Lake Wheeler Road Project Update Survey

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Project Engagement
Views 383
Participants 152
Responses 789
Comments 103
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We are proposing a roundabout at the Lake Wheeler and South Saunders Street intersection. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 as the highest and 1 as the lowest please rate your support of this feature.
Average 81 / 100
As others mentioned, it's hard to provide feedback on this feature without seeing the alignment and for me personally the footprint of the proposed circle. In general, engineers in the US oversize roundabouts and end up creating a larger intersection than is required. The new roundabout at Pullen and Bilyeu for example is much larger than it needs to be. This is probably too radical for people to get behind right now, but I could see Lake Wheeler and S. Saunders as a Shared Space intersection where Northbound Saunders yields to Lake Wheeler > Saunders. This would only work if the grade was tempered well in advance of the intersection, but there also, a roundabout would need the same grade tempering on the approach. Hard to say at this point, but VERY GRATEFUL that something is being proposed to 1) slow traffic 2) provide better accommodation for bike/ped. The design speed of this entire corridor from Maywood to Saunders and beyond should be no more than 20 mph! 15 mph really. It is a street, not a road.
Reply7 Agree2 years ago
My only concern with a roundabout is that it often causes pedestrians to feel uncomfortable, as they are never entirely certain that someone will stop for them. It can be difficult for a pedestrian to make eye contact with someone in low-light conditions. (When was the last time that you crossed the street at the Hillsborough / Pullen Rd. roundabout? Go try it. I'm serious. Do it). A red light gives pedestrians (near) certainty that they will not be hit. Considering that Dix park is surrounded by many apartment and residential complexes, having safe pedestrian passages is imperative for this area to flourish. Many of these areas are low-income, and many of the residents rely on pedestrian walkways as their main transportation. Many people using South Saunders and Lake Wheeler Road are either coming off the interstate or trying to access the interstate, so they are hurrying through and would likely be in a more accelerated state of driving. Safe, consistent, and certain pedestrian and biking access is absolutely imperative for this intersection.
Reply7 Agree2 years ago
I believe any traffic calming measures in the city core are great additions. This intersection now isn't optimal and I believe a roundabout is a considerable improvement, especially with the development on the east side of S. Saunders under way now. I would love to see this project focus on and present pedestrian/bike benefits 1st and 2nd priority accommodations to cars.
Reply5 Agree2 years ago
It highly depends on the actual design of the intersection and how pedestrians / cyclists will navigate it. For example, the bike lanes on Hillsborough dead ends at the roundabouts which is dangerous and difficult to safely navigate.
Reply3 Agree2 years ago
Without seeing how you plan to realign S. Saunders and Lake Wheeler it's hard to answer this question.
Reply3 Agree2 years ago
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With the new Daladams Street extension into the park and the long-term goal of having Umstead Drive a pedestrian-only entrance, we propose making Umstead Drive a right-in, right-out only street. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 as the highest and 1 as the lowest please rank you support for the proposed right-in, right-out intersection at Umstead Drive.
Average 82 / 100
As others mentioned, it's hard to provide feedback on this feature without seeing the alignment and for me personally the footprint of the proposed circle. In general, engineers in the US oversize roundabouts and end up creating a larger intersection than is required. The new roundabout at Pullen and Bilyeu for example is much larger than it needs to be. This is probably too radical for people to get behind right now, but I could see Lake Wheeler and S. Saunders as a Shared Space intersection where Northbound Saunders yields to Lake Wheeler > Saunders. This would only work if the grade was tempered well in advance of the intersection, but there also, a roundabout would need the same grade tempering on the approach. Hard to say at this point, but VERY GRATEFUL that something is being proposed to 1) slow traffic 2) provide better accommodation for bike/ped. The design speed of this entire corridor from Maywood to Saunders and beyond should be no more than 20 mph! 15 mph really. It is a street, not a road.
Reply7 Agree2 years ago
My only concern with a roundabout is that it often causes pedestrians to feel uncomfortable, as they are never entirely certain that someone will stop for them. It can be difficult for a pedestrian to make eye contact with someone in low-light conditions. (When was the last time that you crossed the street at the Hillsborough / Pullen Rd. roundabout? Go try it. I'm serious. Do it). A red light gives pedestrians (near) certainty that they will not be hit. Considering that Dix park is surrounded by many apartment and residential complexes, having safe pedestrian passages is imperative for this area to flourish. Many of these areas are low-income, and many of the residents rely on pedestrian walkways as their main transportation. Many people using South Saunders and Lake Wheeler Road are either coming off the interstate or trying to access the interstate, so they are hurrying through and would likely be in a more accelerated state of driving. Safe, consistent, and certain pedestrian and biking access is absolutely imperative for this intersection.
Reply7 Agree2 years ago
I believe any traffic calming measures in the city core are great additions. This intersection now isn't optimal and I believe a roundabout is a considerable improvement, especially with the development on the east side of S. Saunders under way now. I would love to see this project focus on and present pedestrian/bike benefits 1st and 2nd priority accommodations to cars.
Reply5 Agree2 years ago
It highly depends on the actual design of the intersection and how pedestrians / cyclists will navigate it. For example, the bike lanes on Hillsborough dead ends at the roundabouts which is dangerous and difficult to safely navigate.
Reply3 Agree2 years ago
Without seeing how you plan to realign S. Saunders and Lake Wheeler it's hard to answer this question.
Reply3 Agree2 years ago
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We are proposing an elongated roundabout between Goode Street and Mercury Street. One a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 and the lowest and 10 as the highest, please rank your support for the elongated roundabout concept.
Average 81 / 100
Love this. The example in the video from somewhere outside of Raleigh looks FANTASTIC for pedestrians with minimal locations that sidewalks intersect with roadways. This design looks to allow full access for vehicles while providing tons of pedestrian refuge. My only question: Would bike lanes follow the traffic lanes? Or is the bike path going to be a separated greenway style path?
Reply5 Agree2 years ago
Having a roundabout here is a good idea considering the proximity between these two access points. However, pedestrian access is crucial here. If you want Dix Park & the Farmer's Market to flourish, you have got to create easy, safe, dependable, and consistent pedestrian and cycling access to these areas. Caraleigh will become more and more residential in the coming years, and this area could be a pedestrian highlight or a pedestrian nightmare. Much of this will depend on how Lake Wheeler Road is developed. My question is: How can you make pedestrian crossings seamless and easy such that anyone of any age (children or elderly) and any ability (a mother with a stroller OR a 25-year-old male) can cross without feeling on edge?

