Frequently Asked Questions

As with all quick-build safety projects, the City plans to monitor the intersection over time. Evaluation may include:

• Field observations of driver behavior, compliance, and circulation
• Traffic Data (such as speed and turning movements), which may be collected through direct observation or third-party mobility data tools. 
• Resident feedback

This information will help inform whether adjustments are needed and how the installation is performing against its intended purpose.

There are currently no plans to reconstruct the intersection as a permanent roundabout. Such a project would require several million dollars, formal Council approval, community engagement, and years of planning and design. It is not part of the City’s current Capital Improvement Plan or work plan.
 The quick-build installation is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The City will be incorporating the following design modifications based on community feedback and recommended by our traffic engineering consultant and that continue to slow traffic and prevent drivers from doing donuts. These adjustments will be implemented in late 2025. 

Modifications

• Remove the delineator curb systems along the crosswalks across Barrett Avenue
• Remove every other delineator post from the delineator curb systems
• Remove the outer ring of the traffic circle and replace it with full circular striping
• Install traffic circle signage in the traffic circle for all four intersection approaches and remove all but four delineator posts from the center traffic circle.
• Install larger stop signs and advanced stop bars on Barrett Avenue approaches
• Install advanced stop bars on the Key Boulevard approaches
• Reduce the width of curb extensions on Key Boulevard from 8 feet to 4 feet
• Add “sharrow” bicycle signage on Barrett Avenue east of the Key Boulevard intersection
• Remove the westbound yield control on Barrett Avenue at the Dimm Street/Barrett Avenue intersection, and install a stop sign on the southbound Dimm Street approach

The traffic calming improvements at the intersection of Key Boulevard and Barrett Avenue were implemented following numerous requests from both residents and the City Council to address the issue of reckless driving, specifically the performance of "donuts" within the intersection. Concurrently, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan recommended the installation of curb extensions at this location to enhance pedestrian safety.

Prior to the construction of the traffic circle and curb extensions, public engagement occurred. In September 2022, a community meeting was held to discuss the intersection improvements proposed within the 18 Traffic Calming Locations project. This meeting explored various design options, including both quick-build and more expensive approaches. Due to budgetary constraints for citywide traffic calming projects and the community's urgent request for a solution, a quick-build option was implemented. Furthermore, notices were mailed to neighboring property owners before the construction commenced.

This project was implemented as a 'quick-build' approach, prioritizing speed and cost-effectiveness. Quick-build projects utilize lower-cost materials to expedite the delivery of safety improvements. This approach offers several advantages:

• Immediate Safety Enhancements: Quick-builds provide faster safety benefits at a reduced cost.
• Design Testing: They allow the City to test design changes in a real-world setting.
• Flexibility: Quick-build installations can serve as long-term solutions or temporary measures until funding for more permanent, higher-cost designs becomes available.

The City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan specifically recommends implementing quick-build projects whenever feasible.

At a community meeting held in September 2022, the project team presented and discussed both quick-build and more expensive design options. Given the limited budget for citywide traffic calming projects and the community's strong desire for a rapid solution, the quick-build approach was selected for this location.

In response to resident concerns regarding the aesthetic appearance of the posts, City staff investigated the feasibility of removing them from the traffic circle and curb extensions. This matter was also discussed with Fehr & Peers, the engineering consultants for this project.

The analysis determined that the posts are essential for the continued effectiveness of the traffic calming measures. However, Fehr & Peers has determined that the number of posts can be reduced by approximately half to reduce the amount of reflective elements in the intersection, while still providing the following benefits:

• Visual Cue: The posts serve as a crucial visual cue for drivers, alerting them to the presence of the traffic circle and curb extensions and prompting them to adjust their speed accordingly.
• Infrastructure Protection: Without the posts, drivers are more likely to encroach upon the bases of the traffic circle and curb extensions, potentially causing damage and compromising the integrity of the traffic calming installation.

While we understand that the delineators may not reflect the surrounding neighborhood’s traditional residential character, they are a critical component of this quick-build design. The City may consider alternative materials or treatments in the future, based on performance monitoring, consultant recommendations, and available funding. For now, the delineators will remain to maintain the safety benefits of the installation.

This installation was designed to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists through a variety of elements. Curb extensions (bulb-outs) reduce crossing distances and improve sightlines at all corners. The traffic circle reduces speeds and eliminates dangerous turning movements. Narrower travel lanes encourage drivers to yield and slow down, which benefits all road users.

