COM 0234.000 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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population growth in Puna by the U.S. Census 2010 population data showing an increase in Puna's population to 39,522 people, transportation is a top priority. The recognized need to implement the transportation options identified in the PCDP has led to activity by AC and community members focused on several Actions related to mass transit and roadways each with its own ATG. Wes Owens has been serving as the AC liaison to the Transportation Subcommittee. 1. County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan: The Transportation Subcommittee has been focusing on the need for increased Hele -On bus service throughout the district, attempting to identify specific obstacles preventing service over private subdivision roads, and a meaningful public input process in the development of a County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan. Although there has been an increase in the level of service in Puna since the adoption of the PCDP through the addition of routes and frequency of runs in Puna, members of the community and the AC have expressed a desire to see more progress in expansion of County transit services. The ATG are willing to work with the Mass Transit Agency (MTA) at developing the County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan as well as Hub -and Spoke System. 2. Develop Hubs within the Hub - and -Spoke System: Some community participants in the Transportation Subcommittee have been particularly interested in the implementation of the proposed hub - and -spoke system, including the development of transit hubs called for in the PCDP. In 2010 the MTA was awarded a federal grant of $350,000 to help implement a hub - and -spoke system in Hawai`i County. 3. Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR): The Planning and Public Works Departments have been taking steps to get the PMAR project underway by: • Getting funds appropriated in the Hawai`i County Capital Improvements Project (CIP) budget to help fund the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the PMAR. • Taking steps to getting the PMAR functionally classified as a major collector so as to qualify for placement of the project on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Projects (STIP) and federal funding for the design and construction phases. • Requesting release by the Governor of the $1.5 million in the State of Hawai`i CIP budget appropriated for the PMAR EIS /PER. • Developing and maintaining a Work Plan for the PMAR that suggests a timeline and identifies specific tasks that need to be completed. • Initiated steps to form an ATG consisting of stakeholders potentially impacted by a new roadway in the Puna makai area that will attempt to identify the level of support for the PMAR and specific public outreach strategy recommendations to be employed in a Context Sensitive 4