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Harold Murata 75-5870 Kahakai Rd., #207 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 June 20, 2002 Mr. James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the Council County of Hawaii 25 Apuni St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Again, thank you for letting me present my viewpoint on the proposed General Plan. Today, I would like to focus on the Transportation dement of the comprehensive plan. I would like to talk on five things. • One is the proposed adoption of the standard for design guidelines by AASHTO (American Association of State Highway Officials). • Another is the roadway system of subdivision developments • Another is the proliferation of ingress-egress connections to the scarce arterials in Kona. • Another is traffic capacity reducers. • And, lastly the funding mechanism of transportation facilities. The adoption of AASHTO standards is a step in the right direction. The application of uniform road design guidelines should improve the system of existing and future arterials, collectors, and local streets. The existing subdivision transportation systems are examples of area containment and exacerbating non-passage to other subdivisions. The AASHTO standards for new construction should be conducive to the design and construction of friendly inter-community passageways and better traffic circulation. It should also help to connect mauka-makai routes. These kinds of developments should help to reduce the demand for short travel on the arterials. The rate of proliferation of lateral connections to arterials is insane. Construction causes congestion. After construction more cars enter the arterials causing more congestion. Perhaps the metering of cars entering the arterials at certain times would relieve congestion. Also, perhaps the metering of development permits would also help to relieve congestion. The use of 2-lane roads for non-motorized vehicles, such as horse carriages, impedes traffic movement, thereby reducing the capacity of the roadway. Such an activity is incompatible roadway use, however quaint or enterprising, on a non-multilane road. (More on back)