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You can make a difference. Kokua... please helpf e pono al ke kanaka ...for the benefit of the people Help collect signatures on the "Mini-bypass by 2008" petition As we all know, there is a serious traffic problem in Waimea. With over 7000 additional homes now approved for construction in the South Kohala area, as well as the continuing expansion of in-town schools, this traffic crisis is spiraling out of control. In the 1950's the County's planners anticipated a traffic problem, and proposed construction of the Waimea Mini-bypass to provide a second way through town that would preserve Waimea's natural beauty and "village atmosphere". The Mini-bypass road corridor was then called the "Waimea Bypass Highway". However the foresight of those planners did not prevail. There was never sufficient political leadership to get the road built a oono al ke kanaka. that is, for the benefit of the community at large. In response to minority opposition, County officials avoided controversy and repeatedly "shelved" the Mini-bypass project. [See the map on the back of this page to locate the current alignment corridor for the two sections of the Mini-bypass: the County's "Kawalhae Road - Mamalahoa Highway" section and Parker Ranch's "Town Center" section of the Mini-bypass, which Parker Ranch was required to construct as a condition to approval of its 2020 Waimea "Town Center" Development.] In early 2005, there were Indications that construction of both sections of the Mini-bypass would soon begin. Based on the terms of Its rezoning ordinance, Parker Ranch was now obligated to complete a major part of, if not all of, its section of the Mini-bypass. Specifically, Parker Ranch is scheduled to at least complete its section of the Mini-bypass from Mamalahoa Highway to Lindsey Road by March 2008. The County's Kawalhae Road-Mamalahoa Highway section was on the County's Capital Improvement Project list for construction in 2005-2006 and an Environmental Assessment of the road corridor was soon to commence. With respect to financing Its section of the road, the County had substantial funding in hand -10 million dollars, and presumably was therefore in a good postlon to seek supplemental funding if those funds would no longer be sufficient. Consistent with this course of action, the 2005 County General Plan required that both the County's and Parker Ranch's sections of this road be constructed. Unfortunately, the Mini-bypass is instead about to be "shelved" again. Parker Ranch has asked the Planning Department to eliminate the requirement to construct Its section of the Mini- bypass in conjunction with its on-going development. The Planning Department is considering that proposed change. Parker Ranch has also proposed to the County Council's Chairman that the County use its 10 million dollar fund to finance Parker Ranch's section of the Mini-bypass with possible repayment at some future time. According to the Public Works Department, the net effect of the diversion of these funds to Parker Ranch's road, is that construction of the County's Kawalhae Road section of the Mini-bypass will be shelved indefinitely for lack of funding. In addition to Parker Ranch's oppostion, there are naturally objections from landowners whose properties abut this road corridor. Not surprisingly, given the delays in construction of the Mini-bypass, purchasers of homes along this road corridor In Parker Ranch's Holoholoku and Sandalwood developments, are now objecting, unless the Mini-bypass road is constructed as a "neighborhood" lane. Likewise, owners of the 20 acre farm lots located along the Mini-bypass corridor are lobbying the County to abandon the Mlnlbypass project, or alternatively to relocate the road on to Parker Ranch's abutting Lalamllo parcel (even though their deeds specifically provide for this road corridor). Not surprisingly, various County officials, trying to avoid the cross fire of this controversy, have requested more traffic studies (meaning more delay) to look at "short-term" traffic solutions such as (you guessed it) adding more traffic lanes through town. AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A CHOICE OF ACCEPTING "POLITICS AS USUAL" AND WATCHING THE CONGESTION AT THE LINDSEY ROAD-MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY GROW PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHILE TRAFFIC IS FURTHER DELAYED BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL HIGHWAY LANES IN TOWN THAT WOULD NOT BE NEEDED IF THE MINI-BYPASS WERE IN PLACE; OR, ALTERNATIVELY WE CAN: INSIST THE COUNTY AND ITS TRAFFIC CONSULTANTS DRAFT A SPECIFIC PLAN TO COMPLETE THE MINI-BYPASS BY 2008 Return Petitions to: Waimea Traffic Crisis Committee P.O. Box 548 Kamuela HI 96743 and for more petitions contact: WaimeaTrafficCrisis@hawail.rr.com or 808-887-1419 (M. Wille)