City to move ahead with 19th and Louisiana roundabout / LJWorld.com

Lawrence city commissioners agreed Tuesday to move ahead with the design of a roundabout at 19th and Louisiana streets, despite concerns that a roundabout won't mix well with nearby Lawrence High School.

Patricia Sinclair, a resident who lives near the recently constructed roundabout at 19th Street and Barker Avenue, urged commissioners to put a halt to the proposed Louisiana Street project.

"I don't think it is going to be safe for pedestrians to cross at this roundabout, and I don't think it will slow traffic," Sinclair said. "Roundabouts are not a one-size-fits-all solution to traffic and intersection problems. A lot of experts don't favor roundabouts at arterial streets or where there is a high level of pedestrian traffic. This site has both."

Commissioners, though, unanimously agreed to issue bonds for the project and direct staff members to begin looking for an engineering firm to design the estimated $546,000 project. City staff members assured commissioners they would look closely at the design to ensure it works well with the adjacent LHS and Cordley School, which is farther to the east.

"We'll have to sit down with the schools and neighbors to make sure that we consider everything, including pedestrians," said Chuck Soules, the city's director of public works. "We don't want to do anything that creates a hazard for pedestrians."

Staff members also said that they would be careful in determining when the construction project would begin. If construction can't begin by May 2005, it likely would be delayed until May 2006.

"We don't want to have a major construction project going on during the school year," said Debbie Van Saun, assistant city manager.

Commissioners said they were optimistic that the roundabout could be designed to accommodate the high levels of pedestrian traffic. Commissioner David Dunfield, who lives near the new 19th Street and Barker Avenue roundabout, said he thought it was performing well.

"I have heard overwhelmingly positive comments from my neighbors about it, including parents who have children who have to cross at that intersection," Dunfield said.