of two different drunks you ran into the middle of the circle and a couple of minor fender benders due to carpetbaggers unfamiliar with the area. The SHA should take the whole thing out and put the lights back in...this is of course idiotic logic, but I am trying to make a point about how these people think. Our state government and agency leaders continue to make us the laughing stock of the U.S. with their decision making and lack of forward thinking. Allowing for all of the extra development along 175 without the requisite infrastructure will choke the area and we will all pay. Will we turn into Laurel or Glen Burnie in 5 years or 3?
blythe
3:16 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
From what you say here. we need a Sign that tells you to Yield to the car at your Left
4 way stop signs yield to the right. Maybe this is part of the problem.
Please inform me if I am wrong, Thanks