It's time for another round of debate on a roundabout project that's planned for the intersection of Forum Boulevard and Green Meadows Road.
A public hearing on the project is on the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting of the Columbia City Council.
The hearing will serve as another opportunity for the public to give comments, Public Works Department spokesman Barry Dalton said.
City staff originally proposed building a double-lane roundabout at the intersection, saying it was the best way to address traffic flow and safety concerns. The plan, however, drew opposition from residents, according to a staff memo to the Columbia City Council.
Residents of Country Club Villas were among those who fought the roundabout. They and clients of Green Meadows Preschool filed a petition against the project in June 2016. After a public hearing last September, the council tabled the roundabout plan and asked the city staff to evaluate other options, according to the memo.
At an interested parties meeting in June, city staff presented four other options to improve the intersection, including a full signal, reduced signal, J turn and a J turn with pedestrian signal. Those options will be reviewed during Tuesday's public hearing, Dalton said.
Among the five options, city planners still consider the roundabout design the optimal choice because of its safety and efficiency features. The estimated cost for the roundabout design is $1.2 million.
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