DOCUMENT 3

Consultation Details

A public open house meeting was held January 14, 2010, at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex. The purpose of the meeting was to present the design concepts for the intersections of Jeanne d’Arc and Orléans Boulevards, and Place d’Orléans Drive West, to educate the public on the benefits of roundabouts, and to obtain the public’s input. The roundabout proposed for Jeanne d’Arc and St. Joseph Boulevards generated the most interest, with people both highly in favour, and totally opposed. An animated interactive video and video of existing multilane roundabouts (Region of Waterloo website) were available. Both illustrated how the roundabouts function. Just over 50 people signed in on the project’s attendance list. Discussion also involved roundabouts in the city and in other places, the evolution of the project, and other planned improvements on the boulevard. Infrastructure Services and Planning and Growth Management staff, BIA executive board members, project consultants, and both Ward Councillors were involved in many discussions with those in attendance.

Feedback was varied. Of the 18 written comments received at the open house, 12 were in favour, 5 were against, and 1 unclear. More comments were received after the open house. All are summarized below up to and including January 21, 2010. Given that January 29, 2010, was the last date to provide comments, and the report deadline was January 25, 2010, a summary of any comments received after the finalization of the report will be included in staff’s presentation to Committee on February 3, 2010.

SUMMARY OF WRITTEN COMMENTS ST. JOSEPH STREETSCAPE PROJECT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
Sheet	In Favour	Unclear	Opposed	Comment	Response
1	Ö			Go for it...the best.
2	Ö			En faveur a 100 percent.
3	Ö			This is great for Orléans...will improve landscape...will improve area...a great thing...will be a great attraction...will improve tourism... hope this moves forward.
4	Ö			Great idea...need vibrant entrance to Orléans...roundabouts work everywhere else...time Ottawa moved into the 21^st century...caution: pedestrian crossing may need controls as drivers are self-centred.
5	Ö			Plan is well thought out...innovative solution that should work well...more investment needed to recreate St. Joseph as human-scaled street...priority now should be to get it done...accommodating cyclists is vital and this is unclear now...biggest challenge will be driver education.
6	Ö			Good work BIA executives...keep up the good work.
7	Ö			Resident of Forest View...kids going to school walk down Jeanne d’Arc toward intersection...sidewalk and street are on top of each other...there should be a green belt between sidewalk and street...only concern because it is dangerous, especially in freezing rain.
8	Ö			With proper education of how to use a roundabout, it will be of benefit to the community.
9	Ö			This is a great idea...finally some leadership...good job now let’s do it.
10	Ö			100 percent support the idea of a roundabout...I’ve observed many roundabouts and improvements to traffic...incredible difference...don’t be scared of progress...let’s be brave and show that Orléans can adapt and encourage innovation...public education is primary since roundabouts can cause confusion and Ottawans are not used to it...
11	Ö			Have driven in Europe on many occasions and appreciate efficiency of roundabouts....education programme is necessary since drivers in Ontario not familiar with roundabouts...this should also include how cyclists use it and how pedestrians use it...Ontario drivers are not the most respectful.
12	Ö			There is urgent need for change at this intersection...sure that study results will bring a positive solution to the problems at this intersection...this is a big change but the concept works in Europe, so why not here?
13	Ö			I am all for this roundabout...my only concern is the pedestrian crosswalks...will drivers and pedestrians respect each other?	Safe accommodation of pedestrians will be addressed during the detailed design phase.
14		Ö		Pleasantly surprised by “how-to” video on navigating roundabouts...perhaps 10^th Line/St. Joseph might be a better location for the roundabout?	The project will be funded using Infrastructure Stimulus Funds. The Streetscape Strategic Plan completed by the BIA identifies improvements for the section of St. Joseph Boulevard between Youville Drive and Prestone Drive.
15			Ö	Roundabout is not the answer for the traffic problem on Jeanne d’Arc at St. Joseph...not pedestrian-friendly...cars will be backed up...dangerous for cyclists...Board 5 (Orleans Blvd.) is a better option.	These issues are not supported by the traffic analysis which shows that compared to traffic signals, a roundabout would operate with fewer delays and smaller queues under future traffic conditions. Safe accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists will be addressed during the detailed design phase.
