With the John Williams Boulevard roundabout starting construction an investigation was carried out to determine exactly how many more of these Bedford residents can expect as the city expands.
For answers we contacted the Coordinator of Traffic Circles, Round Drives, Roundabouts and Circular cross walks, Louis P. DeLoupe.
Lou P. DeLoupe (Coordinator TCRDRC)
PHD in circular transport with focus
in spherical physics.
DeLoupe indicated that in addition to the completion of the John Williams circle there were four more in the works. "It's really hard to just do one of these projects, when purchasing materials to make these circles you always end up with extra." Part of the reasons behind this were made clear during our conversation. "You see, all the materials used in construction are sold in Square-feet. We obviously are making circles so the math doesn't always add up"
When asked why the focus on roundabouts in certain areas of town vs our current traditional four-way stops Lou indicated that the need goes a lot deeper than merely easing urban congestion and saving money on lights. "Take for instance Bloomington, they beat all neighboring cities in overall citizen satisfaction and happiness. A lot of this has to do with the fact they have so many roundabouts. Every trip, whether it's to work or to the local cruelty free co-op grocery is an adventure." Lou emphasized that the daily risks taken by drivers using the roundabouts ultimately add to the overall happiness because it gives the citizen's a slight raise in heart rate and adrenaline that they otherwise wouldn't get and may seek through petty crime.
Not to be overlooked the issue of overall inclusivity and social justice was touch upon. "One of the things that I think a lot of people are missing when thinking about this is that in Bedford there is a lot of anxiety put on drivers of small cars at four way stops and yielding turns" Bedford has a rich history of racing, whether it's at the track or a friendly rivalry at a stop light. In today's day-in-age these encounters can cause undue mental anguish to outside visitors or to our younger generation. Gen Z in particular is one of the main causes for the change of layout to the city.
"When you think about John Williams Blvd as it is, it's so.. Straight. Really straight and for today's cultural climate maybe TOO straight. What kind of message do you thing that sends to our kids?" It's true that even after this and the other proposed expansions the majority of streets in Bedford will remain straight but as DeLoupe emphasizes this will send a welcomed message to the youth and the rest of the state that we value representation.
Worth mentioning is that with every new circular roadway project in process, Indiana will receive a Federal Stipend they can award to participating cities and towns. Pete Buttigieg while Secretary of Transportation helped mint a grant program for states willing to make modifications to they're infrastructure. The 'Fair Avenue Grant' has helped many Indiana cities and towns get with the times and ensure they are able to stay modern while meeting the needs of an ever changing population.
When asked Lou is confident that everyone in Bedford will be pleased with the updates to John Williams. "I've heard a lot of people are skeptical about the John Williams project and I want to reassure them that even though things are different, John Williams will still for all intents and purposes the same. None of the businesses are going anywhere and the giant green lawn chair, it is going to be put right in the middle."
As Bedford expands and tries new things, we will always be here to ask questions and get the full story.
