Starting January 27, 2025, the Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project began. The project included the implementation of three traffic circles, also known as roundabouts, placed at the intersections of Central Ave and 4th St, Central Ave and 3rd St, and Central Ave and Pacific Ave. The project aimed to transform Central Ave into a safer route, with reduced traffic and an added bike lane. The project removed the stoplight at Central and 4th, five way intersection at Central and 3rd, and stoplight at Central and Pacific.
The Encinal community has mixed feelings on the traffic circles, including Frances Kahuanui-Johnson, Encinal’s health office assistant and crossing aide.
“[The traffic circles] have directly impacted [my job] for the better,” said Kahuanui-Johnson, “but I still need the community to read the schematics correctly because the flow is not flowing as steadily because of the drivers apprehensive entering.”
Encinal principal Kirstin Snyder also said that people have raised complaints regarding the roundabouts.
Complaints received were along the lines of “just not knowing how to use them properly, there was no public education around them and no signage,” said Snyder.
Not only have the roundabouts affected Encinal students, but also nearby neighbors. With construction stretching for almost a year, many have had to figure out the roundabouts, and work around them.
“It was harder at times to navigate from our home,” said Encinal mother Kerri Bandics, “and it was challenging not having parking in front of our home.”
Another common concern involving the roundabouts was safety. Many are worried that without proper signage, the roundabouts will cause more accidents than their previous counterparts, but with Kahuanui-Johnson working in the health office, she is the first line of injury.
“[Injury level] is about the same because most of the injury levels in the crosswalk are before the crosswalk or directly after,” said Frances. “The bike accidents are usually before the crosswalk or at my corner, so it’s about the same [as before]”
When asked if the roundabouts were the proper change needed along Central Ave, Snyder, Bandics, and Kahuanui-Johnson shared their opinions.
“I think they are a good solution for Third, Taylor, intersection but they need signage and community outreach on how to use them,” said Snyder.
“I think for the intersection at 3rd and Central, the roundabout is probably a good solution,” said Bandics. “I’m not really sure whether it has helped with the crossing situation or not.”
“Jury is still out on that one, I’m still trying to see if it really is more efficient or effective,” said Kahuanui-Johnson, “as of right now the only change is that the traffic is directed in a circle instead of right at me.”
Without proper signage and instruction, it has caused confusion with many drivers.
“I think the signage should have been prioritized and was not,” shared Bandics. “So we had roundabouts that suddenly showed up with no signage for a long time, people definitely don’t know how to use the roundabouts.”
On the Encinal staff side of the issue, principal Snyder shared that there has not been a clear spike of tardies after the roundabouts, and they do significantly help pedestrian traffic.
With the Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project spanning almost a year in and counting, many still hold strong opinions on the safety, instruction, and clarity of the roundabouts, hoping to see an improvement within their community.
Visit the Encinal Echo Instagram or TikTok to see an instructional video on roundabout safety and instruction.
