No Roundabout

It's time for a minor news note, brought to you by Petty Corp., maker of the Irrelevantator, the greatest useless gadget ever!
The Topeka City Council has reconsidered its decision to put in a roundabout at 17th and MacVicar, mostly in response to protests from those who lived in the area. The majority of those who opposed the change pointed out that there was insufficient space for the roundabout (which is true) and that a roundabout would be potentially more dangerous for pedestrians (also true). The question remains, however, about what to with the intersection. It is somewhat dangerous and definitely narrow. Traffic tends to back up there during the late afternoon "rush" home, and MacVicar jogs slightly to the east as one drives north on it. Perhaps the best solution would to widen 17th Street and re-align MacVicar. That solution, like the traffic circle, would probably result in more protests from the neighborhood. Still, given the amount of traffic that 17th Street carries, it would make sense to add in a right-turn lane on westbound 17th at MacVicar. That would help some, as would a new traffic signal that allowed for both protected and unprotected left turns. The current model is a '70s unit that allows only for unprotected turns. Those ideas, of course, are the thoughts of an amateur observer. The professionals know these things better, and hopefully, they'll find a way to make that intersection safer for all without using a traffic circle.