REP PWPC 084 01/06/1998 1996-1998

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS DATE: January 6, 1998 RE: COMM. NO. 506/BILL NO. 145 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 9:05 a.m. Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Public Works and Parks, to which was referred Communication No. 506 and attached Bill No. ]45, reports as follows: The purpose of Bill No. 145 is (1) to compress the one-way school traffic pattern on Waianuenue Avenue from Komohana Street to Laimana Street instead of Kamehameha Avenue; (2) to eliminate presently prohibited left-turns at Hilo intermediate School and Hilo High School caused by the existing one-way pattern; (3) to prohibit left-turns on Waianuenue Avenue at Hilo High on Kapiolani Street, and on Kaiulani Street at certain times on school days; and (4) to change the locations where parking on Waianuenue Avenue is prohitited and allowed based upon the proposed compression. The changes would amend Chapter 24, Article 1 Q division 2, schedule 15 (One way streets in South Hilo), schedule 19 (prohibited lefr-turn areas in South Hilo), schedule 29 (Parking prohibited during certain hours on certain streets in South Hilo), and schedule 32 (Two hour parking areas in South Hilo), and schedule 34 (No stopping, standing or parking areas in South Hilo) of the Hawaii County Code. Communication No. 506 is a letter from Chief Engineer Donoa Fay K. Kiyosaki, dated September 22, 1997, which transmit Bill No. 145 to the Council for its consideration. In Communication No. 506, the Chief Engineer states that the one-way pattern would be shortened to end at Laimana Street rather than Kamehameha Avenue to improve control of the traffic flow on Waianuenue Avenue, especially during the transition periods when many vehicles are traveling in the wrong direction. This would also minimize the County's exposure to liability during the one-way period. On October 14, 1997, Your Committee deferred the proposal due to the concerns of the people brought to the attention of Committee Member Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd vvho would like to leave the traffic pattern as is. If a compression was to be made, Ms. Leithead-Todd felt that it should occur at Kinoole Street rather than Laimana Street. The deferral period would allow her to hold community meetings for public input. Mr. Richard Nishimura of the Department of Public Works explained that the main reason for this compression was based upon the liability that faces the County of Hawaii during the one-way time period of 45 minutes on a school day. Signs are posted to inform the public that the one-way pattern is only effective on school days. However, people are still not able to ascertain whether it is in operation while they are driving. By controlling the traffic signals using flashing lights at Komohana and by being able to see the flow of traffic at that point, the County Public Works crew can better monitor and safely remove the barriers at the end of the one-way traffic at 8:00 a.m.