Encinitas to explore ways to improve appearance of roundabout

The Encinitas City Council agreed Oct. 12 to form a subcommittee consisting of Councilmembers Tony Kranz and Joy Lyndes to explore ways to make what’s termed a “quick build” traffic circle roundabout more attractive.

Encinitas installed the removable roundabout, which consists of rubber wheel stops and flexible plastic poles known as bollards, as a low-cost pilot project to solve traffic woes at the Y-shaped intersection of Eolus Avenue, Andrew Avenue and Hillcrest Drive in October 2021.

Recent city traffic studies indicate that it has performed well at its assigned task — speeds approaching the intersection are now in the 24-28 mph range — but neighbors are complaining that the fluorescent plastic bollards that mark out the vehicle pathways are unsightly, city employees said.

Council members said they liked the affordable nature of the “quick build” roundabout and wanted to encourage its installation in other parts of town. They noted that it only cost about $15,000 to install, while a traditional concrete roundabout with landscaping and drainage systems can be a multi-million-dollar project.

Lyndes, a landscape architect, said there might be a low-cost, but decorative solution to improve its appearance.