HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.002 2020-2022 tF Y!
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Connecting People and Piece,
Re: Comm. 843, Update on Waianuenue Avenue Rehabilitation Project
Good Morning Honorable Council Members,
My name is Jess Thompson, and 1 am the Executive Director of PAT ®People for
Active Transportation Hawaii. PATH is a Hawaii County based nonprofit and our
mission is to safely connect people and places on Hawail Island with pathways and
bikeways. We administer bike and pedestrian education programs for over 2000 adults
and keiki every year, we administer the HIBIKE ikesare system, and we work with
local and state-wide partners to deliver on the promise of safe, accessible, an
equitable active transportation systems.
First of all, thank you for your service to the peoples of Hawaii and the opportunity to
share updates regarding Comm. 843.
I am honored to be here to testify on behalf of the URGENT need to implement Hawaii
County's Complete Streets road design manual and award-winning Vision Zero Master
Plan.
We cannot move forward without knowing where we have been. To that end, the
followingis a brief summary of the CompleteStreets nVision a initiatives
on i'i Island.
lets rets
® o On May 6, 2009 Governor signed the landmark bill SB 718 into law. This law
required all state and county roads to implement complete streets.
o Oct 19, 2011 County of Hawaii passed a resolution committing to the creation of
a Complete Streets policy.
o In December 2020, County of Hawaii approved resolution 779 to move forward
with the Complete Streets Design Manual and.
o There has been 0 community outreach, despite repeated requests.
Vision Zero Master Plan
o A Vision Zero Action team was convened by the County. This taskforce was an
interdepartmental group working with external stakeholders, including PATH, to
develop an evidence-based, data-driven approach to implementing changes.
o November 6, 2020 County of Hawaii passed Resolution 746 which adopted the
Vision Zero Master Plan
Come. o
Ref. ®ate - 5 2022
PATH People for Active Transportation Hawaii sharetheroad@pathhawaii.org
Formerly, PATH Peoples'Advocacy for Trails Hawaii PO Box 62
EIN 99-0248675 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
?/PWMTC
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n People and Places
The Complete Streets initiatives and Vision Zero Action Plan specifically address
transparency and community engagement as focal points. Communities KNOW what is
needed tomake the roads they travel safer: more connected bike, pedestrian and other
multimodal facilities, road diets (narrower roads), slower speeds, etc...
As of this date, none of the recent road improvements have included connected
bikeways or road diets outlined in Complete Streets road design manual, the Transit
and Multi Modal Master Plan, or the Vision Zero Master Plan. In fact, the recent Kilauea
Ave, Waidnuenue Ave, and Alii Drive resurfacing did not include any connected
striping for bicyclists or transparent community engagement. We are still waiting for
public announcements regarding community input on Keawe and Kalanian `ole Street
pedestrian and bicycling facilities.
It is not too late for WailAnuenue Ave, Keawe, or alanian `ole Streets roadway
improvements that reflect the values and protocols outlined in Complete Streets and
Vision Zero frameworks.
To be clear. We have REPEATEDLY asked for Complete Streets and Vision Zero
Master Plans to be implemented. Leadership at the County of Hawaii has been
receptive to the ideas. However, when the rubber meets the road (or paint meets the
road, in this case), it continues to be business as usual. Plans cannot get implemented
if the same plans are ignored by the people charged with implementing them.
We believe transformative change that implements the vision adopted by our elected
officials/community is possible at the County. The incredible work of the Mass Transit
Department, under the direction of John Andoh, is a case in point. Let's see that same
transformative change in regards to the Vision Zero and Complete Streets initiatives!
Sincerely,
Jess Thompson
Executive Director
PATH People for Active Transportation Hawaii
jessica.thompson@pathhawaii.org
808-498-1196
PATH People for Active Transportation Hawaii sharetheroad@pathhawaii.org
Formerly, PATH Peoples'Advocacy for Trails Hawaii Pt} Box 62
EIN 99-0248675 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745