Communication Number 2019-10 Waikoloa Intersection Subcommittee Report

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Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report The subcommittee therefore recommends requesting that the Traffic Division perform a traffic count at the intersection and then evaluate the results using their tools and expertise to determine what improvements, if any, are warranted at this time. The subcommittee also recommends requesting that the traffic count be repeated every three years to identify further improvements or changes necessary in the future as the Waikoloa Village area continues to grow. In support of this recommendation, it is worth noting that the County of Hawaii has also recognized the need for improvements to the intersection by adding obligations for developers to improve the intersection if they proceed with developments on three lots near the intersection, however, as explained in Section 7 below, this has not resulted in any improvements and does not appear to be a viable plan for improvements to the intersection in the timeframe they will be needed. 5. Community Input/Feedback The members of the subcommittee live in Waikoloa Village and regularly speak with other residents of the Village. It is hard to produce statistics from these discussions, but it is notable that in every discussion about the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection, residents always agree that the intersection is dangerous and needs improvement. Village residents have varying opinions about what kind of improvement should be made, generally preferring either a traffic signal or a roundabout, but none of the subcommittee members have experienced a Village resident arguing that safety improvements are not needed. One informal survey was conducted on the website "Nextdoor" on their Waikoloa Village community page. This survey received 76 replies from about 25 Waikoloa Village residents. There were various opinions about how to improve the safety of the intersection, ranging from more informative signage and adding stop signs to traffic signals and roundabouts, but everyone agreed that the intersection needs safety improvements. Safety of the intersection is also a frequent topic raised at Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) meetings. The WVA membership consists of over 3000 homes in Waikoloa Village, which the subcommittee estimates to include at least 2/3 of the Village population. The WVA is asked regularly, many times each year, if the WVA can improve the safety of the intersection. The WVA has provided feedback to the County in the past regarding safety improvements being needed at the intersection. 6. CDP support for Intersection Improvements In the South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP), a Second Access Road for ingress and egress for Waikoloa was the top priority, along with overall infrastructure improvements. In 2008 when the SKCDP was submitted, the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection itself was not a "hot topic". Since then, the population of Waikoloa Village has grown from 4,800 to 7,000 people, a 46% increase. June 18, 2019 Page 13 of] 7