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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Modern roundabout Safety for Hwy 130 <br /> <br /> <br /> Aloha Chairman Mga and members of the Hawaz I County Council, <br /> <br /> My name is Dr. Keola G.A. Downing, Ph.D., and I am a strong supporter of modem <br /> roundabouts. I have read extensively about the traffic calming devise known as "modem <br /> roundabouts" as part of my responsibility in the Transportation Working Group of the Puna <br /> Community Development Plan. Please do not make any decision on Hwy 130 improvements until <br /> our work toward a new Puna Community Development Plan is completed. Don't be responsible <br /> for a "Ready Shoot Aim" move! <br /> <br /> I strongly oppose widening Hwy 130 unless it includes modem roundabouts for the many <br /> dangerous intersections between the highway and the subdivision private roadways. I would <br /> prefer that Hwy 130 become a residential boulevard with a lowered speed limit and modem <br /> roundabouts at all the currently dangerous intersections of the highway and the subdivision <br /> roadways. Presently a person is faced with almost impossible left turn situations on most of the <br /> intersections at most times of the day. With increased traffic, we will be looking at more and <br /> more automobile crashes in the future. <br /> <br /> Use of modern roundabouts has beem shown to decrease fatal crashes by as much as 90%, and <br /> sever injury crashes as much as 70%. This is very important to all of us who must use the <br /> roadways every day. I cannot understand the reluctance on the part of the State Department of <br /> Transportation in adopting this proven safety traffic cahning devise for Hwy 130. Please do not <br /> let the Department force their concept of a freeway between Kea au and Pahoa on the citizens of <br /> Puna. Even at 45mph the trip only takes 15 minutes. Do we really need to hurry ourselves into <br /> the grave? <br /> <br /> We do not want to see a freeway cutting through our neighborhood. It is far better to reduce the <br /> speed limit and provide modem roundabouts to increase the safety of travel on Hwy 130, than to <br /> allow the Department to force an unwanted increase in the size of the death toll by adding two <br /> more lanes to an already dysfunctional and dangerous highway. We do not want to see any more <br /> crashes on our roadways. We all know that with the increasing population we are experiencing <br /> today, the result of widening Hwy 130 to four lanes from Kea' au to Pahoa without the inclusion <br /> of modem roundabout technology will result in many more deaths, disabling injuries, and frequent <br /> automobile crashes. <br /> <br /> Mahalo, <br /> <br /> <br /> Dr. Keola G. . Downing, Ph D. Comm. No. •b <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ref. Toprftm" <br /> Ref. Date <br />