16			Ö	Very disappointed that none of the concept designs include the many bus stops that will be affected...Board 5 (Orleans Blvd.) shows a crosswalk where pedestrians currently cannot cross...cannot fully evaluate proposal with considering how non-driver population will be impacted...don’t consider the proposed design complete without bus stops considered in the design.	Bus stops and locations will be discussed and finalized with Transit Services during the detailed design phase. At Orléans Boulevard, there is no cross-walk on the west side of the intersection and this will be reviewed with the City’s Traffic Signals Group and a crossing may be introduced if feasible.
17			Ö	Resident taxpayer totally against roundabout...feel funds being spent could be put to better use to beautify the street...business signs should be removed...wires undergrounded...flower boxes in summer, water fountains, seating at bus stops, etc.	The highest priority in the Streetscape Strategic Plan completed by the BIA is the establishment of gateways at St. Joseph Boulevard intersections with Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orléans Boulevard, and Place d’Orléans Drive West, with lesser streetscape improvements and landscape features along the corridor in between.
18			Ö	A terrible idea...have lived in Europe where these are not pedestrian friendly...big transport trucks occupy both lanes...who will pay to take this out?	A well-designed roundabout will accommodate larger vehicles due to the additional road width and provision of a mountable apron around the perimeter of the central island. A well-designed roundabout encourages reduced speeds. Pedestrians will be accommodated by crossings around the perimeter of the roundabout and the splitter islands will provide space to stop and consider one direction of conflicting traffic at a time and will shorten the crossing distance.
19			Ö	More thought put into safety of pedestrians and cyclists in and around intersection...not a well thought out idea...all for making area beautiful but don’t believe roundabout is a good idea...agreed roundabout will beautify this area of Orléans.	Roundabouts are designed to slow traffic to speeds more compatible with bicycle speeds. For double-lane roundabouts, shared bicycle-pedestrian paths around the perimeter of the roundabout are appropriate. These issues will be examined at the detailed design phase.
20			Ö	St. Joseph Boulevard westbound is often stopped when there is heavy snow or an accident on Highway 172 westbound...roundabout will stop traffic in all directions on St. Joseph at least 30 days each year and this is unacceptable...put power lines underground...put roundabout elsewhere such as at Orléans Boulevard or Jeanne d’Arc and Youville...this is not good for my business...people who want to cross Orléans are not used to using a roundabout...it will not function as in Europe...it is beautiful...it may help traffic 330 days each year but it will be awful in inclement weather.	In inclement weather, the roundabout will be subject to the same traffic operational pressures as the existing signalized intersection (and the rest of the City road network). The consultant’s traffic analysis indicates that the roundabout will operate at a higher level of service than the existing signalized intersection.
21			Ö	We live on Notre Dame Street West which is located on the south side of St. Joseph Boulevard to the west of Jeanne d’Arc and there is no sidewalk on our side of the street...we rely on the break in the traffic caused by the traffic lights at St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc to cross the street...if your studies are correct, then we will not be able to cross St. Joseph Boulevard during peak hours in order to catch the bus as there would not be a long enough break in traffic...we need to have the sidewalk extended at least to our street, ideally all the way to Forest Valley, so that we and our neighbours have safe passage to the corner of St. Joseph Boulevard and Jeanne d’Arc.	The roundabout will operate with breaks in the traffic on all the approaches. Extension on the sidewalk, as requested, is not included in the project scope. Residents of Notre Dame Street West would walk along the south side of St. Joseph, as they do now, to reach the roundabout crosswalk.
