Round and around we go!

Every so often, someone on a local social media page makes a negative remark about the town’s roundabout at Avenue of the Fountains and La Montana, often to stir the pot. It usually triggers a slew of opinions, conjectures, and even insults.

Our roundabout not only creates improved traffic flow, but it is safer for vehicular traffic and especially pedestrians.

A Public Records Request submitted to the Town of Fountain Hills regarding the roundabout intersection asked about accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians. It also asked about the distances of crosswalks pre-roundabout and with today’s roundabout.

Since the roundabout’s 2021 construction, there have been nine reported crashes, none of which involved pedestrians.

Prior to the construction and operation of the roundabout, during the period January 2018 to Dec 2020, there were six reported crashes. Going back to 2017, there was one additional crash. And in 2016, there was one more crash.

As noted by the Town, upon comparing the roundabout crash diagram with the pre-roundabout crash diagram, the severity of crashes decreased after the roundabout was in service. There were injuries sustained in crashes between 2016 and 2020, while no injuries were noted after 2021. (See comments section for crash diagrams.)

As pedestrian traffic at an around this intersection increases due to events, residents walking their dogs, more people living in the area, more people using auto alternatives to get around, etc., what we believed prior to receiving this report proved true: this intersection is safer, particularly for people on foot, in great part because of the crosswalk configurations. The roundabout’s ability to mitigate the severity of injuries suffered in accidents involving vehicles is another crowning accomplishment for making the wise construction decision at this intersection.

Pre-roundabout, each of the crosswalks across La Montana Dr were approximately 77 feet long. Each of the distances to cross the travel lanes of Avenue of the Fountains was around 40’, except for the northeast crosswalk across the Avenue, which was about 47 feet.

Roundabout crosswalks – each of the eight individual pedestrian crossings across lanes – range from 15-18 feet in length.

Thank you to a friend of Flourish Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills for collaborating on the Public Records Request and the valuable information regarding traffic safety at Avenue of the Fountains and La Montana Drive (the roundabout).