By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

An article by the Washington State Department of Transportation discusses federal studies which show traffic roundabouts improve safety and traffic flow, and are less expensive to build than traffic signal lights.

The article includes a Kansas State University study showing a 20 percent reduction in traffic delays.

According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, installing a new traffic signal in Hays costs the city about $300,000.

Hays is considering a proposed three roundabout corridor on north Vine Street.

From the Washington State Dept. of Transportation:

Roundabout benefits
Improve safety
Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than traditional stop sign or signal-controlled intersections.

Roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were previously used for traffic control, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Studies by the IIHS and Federal Highway Administration have shown that roundabouts typically achieve:

• A 37 percent reduction in overall collisions
• A 75 percent reduction in injury collisions
• A 90 percent reduction in fatality collisions
• A 40 percent reduction in pedestrian collision

There are several reasons why roundabouts help reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions:

Low travel speeds – Drivers must slow down and yield to traffic before entering a roundabout. Speeds in the roundabout are typically between 15 and 20 miles per hour. The few collisions that occur in roundabouts are typically minor and cause few injuries since they occur at such low speeds.
No light to beat – Roundabouts are designed to promote a continuous, circular flow of traffic. Drivers need only yield to traffic before entering a roundabout; if there is no traffic in the roundabout, drivers are not required to stop. Because traffic is constantly flowing through the intersection, drivers don’t have the incentive to speed up to try and “beat the light,” like they might at a traditional intersection.
One-way travel – Roads entering a roundabout are gently curved to direct drivers into the intersection and help them travel counterclockwise around the roundabout. The curved roads and one-way travel around the roundabout eliminate the possibility for T-bone and head-on collisions.

Curious to know more? Watch this video about how roundabouts improve safety.

Reduce delay, improve traffic flow
A single-lane roundabout in Skagit CountyContrary to many peoples’ perceptions, roundabouts actually move traffic through an intersection more quickly, and with less congestion on approaching roads. Roundabouts promote a continuous flow of traffic. Unlike intersections with traffic signals, drivers don’t have to wait for a green light at a roundabout to get through the intersection. Traffic is not required to stop – only yield – so the intersection can handle more traffic in the same amount of time.

Studies by Kansas State University https://www.ksu.edu/roundabouts/ measured traffic flow at intersections before and after conversion to roundabouts. In each case, installing a roundabout led to a 20 percent reduction in delays. Additional studies by the IIHS of intersections in three states, including Washington, found that roundabouts contributed to an 89 percent reduction in delays and 56 percent reduction in vehicle stops.

Less expensive
The cost difference between building a roundabout and a traffic signal is comparable. Where long-term costs are considered, roundabouts eliminate hardware, maintenance and electrical costs associated with traffic signals, which can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per year.

Roundabouts are also more effective during power outages. Unlike traditional signalized intersections, which must be treated as a four-way stop or require police to direct traffic, roundabouts continue to work like normal.

Less space
A roundabout may need more property within the actual intersection, but often take up less space on the streets approaching the roundabout. Because roundabouts can handle greater volumes of traffic more efficiently than signals, where drivers may need to line up to wait for a green light, roundabouts usually require fewer lanes approaching the intersection.

Good locations for roundabouts
Roundabouts are safe and efficient, but they are not the ideal solution for every intersection. We look at several factors when deciding to build a roundabout at a specific intersection. Engineers consider these characteristics when determining the best solution for a particular intersection:

Accident history – data about the number of accidents, type of crash, speeds, and other contributing factors are analyzed.
Intersection operation – the level of current and projected travel delay being experienced, and backups on each leg of the intersection.
Types of vehicles using the intersection – we look at the different kinds of vehicles that use the intersection. This is especially important for intersections frequently used by large trucks.
Cost – this includes the societal cost of accidents, right-of-way (land purchase) requirements, and long-term maintenance needs.