22			Ö	I oppose a roundabout at the intersection of St. Joseph Boulevard and Jeanne d’Arc as it will endanger pedestrians and cyclists, and will not improve the safety of drivers and passengers. · Pedestrians: This is one of 228 intersections in Ottawa with audible pedestrian signals for the vision-impaired...removing the signals is a step backward and is discriminatory...vehicles exiting a roundabout sound the same as vehicles continuing around (US Federal Highway Administration, Understanding the User, Chapter 9) (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalk2/sidewalks209.htm)...many drivers do not stop for pedestrians at roundabouts regardless of traffic rules and crosswalk markings...busy roundabouts provide very few gaps long enough to cross. · Cyclists: Roundabouts are so dangerous for cyclists that many avoid them...a New Zealand study reported that 26 percent of personal injury crashes at roundabouts involved a cyclist, compared with 6 percent at traffic signals (Axel Wilke and Glen Koorey, “How safe are roundabouts for cyclists?” TransSafe, April 2001. View at http://viastrada.co.nz/sites/viastrada/files/Transafe_05.pdf) · Vehicles: Modern multi-lane roundabouts with an average daily traffic (ADT) count greater than 20,000 are not safer than signalled intersections with similar traffic volumes, according to a recent study in Nevada...St. Joseph Boulevard and Jeanne d’Arc intersection has an ADT of 35,000...conversion to a roundabout will not increase vehicle safety...Nevada study found that multi-lane roundabouts with an ADT in excess of 20,000 had an average crash rate per million vehicles (MV) of 1.84 compared to 0.76 for the comparable signalized intersections... “Although there were a larger number of crashes at the roundabouts, not many of them were injury crashes. The values of injury crashes/MV are comparable for the signals and roundabouts.” (Shashi S Nambisan and Venu Parimi, “A Comparative Evaluation of the Safety Performance of Roundabouts and Traditional Intersection Controls”, Institute of Transportation Engineers, ITE Journal, March 2007. View at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3734/is_200703/ai_n18755716/?tag=content;col1)...in layman’s words, large roundabouts do not reduce injury crashes but they do cause more fender-benders. The facts are clear: roundabouts fail to improve vehicular safety, but they do endanger pedestrians and cyclists...if there are concerns about the safety of the current configuration, then consider the following solutions costing only a fraction of the $1,750,000 price tag for the roundabout: stationing a police officer there for five shifts a week year-round would cost about $125,000 a year; adding a second left-turn lane on Jeanne d’Arc northbound would reduce the risk of a chain collision in the morning.	The consultant’s traffic analysis and studies of similar roundabouts in North America do not support this view. Addressing the needs of vision-impaired pedestrians at roundabout crosswalks is recognized by the City as a serious concern. Driver education is needed to make motorists more aware of these needs. The situation at a roundabout crosswalk is similar to the right-turn channelizations that exist at most arterial road signalized intersections (including St. Joseph/Jeanne d’Arc). Cyclists will be accommodated on a multi-use pedestrian/cyclist pathway in the northwest and southeast quadrants of the intersection. In the northeast and southwest quadrants, they will use the channelized right turn lanes. The overwhelming body of evidence from studies in North America and Europe is that roundabouts decrease the number of overall accidents (by 40%) and, more importantly, the severity of accidents (by 90%). See comments above. Continuous ongoing police supervision/control is not a practicable option. A second left turn lane on Jeanne d’Arc northbound would improve the level of service of the intersection but increase pedestrian walk distances.
