Talk of The Villages Florida - Proposed roundabout at hwy 301 and CR 472!?!

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- - Proposed roundabout at hwy 301 and CR 472!?! (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/proposed-roundabout-hwy-301-cr-472-a-164597/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 1122121)

There are several different traffic light timing programs in use in the area. I have seen:
Left turn arrow turn green when the straight thru green lights go on.

Left turn arrow turn green when the OPPOSING traffic left arrow turns green and thru lanes are red

Left turn arrow turns green AFTER the thru lanes turned green, near the end of the cycle

This does tend to be confusing, especially where the traffic signals are adaptive, and change depending on traffic flow.

NOW as for the proposed roundabout on 301, there have been several very interesting comments and observations. My view has softened somewhat, but I still think there will be a continuing problem with OUT OF THE AREA drivers encountering the roundabout and doing something stupid. Please think about what happens this time each year when the snowbirds return.
Also, while I do agree that the accidents at the traffic lights appear to be more numerous, I have had more close calls on roundabouts then at traffic lights.

My plan will be to avoid 301, until the dust settles, then try it during NON rush hour times and see how it and the other drivers work.

If you have a left hand green arrow, then the traffic coming in the opposite direction has a red light. If you have a green light, the traffic coming in the opposite direction has a green light and you should only make a left hand turn only when it is safe to do so. It seems that a lot of people here have difficulty judging how far and how fast an oncoming car is traveling.

The green arrow always shuts off before the opposing red light turns green. You'll never see a left hand green arrow when the opposite traffic has a green light.

Like I said, I hear about accidents at the intersections of Morse and 466, Morse and 466A, Buena Vista and 466 and Buena Vista and 466A than any other place in The Villages. I seldom hear of accidents in the roundabouts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr (Post 1122443)

Accidents at 4 way stops and lights quite often result in bodily harm or even death. Accidents at RAB most often are fender benders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr (Post 1122443)

It seems that a lot of people here have difficulty judging how far and how fast an oncoming car is traveling.

See that's where I think the lights down here are different than in New Jersey. I was making a left off BV on 441A I went slow so there was no problem for me avoiding an accident but it never occurred to me that someone could be legally barreling down south trying to make the light because he had a green light.
I think up north the southbound light would have been red. I wouldn't swear on a stack of Bibles. It just seems like something with the lights is different down here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwed (Post 1122512)

Did you have a green ball or a green arrow?

Here's a swell rotary (or roundabout) in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. During rush-hour it makes driving an adventure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polar Bear (Post 1122519)

Did you have a green ball or a green arrow?

I was beyond the light when I stopped and looked. Which brings up another question. In Philly if you get stuck in the middle of an intersection because you timed it wrong, a camera takes your picture, they track you down and send you a ticket.
Here's the question:
If I time it wrong down here and get stuck in the middle, trying to make a left, could I get a ticket for careless driving or impeding traffic or some other thing?

Proposed roundabout at hwy 301 and CR 472!?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwed (Post 1122535)

You are supposed to continue on in to the intersection if you have a green ball, of course yielding to oncoming traffic. You stay back far enough to see the signal. When the signal turns red, you should immediately...again being cautious of oncoming traffic...proceed with your left turn.

If you do that, you're not only staying legal, you're doing it the way the intersection is designed to be driven.

There is a heck of a lot of home building happening on CR 472. I like many use this CR 472 often. As it sits now you can get get onto 301 with a left turn with little delay. As building continues it is going to increase traffic. I prefer a round a-bout over a traffic light because a traffic light is going to really back up traffic....and let's not forget about the trains that pass over CR472

I digress but I wonder what affect this is going to have on the new service station at this corner. My wife avoids it now because she claims its too hard to get in and out??

Some folks just do not like big city driving. so they are a little intimidated with on/off ramps, metered ramps, round a-bouts or rotaries as they call then in Boston.

It is quite obvious DOT sends out a notice on proposed plans ( sending up ballons) to get the public feedback. Perhaps DOT monitors TOTV also?

I have no problem leaving the service station and going South on 301. I simply head NORTH to the first turn around, and head South, simple, safe, and it avoids all of the problems of trying to make a left at 472.

PS I have beaten many cars that were behind me a 472 doing this, as they had to wait for traffic to clear in both direction, I only need to wait for the direction I am going.

This is JMHO, please do not shoot the messenger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck90199 (Post 1122530)

Here's a swell rotary (or roundabout) in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. During rush-hour it makes driving an adventure.

It might be a circle or a rotary, but it is not a modern roundabout.
Many people confuse other and older styles of circular intersections with modern roundabouts. East coast rotaries, large multi-lane traffic circles (Arc D�Triomphe, Dupont Circle), and small neighborhood traffic circles are not modern roundabouts. If you want to see the difference between a traffic circle, a rotary (UK roundabout) and a modern roundabout (UK continental roundabout), go to Center for Roundabouts Research and Training to see pictures. And here�s another site that shows the difference between an older rotary and a modern roundabout: Difference between a Rotary and a Roundabout