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and 15 traffic stops Mon., Sept. 11, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–400 block E 11th St, Hays; 8/20 5 PM
Drug Offenses–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:36 AM
Domestic Disturbance–200 block E 16th St, Hays; 12:48 AM
Drug Offenses–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 7:03 AM; 7:06 AM
Animal At Large–200 block E 5th St, Hays; 7:36 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 8:24 AM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–1900 block Ash St, Hays; 8:32 AM
Suspicious Activity–2800 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 12:09 PM
Civil Dispute–4600 block Jefferson Dr, Hays; 12:30 PM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 12:55 PM
Dead Animal Call–1000 block Vine St, Hays; 1:19 PM
Found/Lost Property–6th and Ash, Hays; 2:06 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–300 block W 8th St, Hays; 2:31 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–2800 block Indian Trl, Hays; 3:50 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–3900 block US Highway 281, Russell; 9/10 9 PM; 11:30 PM
Battery – simple–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 5:50 PM; 5:57 PM
Suspicious Person–3300 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 7:54 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1300 block E 21st St, Hays; 10:35 PM
Drug Offenses–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 10:44 PM; 10:46 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 11:34 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and 19 traffic stops Tue., Sept. 12, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suspicious Person–3300 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 1:40 AM
Drug Offenses–3500 block Vine St, Hays; 3:15 AM; 3:16 AM
Animal At Large–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 6:48 AM
Animal At Large–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 9:12 AM
Civil Dispute–2700 block Broadway Ave, Hays; 11:51 AM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–Hays; 12:33 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 1 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4100 block Vine St, Hays; 3:10 PM; 3:11 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 9/11 2 PM; 9/12 4:30 PM
Water Use Violation–2700 block Cottonwood Ln, Hays; 4:56 PM
Animal At Large–3000 block Columbine Cir, Hays; 5:59 PM
Theft (general)–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 6:28 PM; 6:30 PM
Theft (general)–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 9:03 PM
Disturbance – General–1900 block Whittier Rd, Hays; 11:09 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 9 animal calls and 18 traffic stops Wed., Sept. 13, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–400 block W 3rd St, Hays; 7:33 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–2500 block Donald Dr, Hays; 1:45 AM
Driving Under the Influence–1200 block Maple St, Hays; 2:13 AM
Drug Offenses–400 block E 12 St, Hays; 2 AM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 9/13 7:38 AM
Theft (general)–1200 block Pine St, Hays; 9/11 5:30 PM; 7 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 10:13 AM
MV Accident-Pedestrian–2100 block Fort St, Hays; 7:40 AM
MV Accident /DUI–1000 block E 27th St, Hays; 3:15 PM; 3:20 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 9/8 5 PM; 9/10 2 PM
Mental Health Call–1700 block Haney Dr, Hays; 6:56 PM
Welfare Check–700 block Vine St, Hays; 8:38 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:59 PM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:18 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and 22 traffic stops Thu., Sept. 14, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Drug Offenses–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 1:34 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–500 block W 37th St, Hays; 3:55 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–300 block W 8th St, Hays; 7:37 AM
Dead Animal Call–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 7:45 AM
Theft (general)–3800 block Vine St, Hays; 9/13 7:20 AM; 10:30 AM
Animal At Large–500 E 6th St, Hays; 11:05 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12:14 PM
Criminal Trespass–100 block W 43rd St, Hays; 1:31 PM
Civil Dispute–100 block Burgandy Ln, Ellis County; 2:18 PM
Driving Under the Influence–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 2:45 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 7:52 PM
Driving Under the Influence–2700 block of Canterbury Dr, Hays; 8:07 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 11:31 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–300 block of W 6th St, Hays; 11:51 PM

By HANNAH DONALDSON
HHS Guidon

Ethan Tschanz is proud to announce a frisbee-golf tournament going on this weekend known as “Discin’ for Triston.” Tschanz and his partner, Alec Stults, put together this event in honor of alumni student, Triston Werth who tragically lost his life in August.

The first time Tschanz met Werth was at the local, annual disc-golf tournament four years ago. “He royally kicked my butt by 50 strokes,” Tschanz said. “However, instead of bragging about his win, he encouraged me to keep playing.”

Throughout the years, the two spent a lot of time at Frontier Park where Werth taught Tschanz almost everything that he knows about the game. Werth was a gifted disc golfer who Tschanz believes he owes most of his success to for teaching him so much about the sport. Tschanz felt that it was only right to honor him through a tournament.

The tournament will be on Sun., Sept. 17 at Frontier Park in Hays. There will be two phases of the tournament including a singles round starting bright and early at 8:30 a.m. while the doubles event won’t take place until later that afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Phaze 2 will be making their donation by creating a limited number of t-shirts for the event. To RSVP, and guarantee receiving a shirt with your correct size, head to Taco Grande and sign up for the event. To play as a single, the cost is $25. Find a buddy to partner up with which its only $40 for a team of two.

All the proceeds raised will go directly to the family of Triston Werth to help pay for the remaining funeral and medical expenses.

“I think Triston affected many people, on and off the course, in the same way he affected me,” Ethan said. “That’s why I wanted to honor him by running a tournament bearing his name.”