Donner Pass Road - Truckee, California
Transportation
 

      
Truckee has the
      good fortune to still have a working train station (above) located
      opposite Commercial Row. The renovated station is a tourist attraction
      in its own right, complete with well-stocked gift counter and
      handsome lobby. But more importantly, it also serves as an Amtrak
      stop, bringing tourists directly to Truckee's historic downtown.
      Though renovation work seems to be continuing, one of the few
      weaknesses in the downtown project are obvious pedestrian crossings
      between Commercial Row and the train station.

      


      
At the west end
      of Truckee, traffic flowing onto the old Donner Pass Road (upper
      right) from Interstate-90 (upper left, along the slope above
      town) enters a roundabout intersection that allows the approach
      roads to maintain their compact two-lane profile, since extensive
      turn lanes are not needed. The roundabout also serves as a gateway
      to the historic downtown, with attractive alpine landscaping
      in the center circle and along the outer portions. 


      
Signage on the
      roundabout is placed with snow in mind -- posts are removable
      -- but simply the fact that this design was implemented in a
      mountain climate is testament to the versatility of roundabouts
      as an emerging intersection tool.

      
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      images are ©Tom Kloster, 2002, and may only be used by permission