Going in circles not so bad with roundabouts

Remember the childhood game Red Light, Green Light? One child faced a group of children waiting to rush him the second he spun around and shouted "green light." When he turned back around and shouted "red light," the kids had to stop right away or risk being disqualified.

Sometimes that’s what Snohomish County traffic intersections seem like. It’s no secret traffic is getting worse by the second and everyone is zipping down streets trying to beat the lights, sometimes at the risk of getting into a serious crash.

Local communities could take a hint from the city of Monroe and explore the possibilities of traffic roundabouts at certain intersections.

As other communities throughout the country, and even the Western states, are discovering, roundabouts can work really well at otherwise awkward or slow intersections. Already a hit in Europe, the roundabout – also called a traffic circle – features an island in the middle of an intersection. Drivers approaching the circle yield to those cars already in the roundabout and then enter, traveling counter-clockwise.

"They’re safer. They’re much more efficient," said Ron Cameron, an engineer with Reid Middleton Engineers in Everett. "Roundabouts certainly have a place, but they’re not the answer to everything."

They wouldn’t work at certain intersections, such as downtown grids, because the circles take up a lot more space than a regular right-angle intersection. But they may be an option for city and county planners who are noticing increased traffic at an intersection and want to prepare for the next 20 to 30 years. Wisely, that’s what Monroe city officials are doing for the increasingly busy intersection at Highway 522, Tester Road and 164th Street, where high school students and gravel truck drivers come head to head.

Roundabouts may seem tedious because they slow down traffic to about 20 mph, but they actually speed up the process of driving through an intersection. Instead of having to wait a minute or more at a traffic light, drivers wait a matter of seconds to merge into the circle. And the circles reduce the number of accidents, studies show. No more cars sneaking through red lights and nearly crashing with other cars in the process. No more getting stuck in the middle of an intersection because the light turned red. Imagine eliminating the clogged traffic at the insane intersection of Evergreen Way and Casino Road. Ahh, we can dream, can’t we?

The downside is that roundabouts can cost a lot at first. The upside is they save money in the long run. The question is, are we willing to put up the money now so we can alleviate future traffic misery? Roundabouts cost more initially because of the land that is needed to build them. Cities looking to ward off problems at intersections should start considering that aspect now before it’s too late or too expensive to buy the property.

Roundabouts are not for the faint of heart and they definitely take some getting used to. Despite our state’s less than stellar driving reputation, we could handle it. Drivers may end up going in circles at first, but it sure beats the stop-go, stop-go traffic we have now.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, Feb. 17

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Rivian, based in Irvine, Calif., has introduced its new R2 models, smaller and more affordable SUVs. (Rivian)
Editorial: Open electric vehicle market to direct sales

Legislation would allow EV makers to sell directly to customers, making lease or purchase easier.

Comment: No one saw Musk’s DOGE rampage coming or its threat

With no formal grant of authority, Musk is making cuts without fully understanding the consequences.

Douthat: Trump is chasing off lawyers he’ll need at some point

The deal to clear Adams serves Trump only as a way of identify whom he can consider loyal in the DOJ.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Sunday, Feb. 16

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

President Donald Trump listens alongside Elon Musk as he explains the administration’s cost-cutting efforts in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Musk has for weeks posted on social media about government spending, often amplifying and seeding false information. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Comment: This crisis can’t be left to courts alone

The courts can uphold the law, but they can’t match the speed of the executive branch in tearing down systems.

Eco-nomics: Climate change is making insurance a risky bet

Keeping home insurance affordable amid climate change will take adaptation to threats and broader efforts.

The Buzz: When you gotta boogie, best to shake it off, kid

A pasquidadian review of the week’s news.

Stick with solutions to homelessness that have heart

A friend of mine, a poet from Leningrad who was born during… Continue reading

SAVE Act would restrict voting rights

As a mother, I am flabbergasted by the continued and increasing attacks… Continue reading

People walk adjacent to the border with Canada at the Peace Arch in Peace Arch Historical State Park, where cars behind wait to enter Canada at the border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but America kept similar restrictions in place, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus travel bans. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Editorial: U.S. and Canada better neighbors than housemates

President Trump may be serious about annexing Canada, but it’s a deal fraught with complexities for all.

CNA Nina Prigodich, right, goes through restorative exercises with long term care patient Betty Long, 86, at Nightingale's View Ridge Care Center on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Boost state Medicaid funding for long-term care

With more in need of skilled nursing and assisted-living services, funding must keep up to retain staff.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.