HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0671.013 1998-2000
APR-04-00 00:56 FROM:FED HIGHWAY lU-FiUFJ a41 '[/U'4 raa ~,n [iy
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40°~ li.S. DEPARTME.-'~T OF TR,L~ISPORTATION I~'
FEDERAL HIGF3~~"AY .4DMI~7STRA7[O\
o g Hawaii Division
300 P.Ia Magna Blvd., Room 3-306
~,n,~ ~ BOX 50206
Honolulu, HI 96550 I
April 3, 2000
m xErL Y x>:r->;R To
I-IDA-HI
Mr. Robert Yanabu
County of Hawaii
Department of Public Work
25 Aupuni Street, Room 202
Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252
Dear Mr. Yanabu:
Subject: Ivlauka-Makai Connector Road
Kahului-Keauhou Pazkway, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
This letter is in regazds to the County of Hawaii's resolution to authorize the condemnation of
the mauka-makai connector road from Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Alii Drive along the
Kahului-Keauhou Parkway and the ordinance amending the bond authorization. From
discussions with Various personnel with the County of Hawaii, Depamnent of Public Works and
the Hawaii County Council, there are some concerns that these two proposals may jeopardize the
federal-aid highway funding that is currently being used to design the Kahului-Keauhou
Parkway, as well as the future funding for the construction.
The following are some of the federal regulations that the County should be aware of when
making the decision to fund the condemnation of the right-of--way and the construction of the
two-lane mauka-makai connector road from Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Alii Drive with
county-only funds:
• A reevaluation is required on this project before further federal approvals may be granted
(23CFR§771.129).
• The project must connect logical termini, have independent utility, and not restrict
consideration of alternatives [23CFR§771.1 I1(f)J.
• The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies of 1970, as
amended, shall be followed. This applies to all projects where there is Federal financial
assistance in anv part of the project cost (49CFR§2A.101).
- Preliminary design funds used for this project must be returned to Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) if the road is nat built iu accordance with federal standards
(23CFR§630.307)
Comm. 2~~0- 67p~ .
Fi!c No. ~IVVI
Ra~~'. To: ~~~li?
t:.a, llace APR 1 8 2000
APR-04-0D 08:56 FROM~FED HIGHWAY ID-BOB 541 2709 PAGE 3/9
Pale 2
As stated in the first bullet, a reevaluation is required on this project before further federal
approvals may be granted. Since the last reevaluation was conducted in May of 1996 and no
other major federal actions have taken place, FH~VA requires that the project be reevaluated to
identify any significant changes to environmental impacts previously identified in the Final EIS.
~~'ithin the last year, several major components of the project have changed due to public input
and updated engineering studies. The changes include reducing the number of tray°el lanes and
adding bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Construction of the Mauka-Makai Connector Prior to an Approved Reevalnation
Tf the County decides to construct the mauka-makai connector prior to federal approval of the
reevaluation, the federal-aid highway funds may be jeoparrlized. Federal-aid highs;-ay funds may
be jeopazdized if the connector road is not built to AASHTO standards and does not include the
construction of shoulders, bike lanes, and a climbing lane.
Federal-aid highway funds may not be jeopardized ifthe County acquires adequate right-of--way for
the shoulders, bike lanes, and climbing lane, while acquiring the right-of--way for die travel lanes.
Also, the County must commit to the construction of the shoulders, bike lanes and the climbing lane
with county-only funds. The construction of these facilities shal] be completed prior to the
completion of the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway, Phase I (northern terminus to Ro}>al Poinciana or
Lako Street). '
The stipulations mentioned above are necessary due to NEPA regulations. I~rEPA states that the
project must have logical termini, have independent utility, and not restrict consideration of
alternatives (see bullet Z). Tf the County elects not to include the shoulders, bike lanes and the
climbing lane with the travel lanes, then the FFft~A will be forced to construct these facilities when
the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway is constructed. In summary, the County's actions will preselect
alternatives before the NEPA process is completed.
Construction of the AIauka-Makai Connector After an approved Reevaluat9ou
If the County decides to construct the mauka-makai connector after federal approval of the
reevaluation, federal-aid highway funds ma n t be in jeopardy if the County agrees to the
following:
1) RIGIdT-OF-GAY: The right-of-way for any portion of the road using federal-aid highway
funding for the design. or construction must be acquired in accordance with federal
procedures. This means that if the county plans to use federal-aid highway funding to
construct the climbing lane, the county cannot condemn the right-of--way without first
appraising the property and offering the owner fair market value for the property (bullet 3).
2) ARCHAEOLOGY: According to tUe State Historic Preservation Office, the data recovery
plan must be one document, regazdless of funding source or timing; however, two separate
reports maybe submitted. One report will be for the mauka-makai connector and the other
for the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway. The cost to collect the data and complete dze report for
ov~o av i L-/id9 PAGE q/<
Page 3
the mauka-makai connector ~~~ill not be eligible for federal-aid highway frauds.
3) PRELIMINARY ENG1NEEkZII~rG FU?JDS: Federal-aid highway funds spent on designing
the section where the mauka-makai connector oaerlaps with the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway
will need to be reimbursed to Fl-IZTVA (bullet
4) TRAFFIC STUDY: A new traffic study will need to be completed to incorporate the traffic
Lhat is generated from the new connection «~th Alii Dm•e.
We have listed only some of the federal requirements regarding tkae design and construction of the
mauka-makai connector. If it is decided to fund the mauka-makai connector road with county-only
funds, we suggest that you contact us to discuss possible options to ensure that federal-aid highway
funding remains as an option for the rest of the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway.
We look forvard to working with you and your staff to build a road that balances engineering
requirements with community needs. If you have any questions, please contact Richelle Suzuki at
(808)541-2700 extension 311.
Sincerely yours,
l,~
Abraham Y. ti'~ong
Division Administrator
cc: Ken Au, HDOT I-itiUY-PA
Nancy Pisicchio, Hawaii County Council