Why Kings Beach Residents Prefer a Three-Lane Road
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A Kings Beach crosswalk. Note the skid marks in the right lane.
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Background
Four Lanes
Crosswalks
Traffic
Roundabouts
Stoplights
Environment
Cut-Through Traffic
Economy
Parking
Opposition
Background
Historically an attractive place to live and visit, the small town of Kings Beach currently suffers economic and blight concerns. During the 1960's, the road through town was expanded to four-lanes. Many (not all) residents feel that the four-lane highway exists at the expense of safety, aesthetics, and the best interests of the town's economy.
For the past 10-15 years, a grass roots effort to give the town expanded sidewalks and slow traffic by reducing the roadway to three-lanes (one in each direction and a center turn lane) has evolved into a movement in support of creating a 'walkable' community. At the same time, the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project, which is intended to address a broad range of issues in the downtown area including water quality, safety, aesthetics, and quality of life, is maturing and nearing approval and eventual groundbreaking. Most agree that the project should include sidewalks and visual improvements, but much discussion has taken place within the community and other involved agencies regarding the roadway. Kings Beach has been asked to support either a four-lane road with additional stoplights or a three-lane road with roundabouts.
After years of public meetings, four public workshops were held in May, 2007 to inform, involve, and engage the community in order to determine a preference for the roadway that the majority of the community could support. The meetings were well attended, and identified a 3 to 1 ratio in favor of a three-lane alternative. Other indicators, including door to door polling, attendance at other public meetings, Main Street Program feedback, and endorsements of various organizations, also show that the community prefers a three-lane road in Kings Beach. This document is intended to discuss the elements of the three-lane alternative and why many community members favor this approach.
Click Here for a Historic Timeline
Four Lanes
The four lane road is unsafe. The second lane in each direction enables drivers to pass and speed. As drivers pass other drivers, they are frequently surprised by pedestrians making their way across the highway. In vehicles, it is difficult to navigate, with numerous instances of blind spots due to frequent lane changing mixed with pedestrian crossings. As a pedestrian, crossing the road is challenging and dangerous.
The four lane road is noisy. As cars, trucks, and motorcycles accelerate to pass each other, the noise level increases significantly. It is unpleasant to live, recreate, or walk near the highway with these noise levels.
The four lane road is aesthetically unappealing. The large paved surface reduces available area for sidewalks, public space, and attractive landscaping. The proposed additional stoplights also create visual problems and are not well-suited for the shores of Lake Tahoe. It should also be noted that within the entire 72-mile roadway that circles the Lake Tahoe basin, the four-lane configuration proposed as a possible alternative for the small community of Kings Beach only exists over a five-mile stretch in the heavily urbanized city of South Lake Tahoe. All other road configurations within the basin are 2 or 3 lanes.
Four lanes are less friendly to the environment. The larger paved surface increases runoff and water-quality problems. The large roadway discourages walking, and creates a perceived need for vehicle use to travel. As a result, residents and visitors frequently use their cars for short trips to destinations in town.
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In this case, a car is turning left, and the photographer is passing on the right. Too often, it is assumed a car is just turning left when there is actually a pedestrian crossing. As the car on the right passes, the pedestrian suddenly comes into view.
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Crosswalks
The Kings Beach Commercial Core is approximately one mile long with numerous areas where people frequently cross the road.
The distance a pedestrian needs to cross is significantly longer with a four-lane highway (56' vs. 36' with three-lanes and 12' to cross one direction of traffic at the proposed roundabouts). A three-lane road slows traffic, presents the pedestrian to moving vehicles, and allows the pedestrian to be in the road for a shorter time while crossing. This is safer for the person in the crosswalk, and also requires less yield-time for the vehicle traffic.
Another dangerous aspect of crossing the four-lane road occurs when cars yield to pedestrians. When one lane of cars yields to a pedestrian, a blind spot is created that hides the pedestrian. As other cars take advantage of the free lane to pass, the pedestrian comes into view at the last moment in the free lane. Numerous injuries and several fatalities have occurred in Kings Beach due to this scenario.
The alternative to pedestrian friendly road design is to place stoplights at numerous 4-5 lane intersections throughout the commercial core to allow pedestrians to make their way across the highway. This alternative will result in stop-and-go traffic patterns year-round, more unattractive stoplights, more paved surface, and a continued ability to for vehicles to pass and speed through Kings Beach.
