The Difficult Side of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are being built because communities do not have enough traffic capacity, requiring longer delays at red lights and dangerous turns.
Roundabouts offer a safer alternative. Many of us dislike roundabouts, especially when first trying them. However, a driver will find a roundabout is a faster and safer way to travel.
Because so many roundabouts are built after the fact because intersections are too busy for proper functioning, one will then find that the adjacent properties are severely damaged between new grade differentials and lost parking. Only just compensation via eminent domain can partially relieve the problems created by the roundabouts, and only roundabouts can relieve the congestion.
From the beginning, the plan called for removing the long-vacant Sunoco station. Now, tenants of the commercial building behind it say PennDOT seems to want to remove a big chunk of their parking lot, too.
The building, owned by Ruckno Associates Inc., houses Pizza Bella, Dallas Family Practice and Ochman Coins & Jewelry. Mary Ann Ochman said she didn't know what was going on with the property until she saw a PennDOT real estate appraiser in the parking lot recently.
Dave Brodhead, representing Dallas Family Practice, said PennDOT is looking to take away 13 to 15 parking spaces, or about one-third of the lot, through eminent domain.
"Everybody's just parking any way they can," Brodhead said. "Parking's tight now, and to take away 13 spaces would be detrimental to the businesses."
