Is this Lacey roundabout unsafe? Resident cites data, raises concerns

Hawks Prairie resident Larry Taylor is deeply concerned about a roundabout in Lacey where Marvin Road Northeast meets Britton Parkway and Willamette Drive.

Taylor is so concerned that he made two stops on Wednesday. He visited a community event hosted by The Olympian Wednesday morning to share his concerns and then he made his way to the Lacey Planning Commission meeting that evening. He spoke during a public hearing about roundabouts.

Taylor characterized the roundabout at Marvin Road Northeast and Britton Parkway/Willamette Drive as one of the worst in the state and urged the city to fix it.

“And from Lacey’s own data, which I did with a public records request, that roundabout was installed in 2001,” he told the commission. “Before that time, there was one accident per year or less. Since then, it has gone up as high as 55 in a year.”

Part of the reason: Residential and commercial growth has sprouted thickly nearby, which has produced increasing traffic volumes in all directions near the roundabout.

However, city officials support traffic circles.

Roundabouts move traffic efficiently, they reduce wait times, and they’re safer because there are fewer points of potential conflict than at a typical intersection, Lacey Public Works Director Scott Egger has previously told The Olympian.

Taylor has heard the same message, he said.

“Well, that’s nice, but what about insurance if you go from literally zero to 55 accidents a year?” Taylor said Wednesday. “Your insurance rates go up and my insurance rates go up, so we need to fix a problem.”

Taylor spoke during a 2025 comprehensive plan update public hearing. The city’s comprehensive plan is updated every 10 years, Lacey planning manager Ryan Andrews told those gathered for the hearing.

“The basis for the comprehensive plan is that it establishes the community’s vision for the future,” he said. “And so really, this sets the framework for how the city is going to grow and develop over the next 20 years.”

In the buildup to Wednesday’s hearing, the city has spent the past two years engaging with the public and soliciting input, he said. The highest volume of comments received focused on transportation, Andrews said.

“Transportation was the highest priority, specifically transportation infrastructure around walkability,” he said.

Taylor wrapped up his comments by citing news stories he has found about roundabouts being removed in England. He’d like to see the same done here.

“I like most of the roundabouts in the county, but that one is a problem,” Taylor said.

This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.