23			Ö	Please accept my following comments concerning the proposed revision of the intersection of Jean-D’Arc Blvd. and St. Joseph Blvd. in Orleans (hereinafter referred to as “the intersection”). I am opposed to this proposed amendment of the intersection into a roundabout configuration for multiple reasons. They are: 1. The intersection, once configured as a roundabout, will serve to impede traffic, causing a rise in density through the roundabout. This intersection serves as the major access to the 174 to its north, and the city center via Montreal Road to its west. Seeing as there are only three effective routes into the city proper from Orleans, via St-Joseph/Montreal Road (to the NCC Ottawa Parkway access), via the 174, and via Innes Road/Innes Road Bypass, and further noting that the 174 solution crosses the St-Joseph/Montreal Road solution again to the intersection’s west, creates a bottleneck of sorts at the intersection in question. Further restricting traffic flow through this intersection by reconfiguration to a roundabout runs counter to the need to optimize traffic flow. The problem will be worsened, not improved. It has also been noted that one of the expected outcomes of reconfiguration is to calm traffic flow. This stated intention only serves to underscore the negative effect of increasing traffic density. It must be assumed that the number of vehicles attempting to transit this intersection will not reduce, but will either continue or increase in the future. Only improved transit systems and access to transit systems will result in the desired traffic calming effect.  2. The intersection in question also serves as a through-route for a number of OC Transpo transit routes serving the area, including three express routes. Reconfiguration of the intersection into a roundabout would serve to inhibit the ability to allow city buses to transit this intersection efficiently. The increased congestion inherent with a roundabout configuration will serve as a chokepoint for OC Transpo buses, thus lengthening transit times, and restricting access to the Transitway for buses servicing the Orléans Gardens, Sunview and Chapel Hill communities. This runs counter to the transit master plan now before council, and will serve to inhibit access to the new Rapid Light Rail system now being considered. Reconfiguration will only serve to impede transit traffic. 3. A roundabout reconfiguration for this intersection will increase congestion, slowing traffic throughput traversing the intersection, thus leading to increased vehicle idle times. The increased idle times for these vehicles will lead to an increase in combustion products emissions, thus negatively impacting the air quality of the region. This runs counter to the stated objectives of the city to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Increased dwell time for vehicles will serve to increase the region’s carbon footprint. Studies should be made to evaluate the extent of the increase to the region’s carbon footprint resulting from a reconfiguration. 4. The city’s ability to perform road clearance maintenance during snow months will be negatively impacted by reconfiguration. The roundabout approach is more complex than a conventional intersection, thus increasing the complexity to perform snow clearance operations. The roundabout configuration inherently leaves less easement to accommodate snow accumulation (i.e. snow banks). During winter snow operation periods the roundabout will decrease in effective diameter, thus further causing increased traffic density. This will necessitate increased diligence on the city’s part to remove snow entirely, a more costly approach, thus increasing the city’s operations budget. 5. Roundabouts are not common to North American drivers, and will cause confusion, potentially increasing the likelihood of accidents occurring. Having experienced roundabouts in Great Britain and the European continent I can safely say, Canadians will have difficulty driving through such intersections. The added complexity of determining who has right-of-way access, those entering or those within the roundabout (conventional yield protocol), will cause further confusion. There appears to be no consistency for this issue with roundabouts that currently exist in North America. Evidence the confusion created by the rather uncomplicated roundabout at the foot of Rideau Hall on Sussex Drive and then extrapolate this confusion to the much more complex and utilized intersection in question. Increased traffic incursions is the likely result, thus further hampering traffic throughput, slowing traffic and increasing density, to say nothing to the increase in insurance rates that will result. 6. Insurance companies calculate rates based on regional factors and traffic incident rates. Reconfiguration of intersections into roundabouts will increase the risk associated with driving in this region. Thus insurance companies will be forced to increase their rate structures for drivers with residences impacted by their daily commute through the roundabout. 7. The proposed roundabout concerns the intersection of a 4-lane divided arterial with a 4-lane main collector. This is very unlike any other roundabout in this city. All other roundabouts in this city to date manage the intersection of two two-lane roads, a far less complex solution. Managing the merging and yielding of two lanes into the roundabout simultaneously will be most complex, an unnecessary complexity that local drivers are totally unaccustomed. The expected result will be for drivers to enter merging right. For example, those drivers attempting to traverse St-Joseph from Jeanne d’Arc south to access the 174 will be prevented from exiting the inner circle towards the 174. This level of complexity is totally unnecessary. The current configuration is much more efficient. 