Colusa Circle Gets Yellow Bumps, Striping

Following community meetings about traffic safety at Colusa Circle in Kensington, the Public Works Department of Contra Costa County has installed yellow bumps and a yellow stripe on the pavement surrounding the center island of the roundabout.

"The Public Works Department has implemented temporary measures intended to provide a traffic calming effect at Colusa Circle," says a fact sheet distributed by Public Works Director Julia Bueren last week. "Our efforts at Colusa Circle are expected to make motorists slow down as they negotiate the wider curve of the striped circle."

The fact sheet, which is attached to this article, says the measures are "in response to feedback received at community meetings ... as well as concerns expressed about speeding through the circle by residents over the years."

In October, a Kensington girl was hit by a car in a crosswalk just north of the circle. In January crosswalk flags were installed by members of the Kensington Hilltop Elementary School PTA.

The fact sheet from the Public Works Department offered these descriptions of the traffic-calming measures:

• Installation of striping around the existing oval-shaped raised median island to create a more typical circle.
• Reflective markers have been added to enhance visibility of the striped circle.
• Raised yellow plastic "bumps" have been installed intermittently in the pavement area between the new striping and existing curb of the median to deter Colusa Avenue motorists from cutting through the new striping.
• New roundabout signs on the circle. 

"The Public Works Department and Kensington Police Department will monitor the effects of these traffic calming features," the fact sheet says. "Feedback from Kensington residents on these traffic calming measures is also welcome. If you have any questions regarding this project, call Monish Sen, Senior Civil Engineer, Traffic Section at (925) 313-2187 or he can be contacted via email at msen@pw.cccounty.us." 

What do you think about the yellow bumps and striping at Colusa Circle? You can tell us in the comments below.