East Longmeadow Rotary Project

Summary of Presentation – July 26, 2000

The first alternative Ms. Richards presented was a modern roundabout following conventional rotary right-of-way rules of yielding as you enter. (She explained that rotary and roundabout were being used as interchangeable terms.) This alternative would close Pleasant Street with traffic diverted to Callender Street. In conjunction with this scenario Callender would need to be upgraded. Shaker Road would be right turn in/ right turn out. Vehicles going to Shaker from all roads except Maple would use Maple Court. Realignment would be required along the Elm Street and Shaker Road approaches. Pedestrian crossings would be placed one car length back from the intersection. Minor property would be required along the Elm Street approach for this option and overall green space would increase. Key elements of the roundabout include realigning Shaker Road to enter Maple Street and limiting the movements to right turn in/ right turn out. Maple Street would have access to Shaker Road but all other roads would have to use Maple Court to access Shaker road. Similarly, Pleasant Street is realigned to enter Somers Road and would be limited to right turn in/right turn out. Vehicles destined to pleasant Street (other than Somers Road) would have to use Callender or Kibbe to access Pleasant Street. Other roundabout options include construction of a connection between Shaker Road and Prospect Street, moving northbound Shaker traffic to Prospect approach; construction of a connection between North Main and Elm Street, rerouting Elm Street traffic to the North Main Street approach; or rerouting Elm Street traffic to North Main Street along Brook Street.

Two options were presented for traffic signals. The first included three intersections created in the shape of a triangle with a signal at each corner. Under this option, the only leg of the triangle with two-way traffic permitted would be the southern leg. Prospect Street would be restricted to right in-right out, and little or no land takings would be required. The second traffic signal option would result in an L-shape intersection with the existing circle changed to a Town Green. Three intersections would be created with signals at each. Prospect Street would be rerouted to connect to Somers Road via William Street. A parking area could be created as part of the Prospect Street rerouting, and delays are reduced at all approaches.

An unsignalized alternative was presented creating a one-way pair with Shaker and Elm as the northbound path and North Main and Maple as the southbound path. Pleasant, Somers and Prospect would intersect at a one way street. Traffic would be rerouted to Maple Court and Brook Street or a new road to access other legs of the intersection.

Short term improvements were also presented. These improvements included adding lane designation pavement markings on all approaches, cobblestone or scored concrete islands, off-set stop bars, clarifying signage, and curb reconstruction.

Bypass routes were presented from survey results and other sources.

A do nothing option was also briefly discussed.

The meeting was then opened for questions and answers. Most questions involved specifics of how the alternatives would work in detail. A few questions involved possible alternatives that were not looked at. Ms. Richards responded that specific alternatives that were not feasible to be carried forward were not explored in detail for this project. One of those mentioned was the possibility of using an old rail bed that is slated for a bike trail.

For more information about the East Longmeadow Rotary study, please contact: Silvio Baruzzi, Superintendent of Public Works. At (413)525-5410.