COM 1007.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Form B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Public Works DATE: February 4, 2008 STAFF CONTACT: Jiro Sumada PHONE: 961-8321 A. REQUEST: Amend Ordinance 07-83, the Capital Budget by adding an appropriation for: Mamalahoa Bypass Mitigation Measures $ 500,000.00 B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): The project proposes to use Fair Share funding to construct traffic calming improvements on Alii Drive and Halekii Street to mitigate the anticipated increase in vehicle traffic caused by the opening of the Northern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass. The opening of the Northern portion of the Bypass and the use of Halekii Street makai of Kona Scenic Park would provide South Kona motorists with an alternate route when traveling through Honalo, Kainaliu and Kealakekua towns. The Mamalahoa Bypass is a North-South arterial roadway between the end of Alii Drive in Keauhou and the Napoopoo Junction at Mamalahoa Highway. The Northern portion of the Bypass is scheduled to be completed in April 2008 and will be dedicated to the County soon thereafter. However, current zoning conditions, restrict the opening of Halekii Street until the entire roadway is completed all the way to the Napoopoo Junuction. A separate re-zoning change will be introduced to the County Council to amend the current zoning conditions to allow Halekii Street to be opened before the entire Bypass in completed. If this zoning change is passed, the potential opening of the Northern portion of the Bypass to the general public will increase the amount of traffic on Alii Drive in the Keauhou area and on Halekii Street. Both Alii Drive and Halekii Streets already have traffic problems with motorists speeding in the area. With an increase in traffic in both these areas, traffic calming measures are more urgently needed. During several meetings with the residents of the Keauhou and Halekii communities, several concerns surfaced about the increased potential for speeding and difficulties residents will encounter accessing their home with the more traffic after the Bypass is opened. To address these concerns, this project proposes to construct several traffic calming measures to slow down traffic on Alii Drive and Halekii Street to make these impacted areas safer for residents and motorists traveling through these communities. SIGNED: DATE: Z~¢ og Department Head