Cranberry issued the following announcement on Oct. 4.
It’s not circular logic – roundabouts improve traffic safety.
And a new PennDOT study that includes data from Cranberry Township proves it once again.
PennDOT recently reviewed data for 26 roundabouts on state routes at intersections that were previously signal controlled. These roundabouts had at least three years of crash data available before and after construction.
According to the study, fatalities, injuries, and crashes decreased in those areas. The roundabout at Glen Eden Road, Powell Road and Freshcorn Road – opened in 2015 - was included in the study.
Department data based on police-submitted crash reports from 2000 through 2020 shows fatalities at the studied locations were reduced by 100 percent and the total number of crashes decreased by 22 percent. Suspected serious injuries were reduced by 81 percent, and suspected minor injuries were reduced by 36 percent.
Roundabouts have been used in Cranberry for more than a decade, with the first one introduced on Longtree Way in 2009 as part of the expansion in Cranberry Woods. More followed on Glen Eden Road, Cranberry Springs Drive and North Boundary Road.
According to Kelly Maurer, the Township’s Director of Public Works, roundabouts come with a lower maintenance cost, are visually appealing, and allow for constant traffic flow.
But ultimately, it comes down to safety for both motorists and pedestrians.
That’s why four new roundabouts are being implemented in areas where pedestrian traffic is anticipated to be heavy.
They include:
- The MSA Thruway project, which connects Interstate 79 to Cranberry Springs and Cranberry Woods and reduces traffic on Route 228.
- The Meeder development back entrance on Ogle View Road. As Meeder is designed to be pedestrian-friendly, the roundabout will allow connectivity to points north for walkers, runners and cyclists via sidewalks and bike lanes.
- Ehrman Road, where a roundabout will help keep traffic calm and flowing at the entrance to Seneca Valley’s new Ehrman Crest Elementary School.
- At Executive and Brandt drives where a “mini” roundabout will improve pedestrian access to proposed development on Brandt Drive.
Original source can be found here.
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