8. Another stated reason for reconfiguration is to create a welcoming beginning defining the entrance to Orleans. If this is the only reason for reconfiguration it is indeed a hollow one. Orleans is already well defined. Improvements to St. Joseph Boulevard are more needed than this intersection improvement. This is not a productive use of tax dollars! With the city budget increasing as it is it is totally unnecessary to expend funds on this unneeded reconfiguration. The need to maintain control of the city tax budget should be the first concern. Only the most necessary and meritorious projects should be considered. This project is not necessary, and will not yield any real benefits. As I have attempted to demonstrate, the proposed reconfiguration of the intersection in question is not an effective use of taxpayer funds. It will not yield any meaningful benefits. It will not serve to mitigate the city's environmental footprint. To the contrary, it will decrease the quality of life for this district, serving to increase traffic stress and accident rates. For these reasons I strongly oppose this project proposal.	1. The consultant’s traffic analysis does not support this view. Overall delays at the intersection will be reduced with the construction of a roundabout. Vehicle speeds through the intersection will be reduced to a range of 25 to 40 km/h and the roundabout will serve as a traffic calming measure. The overall level of service of the intersection will be considerably improved by the construction of the roundabout (level of Service ‘A’ as opposed to level of Service ‘E’). 2. Transit Services (OC Transpo) at the City has indicated that there will be no negative impacts to transit service with the construction of a roundabout. 3. Roundabouts decrease vehicle idle times compared to a signalized intersection resulting in overall reduced emissions. 4.Roundabouts do not present an increased problem for snow clearance compared to a similar sized signalized intersection. There are 15 roundabouts constructed or in an advanced stage of design in Ottawa. Snow clearance is not an issue at the constructed roundabouts and will not be an issue at the proposed roundabout. 5. The City has committed to a program of driver education related to the use of roundabouts. Current experience with constructed roundabouts in Ottawa is that after an initial period of familiarization, motorists quickly become used to the operation of the new roundabout. Drivers within the roundabout have the right-of-way. 6. Roundabouts reduce overall numbers of accidents (by 40%) and severity of accidents (by 90%). 7. The consultant’s operational/traffic analysis does not support this view. The roundabout will process projected traffic more efficiently than the signalized intersection. The City recognizes that motorises will undergo a period of familiarization and has committed to a program of drivers education. 8. The St. Joseph Boulevard Corridor Study and the Heart of Orléns BIA Streetscape Strategic Plan identified the Jeanne d’Arc intersection as the most important ‘gateway’. Streetscaping and landscaping proposals associated with the roundabout are consistent with attaining that objective.
24			Ö	Glad that some improvements are finally being planned for St. Joseph Boulevard known as the ugliest mainstreet in Ottawa...what concerns me is spending $1.8M of the $2.5M to replace one kind of intersection with another instead of beautifying the street...these should be installed as new intersections and not as a replacement of existing intersections...we have been calling for streetscape improvements for many years, including burial of overhead wires, removal of wooden poles, installation of beautiful lampposts, installation of real flowers and more trees, and removing portable signs from the boulevard...even if this “gateway” is installed, the street will still be ugly...I have lived here for 30 years and what has the City done to street? Install artificial flowers...banners...a few streetlights near the church...a mural...a painted wall near the church...signs that read Heart of Orléans...roundabouts have many advantages but we must choose where they should go...they should be used in places where there is less traffic so people can get used to them gradually...drivers and pedestrians will be nervous and anxious using the roundabout...a roundabout will not be more pedestrian friendly because pedestrians have to rely on drivers to stop...in conclusion, really beautify the street and keep roundabouts to new less busy intersections.	The Streetscape Strategic Plan completed in 2008 by the BIA and city of Ottawa identified the intersection of St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc as one of the first priorities of three key ‘gateways’ at which streetscaping/landscaping improvements should be focussed. Longer- term lower priorities included general streetscape and landscape improvements to the corridor as a whole.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED BY THE HEART OF ORLÉANS BIA ST. JOSEPH STREETSCAPE PROJECT
Sheet	In Favour	Unclear	Opposed	Comment	Response
1	Ö			The BIG reasons why the City is giving preference to roundabouts: · No cost of operation other than road maintenance (no lights); · Reduced congestion (and thus emissions which falls into "green" initiatives and provincial/federal grants); · Reduced number of accidents (35-40% if memory serves me); · Reduced speed accidents which translates to lower costs; and · No power? Who cares!
2	Ö			Great! Clusters of traffic lights all over, with lots of UGLY above-ground wiring make what should be the Heart of Orleans into a very industrial-looking area without warmth. This area is lacking character and something like a roundabout would be excellent.
