The town council has instructed staff to further develop a concept for improving traffic flow and safety at the intersection of Avenue of the Fountains and La Montana Drive – right outside Town Hall – and it is not a roundabout.

Six options were on the table including a traffic signal, which was eliminated because the intersection does not meet volume warrants for a signal.

Other options include tightening the intersection, a single oval roundabout, a “Michigan” style left turn, one-way signing for a divided roadway, or leaving it as it is.

The council directed staff to pursue the concept of the tightening of the intersection, shrinking it down to allow better visibility and direction. This is similar to the steps taken at the east end of the Avenue at Saguaro Boulevard before reconstruction. Those traffic improvements were established temporarily and then integrated into the reconstruction project.

The traffic analysis done in April this year showed an average of 2,649 vehicles went through the intersection during a single day. The highest volume is eastbound on the Avenue, away from the post office.

Amara Ibeji with CK Group engineering said the intersection grades at a “B” for level of service, which is very good; A is best.

There have been 12 accidents at the intersection over the past 63 months (5.25 per year).

The proposed adjusted configuration at the intersection would reduce existing through lanes from three to two, one for straight and one for left turn. The third, right turn lane would be isolated at the intersection with a raised “pork chop.” The medians and stop bars would be extended through to reduce access to two lanes.

Addressing U-turns was a concern for some council members, with Mayor Linda Kavanagh saying she would like to have them eliminated.

Much of the U-turn traffic comes out of the post office to turn back west on Avenue of the Fountains. Ibeji said they would expand the left turn cut through the median at the west driveway of the post office. That would allow traffic leaving the post office to turn left to the west at that point without making a U-turn at the intersection. They would also look into closing the east driveway into the post office, but staff is uncertain whether that can be achieved.

The proposal would reduce travel distance across the intersection, reduces the potential for U-turn movement and wrong way turn movements and it reduces the crossing distance for pedestrians.

The proposal is also relatively low cost, about $140,000 for permanent installation, according to Ibeji. Temporary striping and barricading could be implemented to test the concept.

A roundabout was deemed too costly. The “Michigan” left turn is something that drivers may find difficult to get used to. It would close the intersection north- and southbound and drivers would make a right turn, and then left through a median cut and back to the intersection. This eliminates U-turns at the intersection as well as left turn conflicts. It is a completely new concept for this part of the country.

The one-way signing for a divided roadway slows traffic and adds signs which may add to driver confusion.

Shea Boulevard

CK Group was also charged with looking at the Shea Boulevard intersections with Palisades and Fountain Hills boulevards.

Those hoping the right turn restriction from southbound Palisades to westbound Shea would go away – sorry, it stays.

Councilman Art Tolis said he would eliminate the restriction, but the consultants said the line of sight toward traffic coming up the hill is inadequate to meet safety standards and is particularly dangerous with morning sun.

The council, however, did direct staff to change the wording on the sign from the current “Right on Green only” to “No Right on Red.” They believe the more straightforward language is less confusing.

Staff will also study options for testing flashing yellow arrows that allow left turns across oncoming traffic if safe.

The consultant recommended and the council approved of other minor changes to signal heads and signage at the two intersections.

The council met in special session on Nov. 14 to discuss the study.