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Home My WebLink AboutRES 159 Draft 02 2002-2004 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 159 0~ Draft 2 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATIONS TO PROCEED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO FINALIZE PLANNING, DESIGN AND TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IN THE SOUTH KOHALA, NORTH KONA AND SOUTH KONA DISTRICTS AND TO FINALIZE TRANSPORTATION PLANS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING MECHANISMS. WHEREAS, the Hawaii County General Plan sets forth the following Transportation goals and policies: • "Provide a transportation system whereby people and goods can move efficiently, safely, comfortably and economically. • Make available a variety of modes of transportation which best meets the needs of the County. • A framework of transportation facilities which will promote and influence desired land use shall be established by concerned agencies. • The agencies concerned with transportation systems shall provide for present traffic and future demands, including mass transit programs for high growth areas. • The improvement of transportation service shall be encouraged." WHEREAS, to implement these Transportation goals and policies in the South Kohala, and North and South Kona Districts, the following courses of action, in part, are stated: South Kohala • "Improve mauka-makai county maintained homestead roads and encourage improvement of the non-county owned roads by the State of Hawaii or private subdivision. • Implement construction of a Waimea by-pass road from Mudlane Highway to Mamalahoa Highway on the Kona side of Waimea. • Implement construction of a new Waimea to Kawaihae road from Mamalahoa Highway to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. • Encourage the expansion of Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway as the need arises." North Kona • "Construct Alii Highway {now referred to as the Kahului-Keauhou Parkway} from Kuakini Highway {now called the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway} to Keauhou. • Construct a new scenic road over the Hualalai Saddle. • Construct a scenic drive from Keauhou above Kealakekua cliffs to Napoopoo. • Provide vertical connectors from Alii Drive to Kuakini Highway. • Improve present Kona-Ka'u Road. • Encourage the expansion of Queen Ka'ahumanu as the need arises. • Construct additional east-west connectors between the Hawaii Belt Highway and Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. • Construct amid-elevation lateral connection between Palani Road and Ka'iminani Drive." South Kona • "Construct a scenic drive from Keauhou above the Kealakekua cliffs to Napoopoo. • Improve present Kona-Ka'u Road." WHEREAS, the County has developed the following medium-range plans for the area: (1) The "Kona Regional Plan" (1984), which was to serve as an implementing tool for the General Plan; (2) An "Assessment of the Major Infrastructure Needs for the Northwest Hawaii Region-Phase I Report" dated March 1988 prepared by the Planning Department provides applicable major findings and conclusion: "1)The costs of the major infrastructure elements reviewed are projected to be $450 million in infrastructure to support the 16,000 additional units in the next 7-17 years means the need for an investment of $26 million to $64 million per year. 2) Given this scale of costs a comprehensive financing strategy must be developed and agreed upon. There will be no single source of revenue or financing that will resolve all of the capital improvement requirements. While this task will not be an easy one, a clear strategy needs to be formulated embracing the known and projected revenue sources, major operating and capital costs, and a review of the alternative means of financing the required investment. Once the strategy is agreed upon implementation through the permitting and budgetary process can commence.... . 6) There is a need to begin infrastructure investment as soon as possible. While the need for thoughtful action is always present it is imperative that such action be implemented quickly. Should the required level of investment not be made and the expected economic and population z growth becomes a reality there could be housing shortages and price increases, traffic congestion, and shortages of recreational facilities." (3) The °Keahole to Kailua Development Plan" (November 1990), which was to serve as an implementing tool for the General Plan by coordinating county infrastructure demands, such as roads, drainage, water, sewer, solid waste and parks, with land use projections and financing mechanisms. WHEREAS, the County Planning Department has also received from its consultant the "Keahole to Honaunau Regional Circulation Plan, Final Report, February 2003," which will undergo further governmental review and revisions as well as additional public input; and WHEREAS, roadway networks have been partially achieved through the construction and completion of Hina Lani Street, Kaiminani Drive, Nani Kailua, and Henry Street; and WHEREAS, numerous roadway projects for the districts of South Kohala, and North and South Kona are in varying stages of planning, design and construction by government and private entities, including Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway expansion, Waimea Bypass Road, Lako Street extension, Kuakini Highway widening, Palani Road intersection improvements, Kealakehe Parkway extension, Alii Parkway construction, Alii Drive improvements, Lako Street connections, and the North-South Kona Bypass Highway; and WHEREAS, nevertheless, based on public testimony on a number of land use applications affecting lands in West Hawaii, the area's infrastructure is inadequate to accommodate the on-going and projected growth in West Hawaii prompting a public outcry for a moratorium on land use permits and approvals; and WHEREAS, these conditions are increasing traffic congestion resulting in a hazardous environment, affecting the quality of life sought by area residents, and negatively impacting the visitor industry; and WHEREAS, the Council finds that the time has come for the State and County of Hawaii governments to develop financing program, to expedite planning, design, and construction of desired roads that will improve the traffic circulation, and to accelerate mass transit opportunities that would alleviate traffic congestion in West Hawaii. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it requests the County and State administrations to proceed without further delay to finalize planning and design and to begin construction of road and highway improvements to alleviate the traffic problems of West Hawaii. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it requests the County and State administrations to finalize appropriate regional transportation plans for the South Kohala, North Kona and South Kona District areas with a corresponding financing implementation program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it requests the County administration to submit a written status report of this effort to the Council every two months in order for the Council to assess progress. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to The Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of the State of Hawaii; The Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, County of Hawaii; Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Senator Paul Whalen, Representative Robert Herkes, Representative Mark G. Jernigan, Representative Cindy Evans, Mr. Rodney K. Haraga, Director, State Department of Transportation; Mr. Stanley Tamura, Department of Transportation-Hawaii District Office Program Manager; Mr. Chris Yuen, Director of Planning; Mr. Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works; Mr. Tom Brown, Mass Transit Operations Administrator. Dated at ,Hawaii this day of , 2004. INTRODUCE Y. ~/~'V COUNCIL MBER, OU OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL vole County of Hawaii AYes Noes nl~s ex H110, H3wal`1 ARAKAKI CHUNG 1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EI,AKIONOPP the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the CounTy of Hawaii on IIOISCIIUII .IACOL3SON lil?YNULUS ATTEST: SAFnKIK I U LAN Ci 1'YLIiR Reference: C-505.1/P-PW&IRC 15~ (Draft 2) COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN ~ PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 4