While some residents have raised concerns about the current feel of the intersection, these features are intended to create a safer environment for people walking, biking, and driving.

The contractor mistakenly ordered posts that were taller than the project specifications. As a result, the posts were temporarily removed from the traffic circles in December 2024. The contractor quickly corrected the issue.

During the design phase, Fehr & Peers, the project engineers, conducted a thorough analysis to determine the feasibility of fire truck and AC Transit bus passage through the traffic circle and curb extensions.

This analysis utilized 'turn templates,' a common engineering method that employs computer software to model the turning movements of various vehicle types.

The turn template analysis demonstrated that fire trucks and buses can navigate the traffic circle safely. While it's possible that a fire truck or bus may occasionally encroach slightly upon the outer ring of the circle, this is not expected to significantly impact operations or emergency response times.

Following additional feedback from residents about difficulty that large delivery vehicles and vehicles towing trailers that are unfamiliar with the neighborhood have had navigating the traffic circle, Fehr & Peers recommended making minor modifications to the curb extension widths on Key Boulevard, and replacing the outer ring of the traffic circle with paint.

The Public Works Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Richmond Fire Department and AC Transit regarding this project and other traffic safety and calming improvements.

This project, one of 18 Traffic Calming Locations approved by the City Council in 2022 in response to numerous resident concerns about reckless driving, aims to enhance safety at this intersection. The project features two key elements: a traffic circle and curb extensions (bulbouts) at all corners.

The traffic circle eliminates left turns, reducing vehicle-pedestrian conflicts and slowing traffic. Curb extensions shorten pedestrian crossing distances and improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.

Both features necessitate slower vehicle speeds, particularly during turns, which minimizes the severity of potential collisions and effectively deters the dangerous practice of "donuts" at this location.

To report a moving violation, contact the Richmond Police Department:

• Emergencies: 9-1-1
• Non-emergencies: (510) 233-1214

These extra bumps are designed to prevent drivers from making unnecessary or dangerous circles within the intersection. By slightly narrowing the travel lane, the bumps discourage drivers from making wide turns or continuously circling within the traffic circle. The design of the bump placement specifically accommodates the existing bus route (40-foot buses) allowing them to navigate the circle safely without hitting the bumps.

Following additional feedback from residents about difficulty that large delivery vehicles and vehicles towing trailers that are unfamiliar with the neighborhood have had navigating the traffic circle, Fehr & Peers recommended making minor modifications to the curb extension widths on Key Boulevard, and replacing the outer ring of the traffic circle with paint. These modifications will be implemented at the end of 2025.

While larger vehicles such as trucks and fire trucks may occasionally run over the bumps when making a left turn, these instances are infrequent and have a negligible impact on overall travel time.

This traffic circle was primarily installed to minimize sideshows at this intersection, not to change the overall traffic control method. Neighborhood traffic circles like this one are often designed with stop signs on all approaches. Yield signs are typically used at larger roundabouts. These larger roundabouts utilize geometric features such as curved entries and exits to naturally slow down traffic and ensure vehicles enter and exit at similar speeds. Since this is a smaller neighborhood traffic circle, it lacks these geometric features to effectively control speeds. Therefore, stop signs are used to provide a more definitive control mechanism, ensuring vehicles yield and reducing the potential for collisions due to varying speeds.

The reduction of two lanes on Barrett Avenue to one lane at the intersection was a deliberate design choice to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety. A separate right-turn lane could potentially allow drivers to make right turns at higher speeds, significantly increasing the severity of injuries to pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision. By reducing the number of lanes, the design aims to slow down traffic and create a safer environment for all road users, particularly the most vulnerable.

This will be removed as part of the modifications implemented in late 2025. A separate stop control study of the Barrett Avenue and Dimm Street intersection recommended removing the westbound yield control on Barrett Avenue at the Dimm Street/Barrett Avenue intersection, and installing a stop sign on the southbound Dimm Street approach.

The medians on Barrett approaching the intersection include a bump/delineator system to guide drivers and prevent them from making left turns before reaching the traffic circle. These bumps act as a physical guide, ensuring drivers stay within the designated lanes and follow the intended traffic flow through the intersection.

Without these physical barriers, some drivers might attempt to make left turns prematurely, which could create confusion and increase the risk of accidents.