Would a ‘Mini-Roundabout’ Alleviate Traffic Congestion at Myrtle and Owens?

Washington County is looking into the possibility of implementing a traffic control system that is seldom used in the United States to address the congestion at Myrtle and Owens.

It’s called a mini-roundabout, and it functions the same as the traffic control methods used on Highway 5 in Lake Elmo and Highway 95 in Lakeland, only smaller.

The intersection of Owens and Myrtle “functions acceptably” most of the day, Joe Gustafson told the city council on Tuesday. However, traffic backs up during peak hours, which causes neighborhood cut-throughs and higher crash rates  at the adjacent intersections.

The intersection is too small for a traffic signal, Gustafson said, the sidewalks are too narrow and there is minimal right of way to fit traffic-pole infrastructure.

If a traffic signal was installed, there is no room for a left turn lane and parking spaces would be lost.

The cost of a traffic signal is about $250,000.

A Solution?

“We have a problem and an opportunity,” Gustafson said. “Something we want to look at, not commit to—and that option is the mini-roundabout.”

The mini-roundabout would fit inside the intersection, Gustafson said. The roundabout would not have signs or landscaping, but it would provide a wider boulevard, preserve parking and minimize project costs.

Because it is a challenging location, Gustafson said the intersection was accepted into a mini-roundabout test program being conducted by the Federal Highway Administration.

The incentive? The feds would pay 90 percent of the project costs up to $100,000.

Washington County would pay 7.5 percent of the project, and Stillwater would kick in the remaining 2.5 percent.

The city and county would be responsible to pay any amount over $100,000.

To receive the funding, the mini-roundabout would have to stay in place for three years while the Federal Highway Administration gathers information from the project.

The project is in the beginning stages, so more design studies need to be done to determine the cost and scope of the project.

If approved, construction could begin in spring 2014.

The Mayor’s Dissent

A majority of the council thought it was a “radical concept,” but one well worth exploring after factoring in the impacts of the new river crossing.

However, Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki adamantly opposed it.

“I hate those damn roundabouts," Harycki said. "The one on Highway 5 in Lake Elmo looks terrible.”

But the mayor didn’t stop there.

“One-hundred grand for an intersection? That’s a lot of money. Maybe we should just send the money back to China and tell them to keep it. Knock it off our national debt. I don’t like that idea. I would really like to wait and see what happens when the bridge goes through—and what happens with traffic—it may not be an issue.”

Stillwater area resident Ann Gillen-Triplett agreed with the mayor.

The traffic is horrendous at that intersection, but the new bridge is supposed to alleviate much of that traffic, Gillen-Triplett said to the council. People use it as a short cut to get into downtown traffic faster to get across the bridge.

“It’s not just Minnesota people, it’s Wisconsin people, so I would like to see you wait and see what happens.”

Gillen-Triplett questioned how fire trucks would get through a smaller intersection when the new fire station is built; and how plows would handle the intersection.

“How are they going to get through a mini-roundabout? None of their trucks are mini,” Gillen Triplett said. “There has to be a better solution to what you’re offering now. And $100,000? That’s too much.”

Gustafson said fire trucks would be able to drive over the islands of the roundabout. The plowing, would be new, but he didn’t anticipate any issues.

Washington County Commissioner Gary Kreisel reminded the council the presentation was strictly informational.

“Obviously there are a lot of discussions to be had,” Kreisel said. “This is a radical approach, but signalizing that intersection is very costly. I think this is worthy of engaging in a discussion.”