I am strongly opposed to a roundabout at the main entrance to Cape Henlopen High School. DelDOT claims its research shows roundabouts are safer than traffic signals. Has DelDOT researched specifically the safety statistics for roundabouts situated at the main entrance to a regional high school? Logic says there could be a big difference between regular roundabouts and school entrance roundabouts.
I am concerned we do not know enough about the traffic safety improvements the new roundabouts will achieve for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians on a roundabout used as the main entrance to a major school system. DelDOT in its 70-page presentation has provided only vague generalities on pedestrian safety, no specifics. This school entrance roundabout is vastly different than a normal roundabout used to slow traffic. Where is the relevant DelDOT information? All I have been able to learn is DelDOT insists it’s right and all the rest of us using this area are wrong. Do you want to trust DelDOT about this?
Vehicular safety - Given the tens of millions we will be spending to improve safety, what actual improvement should we expect with these new roundabouts? How many traffic/pedestrian accidents are we dealing with at each of these intersections? How many fewer accidents should we hope for? What are the safety statistics at similar high schools with a roundabout at their main entrance? Is safety improved? By how much? We have hundreds of cars with parents, teachers and students accessing the same entrance/exit along with a large number of school buses competing with Kings Highway and ferry traffic. Remember there will be a lot of new, inexperienced 16- to 17-year-old drivers.
Pedestrian safety - The plans call for a crosswalk on both sides of the roundabout at the high school. Pedestrians will activate a flashing light when they want to cross. Does DelDOT believe flashing lights are safer than a traffic signal? How many times have we seen drivers ignore these flashing traffic lights in Dewey Beach and Rehoboth? To cross safely, all traffic entering the roundabout from any direction would have to stop and the roundabout would come to a standstill to provide safe crossing for pedestrians. Do the other schools with a roundabout as their main entrance show improved pedestrian safety?
The current foot and bicycle traffic that uses this crossway will only continue to grow. The Governors subdivision across the street from the high school added almost 500 new homes since DelDOT’s plan originated, and current and future residential building plans will add hundreds of new homes within one mile of the high school – hundreds of new homes that will use these crosswalks to access the school and its resources.
Costs - Originally planned in 2016 at $29 million, I estimate that will double or even triple before the project is complete. What additional safety should we expect for this expense?
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