Alta Vista traffic circle draws ire

It’s been one year since a small traffic circle was installed in the Alta Vista neighborhood at Shade Avenue and Novus Street. Neighbors didn’t like it then, and they don’t like it now.

The neighborhood association plans to ask the city to do something about it.

Believing that the speed bumps on Shade Avenue were ineffective at slowing traffic, the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association requested the traffic circle.

But association President Candy Spaulding said residents had envisioned a larger traffic circle.

“This was not the plan,” she said. “It was supposed to be bigger and have a statue on it. It was going to be a gateway into the neighborhood.”

However, a larger circle would have required the city to purchase right-of-way and cut a larger roadway into it. The city spent $98,000 to install the current traffic circle.

Spaulding says the smaller circle does not slow traffic.

“The cars are flying through there,” said Spaulding. “I’ve almost been hit several times.”

Ryan Chapdelain, chief planner for the city, said traffic studies show that the circle has slowed traffic through that intersection.

Some city officials will be attending the July 29 neighborhood association meeting to discuss ways to make the circle more attractive.

Residents have discussed placing landscaping in the middle of the circle to better alert drivers that it is there. Others have suggested putting stop signs back up at Novus Street.

And Spaulding wants the traffic circle removed.

“I think it’s just such a waste,” she said.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected]