Roundabouts & Traffic Mobility

Traffic got you pulling your hair out? Us too! Check out the ways we are working to ease your drive.

Innovative Technologies

New products and practices already in place include:

Traffic control fees to reduce impacts to the public — Fees to encourage expedited and efficient use of lanes, sidewalks, and road closures to help minimize the impact on the traveling public.
In-pavement solar lights — Used to enhance the safety of the “S” curves on Quebec Street north of 138th Avenue, the city installed solar-powered in-pavement lights on the curves to help illuminate the path for vehicles.
Flashing yellow arrow deployment — Used to reinforce the left-turning traffic requirement to yield to oncoming traffic at a traffic signal. The configuration of the flashing yellow arrow signals also allows for switching to a left turn on green arrows only during certain times of the day to enhance safety further.
Decorative crosswalk markings — Highly visible decorative pattern crosswalks are used to improve driver awareness, pedestrian safety, and street aesthetics. High visibility crosswalk markings are generally strongly preferred over decorative markings because they are easier for motorists to see.
Roundabouts — A specific type of circular intersection designed to reduce vehicle conflicts and control speeds. Roundabouts result in fewer collisions than standard intersections.

Roundabouts

This video, produced by the Colorado Department of Transportation, will show you how to properly and safely navigate through roundabouts.

Roundabout Benefits

There are a total of 32 roundabouts in the city of Thornton. Roundabouts are used as an alternative to traffic signals and provide several benefits.

Increased Safety: Because of their configuration, roundabouts substantially reduce the most severe type of crashes, T-bone and head-on collisions, that tend to result in serious injuries or loss of life.
Slower Speeds: Roundabouts slow traffic down, promoting lower speeds and traffic calming.
Reduced Emissions: Roundabouts also have an environmental benefit by reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions. Starts, stops, and idling at traditional traffic signal intersections cause vehicles to emit pollutants. However, drivers navigating a roundabout are only required to prevent when there is conflicting traffic reducing pollutants being emitted.
Reduced Delay: Because vehicles can keep moving, roundabouts can reduce commute time and frustration associated with traffic signals.
Reliability: Unlike traffic signals, roundabouts do not need electricity, so they are not susceptible to power outages or other equipment issues.

Roundabouts Driving Tips

Traveling through a roundabout may be confusing and intimidating for some road users. There is a learning curve, and being patient and respectful of others unfamiliar with the roundabout is important. Here are a few tips for users on how to navigate a roundabout:

For Motorists:

When approaching the roundabout, slow down. Be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians, and pay attention to crosswalks and signage.
When entering the roundabout, always yield to vehicles already circulating in the roundabout.
When a safe gap in traffic is available, merge into the roundabout.
When traveling in the roundabout, avoid lane changes and passing other vehicles when there are multiple lanes. Pay attention to signage and merging vehicles.
Do not stop once in the circular traffic flow except in case of emergency or crash avoidance.
When in a roundabout, use your turn signal to alert other drivers of your intent to turn onto the intersecting street.

An aerial view of a double lane, three entrance roundabout with pedestrian crosswalks.

For Bicyclists:

Depending on your comfort level, ride with traffic inside the roundabout or use the crosswalks appropriately.
When riding with traffic, follow the same rules as vehicles and yield to circulating vehicles when entering the roundabout.
Since traffic slows down while circulating inside the roundabout, bicyclists should be able to travel at or near the same speed as motorists.
Alternatively, some roundabouts have ramps on the approach to the roundabout to allow bicycles to exit the road and use the sidewalks and crosswalks to navigate around the roundabout.

From the bikelane, looking into a roundabout with a sign warning of the end of the bike lane.

For Pedestrians:

Cross only at crosswalks, and always stay on the designated walkways.
Activate the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons before crossing if they are available.
Do not cross to the central island.
Cross the roundabout one approach at a time. Use the median island, if available, as the halfway point where you can stop and check for approaching traffic.

An aerial view of a double lane roundabout with a blue pedestrian crosswalk across the entrances and exits.

An aerial. view on a two lane round about with bright blue crosswalks over each entry/exit lane.

Staff is constantly researching other products and practices including:

Bluetooth Technology — Bluetooth readers at intersections will allow staff to monitor traffic congestion in real-time, generate travel time reports, and monitor overall corridor performance.
Traffic signal countdown timers — Partnering with in-vehicle app developers to provide in-vehicle displays of traffic signal status and a countdown from green to yellow or red to green.
Intersection Detection Cameras — Technology used to detect bicycles and vehicles at intersections.
Intersection Road Configurations — Green pavement markings to assist with moving bicycle traffic safely through an intersection.

Traffic Counts

A traffic count is a count of vehicular or pedestrian traffic conducted along a particular road, path, or intersection. A traffic count is commonly undertaken either automatically (with the installation of a temporary or permanent electronic traffic recording device) or manually by observers who visually count and record traffic on a hand-held electronic device or tally sheet. Local councils can use traffic counts to identify which routes are used most and improve that road or provide an alternative if there is excessive traffic. Also, some geography fieldwork involves a traffic count. Traffic counts provide the source data used to calculate the Annual Average Daily Traffic, the common indicator for traffic volume. Traffic counts are helpful in comparing two or more roads and can also be used alongside other methods to find out where a settlement's central business district is. Traffic counts that include speeds are used in speed limit enforcement efforts, highlighting peak speeding periods to optimize speed camera use and educational efforts (Wikipedia contributors. (2019, October 20). Traffic count. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:49, February 11, 2020.

24-Hour Traffic Count Map

Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

Not everyone is lucky to have a six-minute commute, which is why we work with the DRCOG to reduce traffic congestion on major roadways in the metro area. Visit DRCOG's System Operations and Technology website to learn more about the following:

Transportation Operations Support Services:
- DRCOG leads multijurisdictional partnerships to achieve optimal traffic signal timing and coordination on area roadways.
- A Signal Timing Briefs map illustrates an overview of the program's achievements.
Regional Transportation Operations and Technology set-aside:
- The Regional Transportation Operations and Technology set-aside program provides funds for technology, tools and coordinated system procedures.

This brochure, prepared by DRCOG, provides a look at some of the challenges involved in improving traffic signal timing and coordination.

Why is the signal always red? [PDF/714KB]