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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0505.005 2002-2004 ro q~ ~s,l I ~ \ ~Ij ~ Ht7l:5E CAF REPRESEN'fA-rIVES STATE OF HAWAII STATE CAPITOL HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 March 15, 2004 Council Chairman Arakaki and Members Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 996720 Re: Resolution 159-04 Draft 3: 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. Representative Robert Herkes IN SUPPORT Mr. Chairman and Members The traffic conditions in West Hawaii are without question intolerable and a threat to public health and safety. The Resolution however only deals with a portion of the problem. There are long term and short term solutions. The causes are multi-faceted. Development in general is usually blamed but it is only part of the problem. We must identify development impacts and to clearly identify other contributing problems and solutions. RECilpveti YKrr~ T $Y Cau~My Goundl Representative Robert N. Herkes, District 5 (Mnwttain View, G(enwuod, Vnlcann. Pahala. Punaluu, Ocean View. Ninole, Honuapu, Naalehu. Kohuku, Milolii, / Hookenq Kealia, Hanaunau, Ca?rain Cook, Kealakekua, portion of Kgina7iu) ~pryN• ~ J Hawaii Slate Capitol, Room 419 /Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 r.N Phone: 1808) 586-8400 /Fax: (808) 586-8404 / E-mail: repherkesCacapitohhawaii.gov Ref. TO: Ref. bete Short Term There are some short term solutions that could be considered. • Examine sources of primary traffic trouble areas and see if commuter lanes can be established during peak traffic hours similar to those used in Honolulu and the Keaau/Pahoa road. • Consider parking bans for certain areas to allow for temporary commuter lanes. • Consider restrictions on left turn lanes during peak traffic hours where appropriate. • Provide for manual operation of traffic signals at key intersections where appropriate. This sort of planing can be done quickly but does require funding for required personnel. Long Term Solutions. I will try not to dwell on the obvious and will leave most of the discussion for more roads to others. As a member of the Hawaii County Council, representing Kona from 1984-1987, I opposed any significant development south of Keauhou. I would have preferred that Mr. Lyle Anderson develop Keauhou rather than Hokulia. I also took the position that in the County General Plan we clearly identify areas where we want to drive development and identify areas where we will vigorously oppose development. The establishment of the South Kona Wilderness area in the last session of the legislature was a step towards clearly stopping development before the process starts. We must be preemptive in preserving sensitive areas. The balance to that is to clearly identify areas where we wish to drive development. For example in South Kohala we have allowed upscale resort development and "gated" communities without any clear requirement to develop complete communities with housing for "working people" complete with schools and other elements. I have discussed how the state might help make these requirements economically feasible for developers with the Chair and Deputy of DLNR without overly imposing State requirements on the County. We are still working on this concept. State House Leadership has had meetings with the development community to see how we could arrive at agreement on how to develop housing for "working people" in these areas without cutting through essential county regulations. If we could achieve these objectives we would cut down on commuter traffic and have more stable families. The district that I represent creates much of the traffic problems in Kailua. When sugar ceased in Kau it created massive unemployment. Many in Kau drive 100 plus miles each way each day to jobs in Kailua and South Kohala. They cannot afford to live in Kailua and South Kohala. And, if they could find housing there is no market for their homes in area such as Pahala and Naalehu. The same is true in Ocean View. Ocean View has market housing but no jobs. If we could create economic opportunities for jobs in these areas that fit these communities we would take a big step towards traffic control and more stable communities. The down side is that we would then create worker shortage in Kailua and South Kohala. The Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has committed to come to Kau and South Kona after the legislative session to see what opportunities there might be for job creation. Again, the goal is to reduce commuter traffic and to help keep people closer to their homes. These goals will be difficult to achieve without the development of basic infrastructure such as potable and ag water. We cannot build schools or medical facilities in growing communities such as Ocean View without potable water. There is no potable or ag water from Hookena to South Point. Again the goal is traffic reduction and stable communities. I will touch briefly on new roads. How long has Alii Parkway been a "top priority" of some County Administrations? (The only progress we have made is to change the name from Alii Highway to Alii Parkway.) Do your absolute best to address important environmental concerns attached to this highway and then build it. When I was at Kamehameha Investment Corp. we offered to build our section of Alii Parkway, about one third of the highway, at our expense to County standard. We were turned down. This was about 14 years ago. I know that this may be politically difficult decision but at some point you have to do what is best for the majority of the people. Please don't open the Hokulia/Keauhou highway until you are committed to building Alii Parkway. Finally, think out of the envelope. Last year I had a resolution in the House that asked State DOT to consider monorail from Kailua to Kau and maybe beyond. Besides reducing traffic it would be a visitor attraction. Interestingly, it was condemned by the Republican House leader from Waikiki as the dumbest thing he had ever seen. My response, "we don't want to be in the same mess as Oahu, we want to act now". I support the efforts outlined in the Resolution. Thank you for allowing me to testify.