3	Ö			I've driven past quite a few other Ottawa-area roundabouts, including the latest one on Longfields Drive which was recently built in a farmer's field to connect to Bill Leathem Drive...I think the one on Sussex is also excellent...I believe I pulled off the 416 in Kemptville while trying to find some gas late at night and came across 3 roundabouts...that's just to remark how memorable they are...You don't really forget them because they're so new to us and seem so effective....ANY effort that means redesigning St. Joseph Boulevard to make it flow better and look nicer is always welcome in my books...I live in the immediate area and pass by it quite often and I wouldn't mind the construction one bit.
4	Ö			Good news, let's get it built...roundabouts slow traffic down preventing those high speed collisions e.g. T-Bones which cause deaths and severe injuries...roundabouts are a plus plus!!
5	Ö			Go for the roundabout...the one in Almonte looks and works just great...I love roundabouts....no stopping, saves gas, brakes, pollution, good in busy and light traffic...I hate 4 way stops, left turn arrows that go red (instead of green so you can go left when no one is coming), lights that take forever to change, slow drivers, and others...good for you for being progressive and dynamic... YES for the roundabouts!!
6	Ö			Bring on the roundabouts...we spent a couple of months traveling by auto in Britain and Australia where roundabouts are as common as traffic lights...we were amazed at how smoothly traffic moved and we found them quite easy to navigate...we were particularly impressed with the roundabouts in Sydney, Australia, where traffic at all times moved smoothly...so again, we say, bring them on...one thing that we would point out is that the signage is very important and they must be very brief and simple.
7	Ö			Seems like a wonderful idea...use it as a gateway to the Heart of Orléans and concentrate on the streetscape from that point and going east...St. Joseph Boulevard needs a face lift and a warmer feeling to combat the Innes Road development...well done!
8	Ö			The proposed landscape improvements at Orléans Boulevard at Place d’ Orléans Drive are welcomed and will make a beautiful mark on the street...although I am familiar with roundabouts and have used them in Europe, I need to be convinced that what is proposed at Jeanne d’Arc is the best solution to address the problem. I understand that the objectives of the project are to make a more beautiful landscape and to improve traffic flow...the first objective can be completed without a roundabout in the same way the other intersections are being shown. I recognize the effectiveness of roundabouts for improving traffic flow, but I am concerned about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists...the panels at the open house did not clearly explain how this would be addressed. Should this be adopted, an intense public education program for drivers will be needed since many do not understand how roundabouts work judging by their behaviour at other roundabouts in the City. I wish you success with this project.
9			Ö	I only sent an email because the article said you only received 5 messages against this idea...people are all against it, they're just too lazy to let you know...don't bother sending me info about saving 1 litre of gas over the next 20 years...do you know how many litres you can save with $1.5 million? 30 electric cars...	Roundabouts reduce waiting and vehicle emissions compared to a signalized intersection.
10			Ö	We frequently travel across this wonderful City and have seen all types of road congestion and alignments...what we certainly do not need is a roundabout on St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans...this would be a huge waste of taxpayer’s money and would only create more uncertainty and chaos especially during the peak rush hours in the morning and evening periods...we have seen the existing roundabouts in Ottawa and concur that they do work on smaller residential type roads...but this is the intersection of 4-6 lanes of traffic in each direction and the volumes during peak times would make your head spin...a disaster waiting to happen and can you just imagine another summer of road construction at that intersection...if Orléans needs a gateway to the commercial /shopping zone on St. Joseph Boulevard, then they should erect a structure similar to the Preston St./Little Italy Gateway...please don’t waste our tax dollars...	This view is not supported by the consultant’s operational and traffic analysis which indicates the roundabout will operate at a better level of service compared to the existing signalized intersection. The City of Ottawa has committed to a program of driver education related to roundabout usage. The roundabout presents a very strong opportunity for the introduction of streetscaping/landscaping features.
11			Ö	The idea of a roundabout at this intersection is ludicrous!! The traffic is way too busy at the intersection for one, especially for those people who just came off the highway and forget to slow down and two, you also have people travelling on St. Joseph, who don't know how to drive properly and don't obey the posted speed limit either...a roundabout would cause more accidents then there currently are...most people do not know how to use them and to me would be a waste of taxpayer’s money, which could be used towards other initiatives in the Orléans area.	The traffic analysis undertaken by the consultants does not support this view. Accident numbers are reduced by up to 40% and accident severity by up to 90% at roundabouts. The City has committed to a driver education program related roundabout use.
