2024-02-27 PL -SMA-2023-000036 Simmy McMichael Opposition Testimony

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Kuakini Highway Improvements Project, Phase 2 Draft Environmental Assessment 1 .2.4 Enhance Emergency Access / Evacuation Capacity The town of Kailua-Kona on the Kona coast is vulnerable to coastal hazards such as tsunamis and tropical storms. In the event of an evacuation, the routes presently available are Ali`i Drive, Kuakini Highway, Queen Kaahumanu Highway and capacity-limited mauka-makai roads. Ali`i Drive is near sea level, making it vulnerable to flooding. Ali`i Drive also has a narrow, two-lane configuration with only limited expansion potential due to its proximity to the shoreline. The section of Kuakini Highway proposed for widening also has a narrow, two-lane configuration. The limitations of these two main roads out of Kailua-Kona, and the limited number of mauka- makai access points, constrain emergency evacuation. Widening Kuakini Highway to four lanes and increasing mauka-makai roadway capacity under separate projects would enhance the emergency access and evacuation capacity of the roadways in Kailua-Kona. 1.3 BASIC TRANSPORTATION ASSUMPTIONS This analysis is based on certain transportation network assumptions. It is assumed that all projects in the STIP and other County roadway projects are implemented with the exception of the proposed project. In particular, it is assumed that the following key roadway projects proceed: • Phase I of Ali`i Highway, which would connect it to Kuakini Highway, is assumed to be completed before or simultaneous to the completion of the southern portion of this proposed project. • Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway Extension, between Malulani Drive and Kuakini Highway, is assumed to be widened by HDOT. • Kuakini Highway, south of its intersection with Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway Extension to Kamehameha III Road, is assumed to be widened by HDOT. The roadway network presumed for 2020 is illustrated in Figure 1-2. 1.4 ALTERNATIVES ADDRESSED IN THIS EA Two main alternatives are analyzed in this EA, the No-Build and Build. The proposed project is the Build Alternative. There are two versions of the Build Alternative described below. The preferred version of the Build Alternative has not been selected and would be identified in the Final EA. Other alternatives that were considered but rejected are addressed in Section 1.5. 1 .4.1 No-Build Alternative The No-Build Alternative assumes that the widening of Kuakini Highway between Hualalai Road and Ali`i Highway would not be accomplished by 2020. The existing two-lane cross-section would remain in the bulk of the project area. However, it is assumed that between now and the year 2020 some intersection improvements, such as additional turn lanes and signalization, would be made to try and respond to demand without widening the entire length of the highway. This alternative assumes implementation of the other roadway construction projects described in Section 1.3. March 2013 Page 1-5