Walnut and Circle Boulevards Merge Lanes Evaluation
August UPDATE
Graphics of the planned striping changes can be found here.
What is this effort?
During 2023 the City was assisted by an engineering consultant in reviewing the traffic operations of the intersection and performance of the auxiliary and merge lanes at the following intersections:
- Walnut Boulevard / Glenridge Drive / Witham Hill Drive
- Circle Boulevard and 29th Street
- Circle and Kings Boulevards
- Circle Boulevard and Boys and Girls Club driveway
- Circle Boulevard and Highland Drive
This evaluation resulted in a finding that one of the two thru lanes at each of the above intersections could be merged further in advance or converted into a right turn only lane without significantly impacting traffic operations, while providing a potential safety benefit. The City intends to move forward with these improvements through signs and pavement markings and is currently developing a plan and obtaining outside contractor assistance to implement these changes.
Why these intersections?
The recent Circle Boulevard “road diet” reconfigured the number of lanes on this street and the City opted to retain two lanes in each direction at a few main intersections. The City planed approach was to monitor performance and determine if further modifications were warranted. This evaluation is fulfilling that intention for these intersections on the Circle corridor.
In the case of Walnut Boulevard, it is one of the wider and busier streets within Corvallis that is under direct control of the City. The particular intersection that was evaluated has unique characteristics including proximity to a transition to a higher speed zone, multiple hillsides, is located on roadway curves, and is within walking distance of a school and community park. While the City has plans to examine conditions on the longer Walnut corridor and citywide transportation safety trends in the coming years, a more immediate review of this intersection’s merge lane was desired in the meantime.
How or when will the suggested changes from the evaluation be implemented?
City staff plans to recommend funding these improvements in the proposed City budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. The implementation timeline would be in the last half of 2024 and potentially into 2025, except for the Circle Boulevard and Boys and Girls Club driveway and Highland Drive intersections. The latter intersections may have their lane striping modified as part of a planned traffic signal replacement project at Circle and Highland. Key items for any of these changes such as pavement markings are dependent on dry weather and higher temperatures.
What changes will be implemented?
Based on the results of the evaluations, the City plans to eliminate the merges on the “downstream” sides of these intersections by either merging the outside lane further in advance or converting it into a right run only lane. Since each intersection has some unique features, the designs implemented may vary across locations.
How would any implemented changes be funded?
This work would be supported by the City’s Street Fund which is primarily funded by State Highway Fund (state gas tax) that is restricted to transportation-related purposes by law.
What about lane merges at other intersections?
The City has limited budget available each year to examine traffic operations questions like the continued need for lane merges. However, as larger projects such as planned repaving or intersection work (typically contained in the City’s five-year Capital Improvement Program) arise that cover the area where there is a lane merge, it may be examined at that time as part of that project.
What about additional safety improvements at these intersections?
During 2023 and into early 2024 the City was also assisted by an engineering consultant to perform a Roadway Safety Audit (RSA) that reviewed traffic operations, existing conditions, and safety performance at the Walnut Boulevard / Glenridge / Witham Hill intersection and traffic signal. This included taking traffic volume counts, making on-site field visits, observing behaviors of people using the intersection, and examining crash records. The engineering consultant created a set of suggested changes or improvements for traffic operations and safety and provided them to the City to consider for implementation over time. The City intends to move forward with these changes over time as budget allows. You can learn more about the safety improvements here.
The City still plans to examine citywide transportation safety trends within the next several years with the support of a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant recently received. More information will be shared here about this effort as it becomes available and the work is scheduled.
How do I report another concern not covered here?
If you have a concern that is not addressed by this evaluation, the most appropriate way to let the City know is through the Report A Problem Online system at www.corvallisoregon.gov/report In contrast, if the request would result in the installation of new features or could result in a larger project, the City does not typically have un-budgeted funding readily available. These types of efforts are subject to the City’s annual public budgeting process and Council approval. You can learn more about the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) here.
