PL-SLU-2022-008-PL-REZ-2022-039 06.14.23 E. Flores Opposition Testimony within 48 hrs

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Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan the Kohala Mountain Road and Kawaihae Road and installation of various safety improvements. To date the public prefers a new alignment mauka of the existing bridge location, with provisions for pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian use. One possibility that received general community support is to retain the current bridge and use it solely for non-vehicular traffic. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011 and will be funded by State and possibly Federal funds. Lindsey Road Bridge Replacement Project is located near the Mamalahoa Highway intersection. The project is slated for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. There is great concern that this construction project will cause more traffic congestion in the center of town. Waimea Bypass Road was initially proposed by the State DOT in the 1960s. The purpose of the proposed Waimea Bypass Road is to reduce cross-island traffic traveling between east and west Hawai'i through Waimea Town. The road's most recent design is to start from the Mamalahoa Highway near Mud Lane and connect with the Kawaihae Bypass Road at Mamalahoa Highway. The project is expected to be funded by State and Federal highway programs. However, the only funding to date has been for an Environmental Impact Statement, which is still underway. Major controversial questions surrounding this project include how, where, and whether to traverse the DHHL Pu'ukapu farm lots on the east side of Waimea. Waimea residents are also concerned about the road's alignment immediately south of the town center. There is considerable sentiment in the Waimea community that this State highway should be aligned to the south of the Waimea Airport. Kawaihae Road Bypass is planned to start at Mamalahoa Highway near the Waimea Airport at the terminus of the Waimea Bypass Road. As with the Waimea Bypass Road, there is considerable sentiment in the Waimea community for this road to be aligned south of the Pu'u Pa — Pu'u Huluhulu cindercone complex. This highway will link up with the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway in the vicinity of Kawaihae Harbor. The road is designed to relieve traffic anticipated from the further development of the resort areas, vehicles traveling between East Hawai'i and West Hawai'i, and increased vehicle, cargo, and Superferry traffic from Kawaihae Harbor. The Draft EIS was begun in 2006 and planning for the project is still in process. This road is proposed to be constructed in up to three sections. There is considerable district-wide community support for construction of the segment in the area of Kawaihae, given the potentially significant impact of the Superferry and military traffic into and out of the Harbor. According to the County Department of Public Works, construction of the road is scheduled to begin in 2014. Waimea Trails and Greenways creates a corridor through Waimea town along the Waikoloa Stream consisting of trails and greenways. This project is intended to encourage alternative forms of circulation other than by car for trips within Waimea Town by providing accessible pathways to connect residential areas with schools and commercial areas. The trail will extend along Waikoloa Stream from the South Kohala View Estates on the west and travel northeast, through the Waimea Nature Park to the State land north of Church Row. The project will also consist of a 17-acre trail head, picnic area, and parking area located on the State land near the Waimea Solid Waste Transfer Station. The first phase of the project, in the vicinity of the Waimea Nature Park, has been completed and is open to the public. The project will be federally funded. South Kohala CDP November 2008 FINAL Page 62