12			Ö	Really?!?!? 3 ___ roundabouts in Orleans?!?!?!? That will cause SO much traffic it's unbelievable...do you know how many cars go through Jeanne D'Arc/St-Joseph at rush hour??? Please leave it how it is and don't spend your money on useless ___.	This view is not supported by the consultant’s traffic analysis.
13			Ö	I would like to express my strong desire to not see the construction of a roundabout at St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc go through...I'm fine with the two at Trim being constructed as that is a less busy area...while I do think something should be done at that intersection, it would be chaos during rush hour to have a roundabout and I will be for sure avoiding that area including all of the retailers there.	This view is not supported by the consultant’s traffic analysis.
14			Ö	Roundabout at St. Joseph and Orléans Boulevards...dad idea! Too much foot traffic...would be quite dangerous...traffic lights working fine now...why change? I for one will use Innes Road for my shopping if this roundabout happens.	This view is not supported by the consultant’s traffic analysis.
15			Ö	In a time when the city is trying to cut costs and save the taxpayer’s money, why are we wasting money on a roundabout at a busy intersection in Orléans that is currently working? For the most part, roundabouts on 2 lane streets are bad enough for people to understand and navigate, how do you think people are going to handle this at one of the busiest 4 lane intersections in Orléans?	The City has committed to a program of driver education related to roundabout usage.
16			Ö	My comment on this is that I will avoid the area at ALL costs...I will not go through the intersection and I will not go to businesses where the only choice is to go through the intersection...I believe roundabouts are dangerous for both vehicles and extremely dangerous for pedestrians. I would appreciate the opportunity to review the proposal of the BIA...they may well have had good engineering advice and the design may be adequate, but I am concerned that the proposal will not allow good traffic flow and will instead exacerbate the current situation...a well-designed roundabout can be attractive and efficient, but it requires far more space than available within the current road allowance. The circle is far, far too small in diameter to function if the drawing of the circle is to scale...if it is simply concept, then it is misleading as it ignores the significantly greater space required to function properly as a rotary...inevitably the City must expropriate portions of all 4 corner properties to get sufficient space...the engineering realities are not reflected in the drawing...if it is built as shown it will create great traffic congestion. If the usual rule is applied that traffic in the circle has the right-of- way, and there are significant line-ups at all four approaches (as happens almost all day and is excessive at rush hour), then if north/south lanes are flowing through the intersection, that will allow non-stop continuous flow from those lanes to the exclusion of the east/west lanes, because east/west cannot enter against north/south traffic with the right-of- way...might as well put a barrier across the east/west routes. Pedestrian crossings are too close to the circle if it is intended to keep traffic flowing (or is a pedestrian light intended, which then destroys the flow, and reverts back to the current traffic light situation? Of course, pedestrian disruption might break the flow of traffic, and allow opposite lanes to gain the exclusive flow. What is crucial for non-stop flow is a large circle that allows space for traffic to move to an inner lane for circulation, then out to the outer lane for exit...that requires a much larger diameter, and no pedestrian interference. With the small circle, you are going to have cars entering by forcing into small spaces between cars in the circle with the right-of- way...a recipe for constant accidents. Even worse when two vehicles in adjacent approach lanes are both trying to force in, one must try for the inner lane while the other takes the outer lane, or they have to take turns, one car and one lane at a time, doubling the time to get through the intersection. I appreciate that it is someone's romantic vision of beautification of St. Joseph, but no one can realistically expect the design shown to improve on flow of the massive traffic lines that already exist...instead it will slow traffic, as entrance to the tiny circle will be treacherous or almost impossible...it will be akin to putting yield signs or flashing red lights in the approach lanes... existing traffic lights at least allow for certainty, and consequent flow. I can't believe you guys are considering this, let alone spent money on this study...I guess you guys have too much time and too much money on your hands... Okay, so you did a study, but did you do a study in Gatineau AFTER they screwed up with their good initiative on roundabouts... Yes there's a problem about people trying to turn west onto St. Joseph (from Jeanne d’Arc) but here's a solution, just leave the turning light ON for an extra 5 seconds, problem solved...did your study mentioned this??? By the way, I do know how to use a roundabout and I'm not afraid of them, it's just a stupid idea and a waste of money...why fix something when it's not broken???	Roundabouts reduce accidents overall (by 40%) and reduce the severity of accidents (by 90%). Pedestrians are accommodated on crosswalks on the approaches. The traffic analysis and operational design of the roundabout do not support this view. See response above – the traffic analysis does not support these views. There would be no pedestrian lights in the current design proposal. The traffic operation design does not support this view. See comment above. See comment above. The City and consultant staff did consult with Gatineau staff during the traffic operations analysis study.
