Roundabouts in Northern New England,1990 to 2010

Abstract

Roundabouts are still emerging but are becoming more common as an intersection type in the United States. There is considerable pushback from the public, however, making it difficult to implement roundabouts in certain places. This study aims to develop a better understanding of the factors related to roundabout opposition in three states: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The rejected and built roundabout locations were examined within the context of geography; spatial, temporal, physical, and societal factors were included. Results of the binary logistic regression model suggest that business density and percentage of residents 65 years old and older have the strongest positive association with the likelihood of a technically feasible roundabout being built. The strongest negative association with roundabout implementation is exposure as measured by time elapsed since the first successful roundabout in the state. Proximity to traffic circles and roundabouts does not have as strong a relationship with roundabout implementation as hypothesized. The methods used, especially the inclusion of nonbuilt roundabout locations, are recommended for future research. The findings reinforce the unique challenges facing roundabout proposals in different regions of the United States; three small and mostly rural states are specifically addressed.