Many of these areas are also low-income areas, and many of the residents who live there rely on pedestrian walkways as their main type of transportation. Yes, pedestrians can use crosswalks around roundabouts, but removing stop signs or stop lights gives preference to cars rather than pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrians should be able to cross whenever they need to. Cars should be the ones who have to defer to pedestrians here, not the other way around. Safe, consistent, and certain pedestrian and biking access is absolutely imperative for this intersection.
Reply5 Agree2 years ago
We frequently use Goode Street as our main pedestrian access to Dix Park coming from Mercury. At times it is very difficult to cross Lake Wheeler as a pedestrian or biker. Anything that improves the safety of this will be appreciated.
Reply3 Agree2 years ago
I lived in England for several years... roundabouts work well.
Reply2 Agree2 years ago
I like the creativity and as a motorcycle rider through this area on occasion, I think this would be safer given the offset entrance/exits along Lake Wheeler here.
Reply1 Agree2 years ago
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If any, what is your biggest concern with the elongated roundabout?
80%
Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety
11%
Vehicular Navigability
5%
Other
4%
Increased Travel Time and/or length
111 respondents
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Would you prefer to see the pedestrian & bike accommodations
58%
Inside the elongated roundabout
42%
At either end only
93 respondents
Hard to say. I think the vast majority of bike/ped demand will be on the west side of the street at this location as people will largely either enter the park or continue down Lake Wheeler. It might be best to keep the main bike/ped artery on the west side of this intersection with a connection to the east side to access Mercury.

The biggest feedback from me, and a lot of people on here I'm sure, is to keep the design speed DOWN on Lake Wheeler. This does not need to be a stroad that any driver feels comfortable traveling 35mph+. It needs to be a STREET that drivers only feel comfortable traveling less than 25 mph, and ideally less than that. It's only a 0.9 mile corridor, which takes much longer on foot/bike than in a car, regardless of whether the car is going 20 or 40, so please prioritize bike/ped empowerment over vehicle volume/speed. If Lake Wheeler becomes slow and congested, GOOD! That means drivers will find alternate routes for through trips (like highway 401 right next door). And it means drivers are paying attention, because congestion creates attention to driving conditions.

THANK YOU ALL - LET'S DO THIS!!!
Reply4 Agree2 years ago
With good signage, it's more intuitive and safe to yield to pedestrians before entering the roundabout, rather than while inside it. The whole point of a roundabout is that those inside have right-of-way to those entering - if you change that, it could be unsafe. Dutch style roundabouts have bikes and pedestrians always on the outside.
Reply2 Agree2 years ago
As frequent pedestrians here, the "desire path" on foot naturally is a straight line between Mercury and Goode. Pedestrians crossing inside the roundabout would align most with how it's currently used on foot.
Reply1 Agree2 years ago
The roundabouts at hillsbrough street are difficult to cross as a pedestrian and feel dangerous. Don’t know what the answer is but make these safer, easier, faster for pedestrians!
ReplyAgree2 years ago
Like it
ReplyAgree2 years ago
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Do you think the proposed additions to the design concepts create a safer corridor for Lake Wheeler Road and Dix Park?
90% Yes
10% No
114 respondents
Hard to say. I think the vast majority of bike/ped demand will be on the west side of the street at this location as people will largely either enter the park or continue down Lake Wheeler. It might be best to keep the main bike/ped artery on the west side of this intersection with a connection to the east side to access Mercury.

The biggest feedback from me, and a lot of people on here I'm sure, is to keep the design speed DOWN on Lake Wheeler. This does not need to be a stroad that any driver feels comfortable traveling 35mph+. It needs to be a STREET that drivers only feel comfortable traveling less than 25 mph, and ideally less than that. It's only a 0.9 mile corridor, which takes much longer on foot/bike than in a car, regardless of whether the car is going 20 or 40, so please prioritize bike/ped empowerment over vehicle volume/speed. If Lake Wheeler becomes slow and congested, GOOD! That means drivers will find alternate routes for through trips (like highway 401 right next door). And it means drivers are paying attention, because congestion creates attention to driving conditions.

THANK YOU ALL - LET'S DO THIS!!!
Reply4 Agree2 years ago
With good signage, it's more intuitive and safe to yield to pedestrians before entering the roundabout, rather than while inside it. The whole point of a roundabout is that those inside have right-of-way to those entering - if you change that, it could be unsafe. Dutch style roundabouts have bikes and pedestrians always on the outside.
Reply2 Agree2 years ago
As frequent pedestrians here, the "desire path" on foot naturally is a straight line between Mercury and Goode. Pedestrians crossing inside the roundabout would align most with how it's currently used on foot.
Reply1 Agree2 years ago
The roundabouts at hillsbrough street are difficult to cross as a pedestrian and feel dangerous. Don’t know what the answer is but make these safer, easier, faster for pedestrians!
ReplyAgree2 years ago
Like it
ReplyAgree2 years ago
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Did you find the presentation informative and easy to understand?
83% Yes
17% No
109 respondents
It would be informative to have a presentation document with the proposed design elements and the location of each designated on a map. The video presentations are clear and informative; however, it is sometimes difficult to gain a perspective of where all the changes are without having a single map to glance at while studying the changes.
Reply6 Agree2 years ago
I only voted no because there were parts that didn't go into enough detail for me. You did a nice job with it all, and I'm supportive. I just had some moments where I wanted more info.
Reply4 Agree2 years ago
Please focus on and present pedestrian/bike improvements before benefits for cars. Slow traffic down. Make this corridor less desirable for through traffic and more friendly for foot/bike traffic. If there is any road in Raleigh that needs to be completely reimagined for safety of pedestrians, it's this road (change to Street makes a lot of sense as well). This road borders Dix and connects downtown to the Farmers Market (obv).
Reply2 Agree2 years ago
really liked this video format
Reply1 Agree2 years ago
The video (though it lacked some detail) was a helpful way to portray the information, appreciated!
ReplyAgree2 years ago