HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0757.002 2000-2002
October 1, 2002
Mr. Aaron Chung
Chair, Finance Committee
Hawaii County CouncA
25 Aupuni Street
Hiln, H196720
Fie: Bill No. 263
Communication No. 757
Submissiun of Testimony on behalf of
Keauhou Outreach Group
Traffic Subcommittee
gutted: Alii Drive IM2rovernQnts
Dear Mr- Chung:
Thka latter- is provided to submit tostimony on behalf of the KQauh®u Outreach Group, Traffic
Subcommittee, in connection with the capital improvements funding bill which we understand will be
considered by the Finance Committee, Hawaii County Council, at its meeting on October 8, 2002. The
Keauhou Outreach Croup strongly supports tnls capital irtmpiBaveinarit project.
The proposed capital improvements project is specifically targeted for the approximate 0.9 mile
segment of Aiii Drive through Keauhou. extending between the proposed link-up with the Mamalanoa
bypass road (Hokuli'a) on the South and with Alii Highway (Kahralul-Keauhou parkway) on the North.
Th6 stretch of Alii Drive through Keauhou, in its present condition and configuration, is not designed to
accommodate the traffic flow and volume which will occur when these two new roadway projects are
opened. Accordingly, the Keauhou Outreach Group additionally and strongly urges that this capital
improvements project be senedulad for uumpletion prier to or concurrently with link up of Alli Drive with
these two new roadways.
By way of background information, the Keauhou Outreach Group is an organlzatlon stuitou
several years ago by Kamehameha Investment Corporation to provide a discussion and information
sharing foram for the Various residential and business nnmmunlties within Keauhou. Not surprisingly, one
major topic of concern has been the negative traffic and noise impacts that will occur when the segment
of Alii Drive through Keauhou is linked up with the proposed new highways. The Outreach Group
appolntea the Trdf u Subcommittee to study this topic.
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File No.
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Ref. To:
Ref. Date QCT 0 8 2002
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Mr. Aaron Chung
October 1, 2002
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The Traffic Subcommittee has conducted a number of meetings to discuss this issue, culminating
in a Report (copy attached) reflecting specific proposals for mitigabun rrtoasures desired by Keauhou
residents. In this regard, this Report represents the input from individual residents of each residential
project lonated along the stretch of AM Drive, including Keauhou Gardens, Country Club Villas, Kaulana
at Keauhou, Keauhou Akahl, and Keauhou Punahele condominiums. This Report was presented to ana
adopted by the Keauhou Outreach Group at its regular monthly meeting on March 15, 2002.
Ubsequentiy, rr embcm of the Traffic Subcommittee worked with their District 7 Council representative,
Ms. Pisicchio, In developing the cost estimate set forth in Sill No. 263.
For your convenience, a discussion of thu proposed mitigation measures to be funded by the
proposed capital improvements project is set forth below. In this regard, the Keauhou Outreach Group
strongly believes that the Keauhou community is an Important contributor to the overall quality of Ile in
the broader Kona area, and fulfills a key role in making Kona a desirable piaoe for its residents and ttie
many, many persons who visit Kona throughout the year. The Keauhou Outreach Group further believes
that a deterioration of the pristine residential/resort environment of Keauhou will have w ',arse
consequences not only in the immediate Keauhou vicinity, but also on the larger Kona community- Such
deterioration would be the unfortunate but Inevitable result of failing to implement the capital
improvements sett forth in Bill No. 263.
A. Turn-out/turn-in lanes at each access ooint. These turn-outAum-in lanes are essential
(i) at the entrances to Country Club Villas, Keauhou Akahi, Keauhou Punahele, and lhtf Kona country
Club, and also (Ji) at the Kaluna Street intersection. Without these lanes, it will be difficult if not
impossible for safe ingress/egress of Keauhou residents and quests tolfrom Alli Drive at these access
points-
0. 7raffi g signal %t Karclooaoa Strout. This intersection with Alii Drive is viewed as a
potential major problem area. Visibility (in both directions) for traffic entering AM Drive is restricted. At
present, the Kona Surf Hotel is closed, yet the local traffic along Kalelopapa Street and traffic accessing
Keauhou Say (and the boat ramp faoilitres) already presents problems at this intersection. When the
hotel is refurbished and re-opened, it is believed that traffic at this intersection will be untenable in the
absenop of a traffic signal. Note that a traffic signal at this intersection would also assist in slowing traffic
for compliance with the posted speed limit.
0. Installo on of pedestrian walkwav and hlcycle yon mauka side- Installation of
a pedestrian walkway and bicycle pathway on the mauka side of the Alii Drive would provide the
numerous pedestrians and cyclists with a safe area for walking and cycling through Keauhou. in this
regard, the number of pedestrians and cyclists is expected to inorease significantly with the opening of
the new roadways, since these new roadways include provisions for pedestrian and bicycle access. The
mauka-side
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Mr. Aaron Chung
October 1. 2002
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walkway/pathway as proposed would provide a smooth transition through Keauhou, thereby prevenaing a
potentially hazardous bottleneck.
D. Posted speed lirnd compatible with a residential zone. The Traffic Subcommittee
believes that the speed limit through Keauhou should be consistent with a residential community. Given
the significant anticipated increase in traffic volume, a Feigner speed Ilmlt would be inuimpatibie void,
safe ingress/egress of local Keauhou traffic, (ii) incompatible with current use of All! Drive by pedestrians
and cyclists, and (lil) cre9ata an exponentially and objectionably higher noise level.
E. Noise abatement. Noise mitigation measures should be studied, and, if appropriate,
installed aaluseg Alii Drive through Keauhou to shield residents from the impact of increased roadway
noise. Such noise mitigation measures could include strategically placed rock walls, earthen mounds,
and landscaping elements.
Thank you for the opportunity to present this testimony on behalf of the Keauhou Outreach
Group.
Yours very truly,
Stuart U. Lowry
Chair, Traffic Subcommittee
Keauhou Outreach Group
cc: JoYeph Spencer (Kamehameha InvPStment Corporation)
Jean Murphy (Outgoing Chair, Traffic Subcommittee)
Nancy Pislcchio, Hawaii County Council, District 7
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