Traffic
Maintaining the scenic beauty and character of Lake Tahoe's communities should take precedent over seasonal traffic issues. Lake Tahoe will continue to be visited by tourists and vacation home owners for centuries. With an inadequate public transportation system in place, most visitors and residents currently rely on automobiles to move around the area. To accommodate this traffic, a larger highway could be built around the lake at the expense of communities like Tahoe City and West Shore, or more proactive solutions can be developed to mitigate the negative effects from seasonal visitors. In Kings Beach, proactive measures such as adequate public transit and roundabouts are favored over more stoplights and lanes.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has committed to the concept of 'Context Sensitive Solutions' nationwide to improve the environmental quality of transportation decision making in planning and project development processes. In partnership with numerous agencies, FHWA has recognized that when planning for a project, transportation goals are on on equal footing with community and environmental goals. Given that Kings Beach is situated on the shores of one of the most scenic and environmentally sensitive lakes in the world, the end result of the Commercial Core Improvement Project should reflect more than the need to move traffic around the lake. The roadway should fit within the context of a small community in a scenic location and should preserve the aesthetic resources in the area. While the four-lane road with stoplights can move more traffic, it is unsightly and out of balance with the the needs of the community and the environment.
Kings Beach is a seasonal destination where most traffic occurs during the 3 months of summer. During the shoulder seasons of fall and spring, traffic numbers are substantially less than peak summer weekends. As a community, Kings Beach will benefit more from creating an attractive, walkable community than it will from having a higher capacity highway. While the four-lane road may be able move the most cars, a three-lane road will create the most social, environmental, and economic benefits for this North Tahoe community, especially during the 9 months of the year when traffic is not an issue.
Currently the only town in North Lake Tahoe dealing with the negative impacts of a four-lane highway, Kings Beach clearly can exist with traffic congestion during busy months if the road is reduced to three lanes. Based on traffic forecasts, it is unavoidable that the entire Lake Tahoe Basin will eventually face traffic congestion during the several months of the year when visitors flock to the area. Expanding highways around the Lake to accommodate these vehicles is not a reasonable option, as it would come at the expense of the numerous communities that surround Tahoe and the environment. Kings Beach is no exception, and it should not be required to endure the high speeds created by the unsightly four-lane road.
For more information on Context Sensitive Solutions, visit http://www.contextsensitivesolutions.org and the FHWA's Context Sensitive Solutions page.
Roundabouts
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Modern roundabouts differ from older traffic circles and rotaries in that they are smaller, they require vehicles to negotiate a sharper turn to enter, and they are designed with particular attention to pedestrians. In the above simulated photo, a pedestrian crosses one lane of traffic to reach a safety island.
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Stoplights force vehicles to stop when it is not necessary, and they are not visually appealing. When pedestrians cross 4-5 lanes, traffic must yield for a longer time, and the pedestrian is in harm's way for a greater distance.
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Roundabouts became part of the discussions when traffic experts declared that the only practical way to build a three-lane road in Kings Beach was to include roundabouts. Traffic lights could not support the traffic flow with three lanes. Modern roundabouts improve traffic flow, are safer for traffic and pedestrians, and are aesthetically more appealing than stoplights. For these reasons, they have gained the favor of many traffic engineers in recent years.
Roundabouts are safer for vehicular traffic. A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that when roundabouts were used in place of stoplights, vehicular accidents were reduced by 39 percent, accidents resulting in injuries fell by 76 percent, and accidents resulting in death were reduced by 90 percent.
The Institute also states that modern roundabouts may reduce traffic delays, vehicle pollution, and noise. It is widely accepted that modern roundabouts improve traffic flow, resulting in significantly improved road capacity. According to the Institute, several studies have found improvements in traffic flow when traditional intersections were converted to roundabouts. Their website states that "A study of three locations in New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, where roundabouts replaced traffic signals or stop signs, found an 89 percent average reduction in vehicle delays and a 56 percent average reduction in vehicle stops. A study of 11 intersections in Kansas found a 65 percent average reduction in delays and a 52 percent average reduction in vehicle stops after roundabouts were installed."
Roundabouts are more pedestrian friendly as well. When crossing a roadway near a roundabout, pedestrians need to cross only one lane of traffic at a time. Crossing distances are short and traffic speeds are slower. Studies have confirmed that single-lane roundabouts produce substantially lower pedestrian crash rates when compared with traffic signals.
The county has posted an informative guide on their site: Roundabouts - Traffic and Pedestrian Safety.
In addition to having benefits of being safer and increasing traffic flow, Roundabouts are aesthetically appealing, and can enhance the character of a scenic area like Lake Tahoe. Further, during the slow seasons when there is minimal traffic volume, residents will enjoy a steady traffic flow rather than stop and go traffic patterns at numerous stoplights throughout town.
Common questions about roundabouts:
Will emergency vehicles be slowed down by the Roundabout? Can a fire truck safely negotiate the Roundabout? According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, "A Roundabout is designed to safely operate at about 20 mph. The average speed for Modern Roundabouts is between 15 and 25 miles an hour. The time lost negotiating the Roundabout will only be a few seconds. Roundabouts are carefully designed to accommodate emergency and large sized vehicles. Drivers should behave in the same manner as they would on any other road if an emergency vehicle approaches - yield to emergency vehicles in the Modern Roundabout. Exit and if you can, pull over." It should be noted that roundabout opponents in Kings Beach have used the argument that emergency vehicles cannot get through them. The Chief of the North Tahoe Fire Department has stated that any alternative, including the three-lane roundabout solutions, will work and that emergency vehicles will be able to get through any of the proposed designs. The North Tahoe Fire District has not endorsed or eliminated any alternative. It should also be noted that the fire department has not had problems with nearby Tahoe City's three-lane traffic configuration.
Can on-street bikes navigate a roundabout? Bikers have a choice of yielding with normal traffic or using a bypass that will be included in the Kings Beach roundabouts.
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Roundabout Resources
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's FAQs on Roundabouts.
The Federal Department of Transportation Research on Modern Roundabouts.
The Arizona Department of Transportation also lists answers to FAQ on Roundabouts
On Stoplights
Stoplights are less attractive than roundabouts. They create light pollution, and obstruct the scenery. They stop traffic, often when stopping is not necessary. Kings Beach is a seasonal destination, and during the majority of the year, the stop-and-go traffic pattern with four lanes encourages speeding, burns more fuel, creates more noise and produces more air pollution. Roundabouts are a better solution for a seasonal destination because they allow traffic to flow efficiently and continuously.
Stoplights also are more expensive for the government to implement due to ongoing maintenance and energy costs. Placer County has posted some Traffic Signal Information on their site.
Environment
Known as one of the most scenic destinations in America, Lake Tahoe's scenery and ecosystem needs to be protected. Four-lane road configurations are visually unappealing and promote more pavement, runoff problems, sprawl, speeding, noise, and a perceived need for a vehicle. Stoplights obstruct scenery, create light pollution, and cause cars to stop, often when not necessary. A three-lane road uses less pavement, provides more room for landscape improvements, and provides a pleasant place to walk or ride a bicycle. In addition, roundabouts provide a continuous and controlled traffic flow, which is appropriate for an area where traffic is not an issue during most of the year.
Cut-Through
Cut-through traffic exists in the back streets of Kings Beach, and proponents of the four-lane road have spread the idea that the three-lane alternative will create additional cut-through traffic, thus endangering the community. Cut-through traffic exists already. Supporters of a walkable town agree that the opportunity exists to implement measures to offset the existing and any additional cut-through traffic during the design phase of the project. During this phase, the county and the community will have the opportunity to design measures to prevent and manage cut-through traffic in 'the grid', as the back streets are commonly called. The goal of the three-lane initiative is to create a livable, walkable community that will include and benefit the nearby neighborhoods.
The Economy
The economy in Kings Beach is currently suffering. Even with its attractive beach-front setting, the town of Kings Beach is presently blighted, with several closed storefronts and abandoned buildings in prime commercial locations. In 1997, the Kings Beach Community Plan noted that current traffic configuration is detrimental to business. Speeding traffic, poor sidewalks, and difficult pedestrian crossings contribute to the lack of business and investment in the community. According to recent Report by Placer County, nearby Tahoe City businesses generate nearly four times more sales tax revenue than Kings Beach businesses. Kings Beach can do better. With a convenient location, a large, sandy beach, and sense of community, Kings Beach should be a place to drive to, rather than through.
Parking
Parking has been identified as a key issue to the Kings Beach business and economy. The hybrid preference identified at the community workshops favors limited on-street parking where appropriate, along with wider sidewalks and no on-street parking in the view corridor. Numerous off-street parking lots are also planned to accommodate parking needs. Businesses will have the opportunity to participate in the design process to help determine where on-street parking should be included. As a walkable community, Kings Beach businesses as a whole will benefit from a design that encourages visitors to leave their cars and walk through town.
Opposition
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Drivers may be skeptical, or even opposed, to roundabouts when they are proposed. However, opinions quickly change when drivers become familiar with roundabouts." Predictably, an opposition group has formed against the thee-lane initiative and the roundabouts in Kings Beach. Through divisive means, fear tactics, misinformation, and an aggressive agenda, the group seeks to discount the results of a lengthy public process in order to advance their agenda for a four-lane highway. This is a complicated project, and it is simple to inspire fear of an outcome based on one issue such as traffic, parking, or a lack of understanding of roundabouts or other design elements. While several individual businesses do have legitimate concerns, the community as a whole needs to move forward solving issues and addressing concerns during design phase.
For more information on this project, visit Placer County's Kings Beach Commercial Core information page.
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