Abstract Manager

This presentation highlights a roundabout project within the City of Thunder Bay at the intersection of Edward Street and Redwood Avenue.  It discusses the geometric design of the roundabout, which is a partial two-lane design, the detailed design, and the public consultation prior to opening.  One unique feature of the roundabout is the central island truck apron, which was designed in consultation with a local Indigenous Elders Committee.  Another is the pedestrian crossings, which have rapid flashing beacons (RFBs) on the two-lane entries and exits accompanied by accessible pedestrian signals (APS).  The single-lane entries and exits just have regulatory pedestrian crosswalk signs, with no RFBs.

This is the first such application of APS at a roundabout in Ontario, and perhaps Canada as well.  This presentation discusses pedestrian experience at the crossings with and without the RFBs, and the safety and accessibility trade-offs associated with RFBs.  Lessons learned at this roundabout could guide the future installation of RFBs with APS at roundabouts elsewhere, and increase their overall level of accessibility for users impacted by blindness.  These users have expressed concerns for some time that roundabouts are not as accessible to them as other types of intersections.