Carmel to require turn signals in roundabouts

Ever get frustrated trying to figure out when vehicles will exit a roundabout?

The Carmel City Council will consider an ordinance Monday to require people to use their turn signals to make it clear. Scofflaws will face a $100 fine.

"This is standard in countries with many roundabouts and allows a driver waiting to enter a roundabout to know whether a circulating car is going to cross in front or turn out of the circle," said Mayor Jim Brainard. "It will speed up our roundabouts and make them more efficient."

Carmel has more than 100 roundabouts, the most of any city in the country, but never has required signaling. The protocol has been that cars entering a roundabout simply yield to the left.

An IndyStar report in October noted the city has extensive information about navigating roundabouts on its website but nothing about signaling. That material has since been modified to include information about the need to signal when existing a roundabout.

State law does not require motorists to signal in roundabouts.

The council also will consider three public-private partnerships Monday. All would be paid back through tax-increment financing, property taxes collected from the individual projects.

• Indianapolis-based Barrett & Stokely is asking for up to $15 million in bonds for a 370-space parking garage at Midtown. The garage would be wrapped with 167 apartment units, similar to The Mezz development at The Center for the Performing Arts' parking garage. The first floor of the four-story building will feature retail along the Monon. The developer also plans to build a five-story, 100,000-square-foot office building. Merchants Bank will move its corporate headquarters from U.S. 31 to the top four floors.The first floor will be leased to retail and restaurants and will have a Merchants' bank branch. 
• Carmel-based Old Town Design Group is asking for up to $6 million in bonds for roadwork and a creek bridge at the Sunrise on the Monon development with houses and apartments at 99th Street and Westfield Boulevard.
• Chuck Lazzara, who owns the Ritz Charles, is asking for up to $4.5 million in an installment-purchase contract to pay for a 200-space parking garage at Main Street and the Monon Greenway. Lazzara plans a $20 million development on the property with town homes, offices, retail and a high-end steakhouse. The installment-purchase contract has several advantages over a bond when used for smaller amounts of debt, city officials say, including lower issuance costs and a shorter payment term. 

Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich and at facebook/chris.sikich.

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