PD Background Report Waikoloa Village Center (PL-REZ-2023-052)

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Ehu Kai Loop /Hale Hana Street intersection to provide an exclusive left -turn lane for the turning traffic into Hale Hana Street and to remove the existing left -turn refuge lane; 3) Install a crosswalk across Waikoloa Road at the Ehu Kai Loop/Hale Hana Street intersection; 4) Include bicycle signage/markings along Hale Hana Street to indicate it is a shared use road and include limited bicycle parking racks with the Waikoloa Village Light Industrial Center to encourage bicycle use to the project; 5) Coordinate with the County of Hawaii to help with designating additional Hele-on bus stops to serve this area along Waikoloa Road if there is sufficient rider demand in the future. The Department of Public Works (DPW), Engineering Division, commented that all connections and construction within Waikoloa Road and Pua Melia Street shall conform to Hawaii County Code Chapter 22, County Streets, and that the applicant shall install streetlights and traffic control devices as may be required by DPW, Traffic Division. A request for comment was sent to DPW, Traffic Division, but no response has been received at the time of this writing. The Police Department provided a comment letter to request that DPW consider reducing the speed limit on Waikoloa Road at the location of the new intersection, from 45 mph to 35 mph. Additional comments regarding road access and traffic were received from the Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) and the South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee (SKTSC). WVA requests that the Planning Department "perform their due diligence on ensuring that any planning approvals address current and future traffic mitigation for the area and especially access onto Waikoloa Road." SKTSC notes that community members stated that the new 4 -way intersection at Waikoloa Road /Ehu Kai Loop/Hale Hana Street should "mirror and/or complement the forthcoming intersection at Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Ave." SKTSC advocates for "forward -thinking safety improvements" at the new intersection, notes that a properly improved connection to Pua Melia St would provide a secondary means to access the site and expressed support of the TIAR recommendations regarding pedestrian/cyclist safety and Hele-on bus stops. In response letters to agency and association comments, the applicant states they have no major objections to agency requests, will follow the recommendations that were included with the TIAR and would participate with an equitable share of having a roundabout constructed at the new intersection, if deemed -7-