17			Ö	It is my opinion that the City and the BIA need to reconsider the proposed roundabout at St-Joseph and Jeanne d'Arc...the BIA would be better off using all of the $2.5 million infrastructure grant money to improve all of St. Joseph Boulevard as it is now a strip mall eyesore. The artist's rendition would seem a good representation of this intersection at 5 AM on a Sunday morning in August...I am sure that the artist's concept of the same intersection during the morning or evening rush hour would not so attractive. The roundabout will only operate properly if the private accesses near the intersection are removed or limited to right-in and right-out only thus limiting access from St Joseph to these properties in one direction only...that would put an end to my morning stop at Esso for a Tim Horton’s coffee. Does the consultant have an estimate of how much of the eastbound traffic on St. Joseph will cut through the Esso station to go south on Jeanne d'Arc? Or worse, how much of the southbound traffic on Jeanne d'Arc will cut through the residential area on Grey Nuns to avoid the entertaining left turn at the roundabout to access St Joseph? The City of Gatineau has installed a number of new multi-lane roundabouts on Boulevard des Allumettes...I suspect that the traffic volumes at these locations are probably closer to those of St. Joseph and Jeanne d'Arc...has the City approached Gatineau for any traffic data at these locations? If commuters in Ottawa are having problems with the roundabout on Brookfield Rd, that is basically a major with a minor residential collector, then the City needs to put a halt to the larger St. Joseph location...the Gatineau roundabouts are equipped with pedestrian activated traffic signals, and given the number pedestrians (young and old) crossing Jeanne d'Arc or St. Joseph, signals would be a must at this location as well...the signals seem to be missing on the artist's rendition. Those of us who have lived in Edmonton Alberta were roundabouts or traffic circles are common know how older and nervous drivers avoid them and that how the other drivers learn to be more aggressive in order to make that small gap when entering or exiting the circle...the worst intersection in Edmonton for the last few years is a roundabout. Rather than installing a fountain with the words “Orléans” in the middle of a circle that most commuters will be cursing while waiting to enter, the BIA and residents in Orléans should be looking at the improvements made in the Westboro area along Richmond Road and Wellington or those on Preston or Bank Street...there are no traffic circles at Carling and Preston. The BIA should be looking at creating a pedestrian-friendly St. Joseph Boulevard...let’s not make it frustrating to get to. Innes Road has already turned into a Merivale Road nightmare...let's see some intelligent and useful planning and not introduce new-fad traffic circles in important and heavy intersections...keep the circles where they operate at their best: in new development suburban residential areas and not in areas where it needs a lot of retrofit and compromises.	The Streetscape Strategic Plan undertaken by the BIA and City of Ottawa identified the Jeanne d’Arc intersection as the first priority of three ‘Gateways’. Modification to the private accesses indicated will be required as part of the roundabout design. These assesses are indicated by the City to be currently non-conforming to the City By-Law. Estimation of cut-through traffic described, was not included in the formal traffic analysis. The potential routes for such cut-through traffic does not change with the construction of the roundabouts. City and consultant staff did consult with Gatineau staff during the roundabout design process. Pedestrians would cross at unsignalized cross-walks similar to other constructed roundabouts in the City. The City recognizes that driver education is a key factor in the acceptance of roundabouts and has committed to a driver education program. See earlier comment regarding Strategic Streetscape Plan. See earlier comment regarding Strategic Streetscape Plan.