Communication No. 2019-11- KCDP Amendments Post Corp Counsel

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Communication No. 2019-11 4.1 TRANSPORTATION T he Transportation section of the Kona CDP serves as a policy guide for County decisions regarding transportation systems. Its objectives, policies, and actions establish a transportation - oriented basis for future development that is integrated with the Land Use section, as well as the Public Facilities, In frastructure and Services section of the Kona CDP. In addition, it provides guidance for concurrency and connectivity of transportation facilities with future development to ensure that all communities are adequately served. 4.1.1 Existing Conditions Traffic co ngestion in Kona is bad and grows worse with time. The congestion is fueled by the rapid growth and exacerbated by the road network, land use patterns and dependence on the automobile. Road improvements have not kept pace with development. Poor management of past development has eliminated or compromised future roadway corridor options. Major road improvements take a long time to complete and limited financial resources have to be prioritized and supplemented by innovative funding sources. T wo major nor (Highway 190), are well beyond capacity and carry the majority of the north/south traffic through and within Kona. Both State and County share jurisdiction over the roads in Kona (see Figure 4 - 1). Based on State DOT traffic counts, several locations along regional transportation facilities in the planning area currently operate at poor levels of service (COH Planning Department, August 14, 2006). In general, the following roadw ay segments operate at Level of Service (LOS) “D” or worse (COH Planning Department, August 14, 2006): Hawai‘i Belt Road, Palani Road to Kealakekua Palani Road, east of Henry Street and west of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway ver the years, new development mauka and makai of the primary arterial highways has occurred without O local road connectivity. New developments have been built with no or very little connection to each other. Lac king such connectivity, all traffic funnels to the arterials and conditions have deteriorated to the degree that Kona’s residents’ quality of life, visitors’ regional experience, and overall public safety suffered. 4.1.2 Overall Strategy Widening, improving, and extending major arterials, as well as increasing connectivity between and within existing and future development are necessary to enhance mobility in Kona. Priority arterial highway projects include widening Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway between Henry Street and the airport, Kuakini Highway Widening between Henry Street and Kamehameha III Road, and the construction of the way Bypass Road and Kahului - (Mid - Level Road) will add capacity to the north - south arterial network, and reduce demands on the existing regional facilities. It would also serve as the central multi - modal corridor serving future regional development. A series of east - west (mauka - makai) collector roads linking the regional north - south facilities must also be provided for added circulation and to further reduce the reliance upon the regional facilities. In a ddition, future urban development must contribute to a well - connected local transportation network that 3