More than any other city in Monterey County, Marina has embraced the roundabout, a traffic-controlling feature that both reduces accidents and greenhouse gas emissions.
On April 20, two days before Earth Day, the city unveiled it's latest roundabout at Del Monte Blvd. and Beach Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Bruce Delgado.
Speaking before a small crowd, Delgado said the intersection, previously, was "arguably one of the most dangerous intersections in town."
Delgado also spoke to concerns some residents voiced at council meetings, where they said roundabouts were more dangerous for pedestrians. Delgado dispelled that notion, and highlights the shorter crossings for pedestrians, which have "islands" halfway through.
"The islands make the crossing so short, you're getting refuge," he said.
He also credited City Manager Layne Long with getting the project off the ground, and highlighted none of the $2.2 million it cost to build the roundabout came from the city's general fund: 60-percent was funded through federal transportation grants, and 40-percent through impact fees.
Delgado also said the roundabout will soon have solar-powered crossing lights—they're on back-order—and added, "A lot of things arounds Marina are happening."
Brian McMinn, Marina's director of public works, highlighted that the landscaping in the center of the feature adds a lot more beautification than an all-concrete intersection, and presented data about the roundabouts many benefits:
- Overall reduction of crashes by 35 percent and injury crashes by 76 percent.
- Lower overall delay than signalized intersections.
- Reduction of vehicle speeds, and with that, potentially safer pedestrian crossing.
- Lower operating and maintenance costs.
McMinn also added the city has two more roundabouts in the pipeline—one at Beach and Reservation roads and the other at Cardoza Avenue and Reservation Road—that are about 60-percent designed.