Lafayette is considering building a roundabout on Mt. Diablo Blvd near the Gazebo and some people are not happy about this possibility. There are even protesters out with signs warning about traffic and loss of parking spots. Check out the official roundabout project page here, including the staff report here.
The Lafayette staff believe that a roundabout will allow traffic to slow down but continue to flow freely, make it safer for pedestrians to cross, and will contribute positively to streetscape design, displaying including public art.
Check out an aerial view of the roundabout:
And the proposed location of the roundabout:
I have experience crossing here because I go to Lamorinda Crossfit at the end of Blackwood Lane and we sometimes cross over to run on the Lamorinda trail on the other side near the gazebo. Frankly it hasn’t been that crowded to wait more than 30 seconds before crossing, and usually we can cross immediately. Also, when I think of roundabouts I think of busy streets on multiple sides so I can’t quite understand why a roundabout here would be all that useful considering the other intersecting streets are rarely used. The fact that the lanes will merge into one on both sides of Mt. Diablo Blvd. could certainly be annoying to people driving. On the other hand, it would be more convenient for pedestrians to cross the street, and might look pretty cool.
So for the Friday question of the day, do you think the proposed Lafayette roundabout on Mt. Diablo Blvd. is a good idea?
