Raleigh Five Points needs a traffic circle and more! (Cameron: power lines, neighborhood)

[RaleighRules]

I have lived in Raleigh for 7 years, and each time I go thru the main Five Points intersection I keep thinking it needs:

- a large traffic circle with a fountain and brick roadway that goes around the traffic circle (i see this in europe alot)
- 2 less gas stations
- that horrible hovering 80's building needs to go
- decent crosswalks
- buried power lines.

[stantheman78]

Approved. Take it out of the stimulus package.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by stantheman78

Approved. Take it out of the stimulus package.

I'm feeling quite stimulated myself!

[uncletupelo]

Five Points had a traffic circle for many years. I remember it as a child. Far too many cars cross thru there daily for a traffic circle. Go grab breakfast or lunch at Jerry's Grill on Whitaker Mill. They have a lot of pictures of Old Raleigh on the walls. There is one of the Five Points traffic circle. That building is way older than the 80"s. It could make a cool bar, nightclub with some work. I love living in Five Points and like it fine just the way it is.

[RaleighRules]

i see traffic circles of all sizes when i visit europe, it keeps traffic moving along at a nice pace with no need to stop.

[RaleighRules]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/...0ddb81.jpg?v=0

this is what i mean.

[Charlton Dude]

Originally Posted by uncletupelo

I love living in Five Points and like it fine just the way it is.

Isn't it great when you love where you live even if others may not? Like I always say, if you don't love where you live then move somewhere you will love. Life is way too short to settle. I am glad you love where you live.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by stantheman78

Approved. Take it out of the stimulus package.

^^ That is hilarious!

To the OP. Good luck selling the idea of a traffic circle. I'm sure the city council would not share your enthusiam in shutting down two businesses in five points even if they are just gas stations. Political suicide comes to mind.

[miamiblue]

Originally Posted by RaleighRules

I have lived in Raleigh for 7 years, and each time I go thru the main Five Points intersection I keep thinking it needs:

- a large traffic circle with a fountain and brick roadway that goes around the traffic circle (i see this in europe alot)
- 2 less gas stations
- that horrible hovering 80's building needs to go
- decent crosswalks
- buried power lines.

Actually, the Five Points intersection really needs to be a roundabout, not a traffic circle (yes, there is a difference ). I always see near-misses when people are trying to make left turns and figure out what direction oncoming cars might be coming from. A roundabout would also slow the traffic down through that area of Glenwood, which often shrinks to one lane each way due to street parking. I don't think I've ever seen anyone traveling through there on Glenwood at the posted speed limit - which is 35 mph - and a roundabout would force people to slow it down in that congested area, but also keep traffic moving. There is nothing I hate more than sitting at a red light when no one is going through on the crossing green.

Originally Posted by uncletupelo

Five Points had a traffic circle for many years. I remember it as a child. Far too many cars cross thru there daily for a traffic circle. Go grab breakfast or lunch at Jerry's Grill on Whitaker Mill. They have a lot of pictures of Old Raleigh on the walls. There is one of the Five Points traffic circle. That building is way older than the 80"s. It could make a cool bar, nightclub with some work. I love living in Five Points and like it fine just the way it is.

You mean someone decided to take the roundabout out??? Actually, it was likely a traffic circle (don't know without seeing the photos, but they were more common than roundabouts in the US until recently), which IS a terrible idea for that intersection (and is really just a terrible idea in general, IMHO). However, I can see a roundabout really improving the traffic flow there. I'm very familiar with a large roundabout in Miami that reminds me of this area and it gets far and away more traffic through it each day than Five Points. Even with the crazy, oblivious-to-all-road-rules Miami drivers it functions far better than a traffic signal would because it keeps everyone moving! I think drivers here would take to it with no problem.

Originally Posted by RaleighRules

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/...0ddb81.jpg?v=0

this is what i mean.

Ah, the De Soto fountain in Coral Gables (Miami). A beautiful roundabout in a gorgeous neighborhood, but this particular intersection does not handle nearly as much traffic as Five Points I would guess.

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

^^ That is hilarious!

To the OP. Good luck selling the idea of a traffic circle. I'm sure the city council would not share your enthusiam in shutting down two businesses in five points even if they are just gas stations. Political suicide comes to mind.

I don't understand why people aren't more open to roundabouts (not traffic circles), because they really do keep you moving and improve traffic flow. I'd rather yield to traffic if there is any in the roundabout than waste precious minutes of my life sitting at red lights when I don't need to.

As far as the gas stations go, they will be there until someone decides to develop. No one committed political suicide when Village Motorworks (a much more beloved business than I would guess either of the 5 points gas stations) was forced to move from Peace/Oberlin in Cameron Village to accommodate future development of that corner.

[DPK]

There used to be one at that intersection years and years and years ago. Go into one of the restaurants over there to see pictures on the wall. I think "The Point" has some of it.

I don't know why people are so "anti-roundabout" as they are awesome in my opinion. They keep traffic moving at all times. It's just the idiots that have never seen one that gum up the works.

I've nearly plowed into the back of a few cars that stop in the middle of a roundabout (the one at Pullen) thinking they are supposed to yield to other traffic trying to ENTER the circle. That or cars that don't yield to traffic in the circle and try and enter when you're still moving in their direction.

It's not a hard concept. Look left and keep moving if nobody is there.