Embrace the Roundabout Workshop March 31--Sign Up Today!

         Attention community leaders, transportation advisory panel members and

         planners, health and senior policy advocates for livable neighborhoods, 

         engineers and technicians, walkable and bikable streets supporters, safe 

         streets proponents…          

      “EMBRACE THE ROUNDABOUT”

One-Day Workshop in Burlington, Tuesday, March 31, 2015

                              Presenter:  Mark T. Johnson, PE   

                   MTJ Roundabout Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin

Register Online Today!

This workshop focuses on the all-modes “intersection safety belt” conducted by American pioneer roundabout designer and researcher Mark T. Johnson, PE.  http://www.mtjengineering.com/ 

Johnson works regularly with local governments and communities through the gritty public meetings and hearings it takes to bring new technology to fruition, change that increases vastly both safety and service to our streets and highways for all who walk, bicycle or travel by motor vehicle.

Location:  Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.

Time:  Sign in: 8 a.m.-8:45 a.m.  Workshop: 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

    

Sponsors: Burlington Neighborhood Planning Assemblies 2/3 & 4/7

Co-Sponsors: UVM Center on Aging   Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission   AARP Vermont    Addison County Regional Planning Commission   Northwest Regional Planning Commission   VTrans   Vermont Local Roads Program   Lamoille County Planning Commission

Workshop Topics Include: 1.  ABCs of roundabout design (capacity, size, trucks, delay, walk and bike modes, comparison to signals/signs).  2. Recent design developments. 3. Intersection case analyses, including one or more from Burlington. 4. Gaining public acceptance and support. 5. Other topics--pollution, gasoline use and global warming reductions; land use and economic benefits; traffic calming, scenic quality, and roundabout corridors. 

The Roundabout: Fights sprawl.  Rescues seniors from their high intersection fatality rates. Constitutes central path to walkable/bikable neighborhoods/downtowns.  Slashes walk/bike/car occupant serious injuries about 90%.  Drops intersection gas use/pollutants/global warming gas about 30%.  Boasts highest capacity for all modes.  Easily fits over 90% of all busy intersections. Facilitates healthy walk/bike lifestyles and safe school routings.  Brings economic vitality and higher density growth.  Enhances scenic quality.  Twinned with cycle track to assure safe, comfortable cycling for all.   Because of high rates of senior fatalities intersections when driving or walking, AARP advocates converting signalized intersections to roundabouts.  

New Era, New Needs: The young millennial generation drives less, 12% less get driver licenses, and increasingly choose to live and work in urban and town centers car independent.  But our walk/bike infrastructure remains antiquated or non-existent.  The U.S. once first and now 15^th in highway safety faces growing walk and bike fatalities, car fatalities still too high.  Every three years a fatal injury occurs in Burlington—six at signalized intersections since 1998—the majority on foot and bicycle, and a third seniors.  The roundabout keys the march to safety for all modes at intersections.

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REGISTRATION:  “EMBRACE THE ROUNDABOUT WORKSHOP”

           Tuesday, March 31, 2015. 

Presenter:  Mark T. Johnson, P.E.  Venue: Waterman Memorial Lounge, UVM, Burlington VT

Register Online Today: http://www.cvent.com/d/7rqmc9/4W

Or: (1) fill out this form and FAX to 802-865-8066 or (2) mail with either credit card information or check made out to “Embrace the Roundabout Workshop” to Delaney Meeting and Event Management, One Mill Street, Suite 315, Burlington, VT 05401.  For questions, email info@delaneymeetingevent.com or call 802-865-5202

COST:    General  _____ $50.00       Student/Senior  _____ $20.00

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For further information contact: Tony Redington, NPA 2/3 Steering Committee, TonyRVT99@gmail.com, telephone 802-343-6616                                                                   1/25/2015     

America Slips in Highway Safety as Millennials Switch to Walk/Bike Modes in Unwalkable/Unbikable Urban Areas

Comment submitted today to the international roundabout listserv housed at Kansas State University

...Our roads were once number one in fatality rates in 1970 according to the Organization for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD).   And OECD puts us at 15 now among the two dozen or so nations they recently reported data on. The top three or four nations including the U.K. have half our fatality rate per miles of car travel--that translates to 15,000 needless fatalities here in the U.S. alone each year if only we addressed safety deficiencies--roundabouts needed in place of signals probably the most glaring deficiency.   As more and more folks--led by the millennials--give up licensing, reduce their car travel and switch to more walking and bicycling (at least trying to in our unbikable/unwalkable downtowns and urban areas!), walking and bike fatalities are on the increase while the vehicle occupant numbers continue a slow decline.  The need for roundabouts to serve demand for safe walking and bicycling has yet to move the needle of 400-500 roundabouts production yearly in U.S./Canada.  An Ebola death galvanized the country but the growth from 621 walker fatalities to 722 (2010-2012) hardly gets notice.