Mini Roundabout / Neighborhood Traffic Circle

Mini roundabouts and neighborhood traffic circles can be installed at unsignalized intersections of local streets to calm traffic and reduce speeds. Mini roundabouts may be installed using simple pavement markings, a combination of markings and vertical delineators, or temporary islands. They create opportunities for plantings or artistic elements that help beautify the street and the surrounding neighborhood. Careful attention should be paid to the available lane width and turning radius around the traffic circle.

British Columbia, Canada (Wikimedia Commons, Richard Drdul, CC BY-SA 2.0)	San Francisco, CA (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.)

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

• Increase safety (speed management)
• Invite public use

Typical Applications

• At unsignalized intersections of residential streets 

Material Options

• Striping and Surface Treatments
  • Demonstration
    • Sidewalk chalk
    • Cornstarch paint
    • Traffic tape
    • Tempera paint
    • Spray chalk
    • Spray paint
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Acrylic traffic paint
    • DLPM
    • Epoxy Gravel
    • Thermoplastic
• Vertical Barriers
  • Demonstration
    • Traffic cones
    • Traffic barrels
    • Freestanding delineators
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops

Design Considerations

• Where applicable, maintain shared lane markings or intersection crossing markings to guide bicyclists through the intersection. 
• Where a bicycle boulevard turns at a minor intersection, use bicycle way-finding route markings, and reinforce route direction using shared lane markings. 
• Provide approximately 15 feet of clearance between the circle and the edge of the roadway
• Maintain truck, bus, and fire truck turning ability

Other Considerations

• Opportunity to include artistic elements and/or coordinate with a larger intersection mural project
• ADA accessibility of the sidewalks, curb ramps, and extension itself, particularly for pedestrians with visual impairments

Other Resources

• City of Orlando Mini Roundabout Detail
• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide: Mini Roundabout