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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.018 2004-2006 7:5-344 Nanf Kailas C7r. Ka/fua-Kona, H! 96740 808/331.0441 TESTIMONY Of The Kona Traffic Safety Committee Presented By JOEL GIMPEL Chair, Public Affairs 73-4686 Hina Lanl St. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Beftwe the NAYYAII COUNTY PLANNING COMMITTEE laegarding Hifu Hilu (REZ 05-Ot0) March 21, 2006 Aloha. This proposed development, while potentially quite benefciat to the West Hawaii community as ongsnaily prapased, raises several concerns related to saffic safety and congestion that merR your careful consideration. We should not forget just how important these issues are. The concept of a major devebpment that is located miles from the populatiun center, with over 900 homes, a golf course, commercial center and other amenrties, is not a new concept to Kona residents. But please understand that we believe many of the features that I•lilu Hilu Development is proposing, including education, heaRhcare, senior housing, and collector roads without driveways, are alt benoficiai. The problems include location, traffic safety and movement, connectivity, timing, and the uncertainty raised by the recant announcement concerning another possible location for the West hlawaii Community College. The proposal departs fram many of the principles of sound planning and tenets of smart growth- First, placing the Hwy 19 entrance 1.1 miles north of the airport increases sprawl. Second, the proposal avoids infill by locating desirable destinations at the extreme edge of the KaiYua-Kona community rather than closer to its center. And third, it requires many users to travel further, compromising several transportation issues. Our testirnany to the Planning Commission, which is part of the record, is quite thorough, so I won'4 repeat it today. We have, however, two principal issues regarding traffic safety and movement. They are the rnakai and mauka axes proposals. The proposed rnakai axes fram Hwy a 3 would create yet another signakzed intersection on an already congested roadway that won't be widened for many years, thereby adding to the safety risks and travel tim®. Because this development will generate at least 4000 vehicle trips per day, most of which will be on Hwy [ 9, we urge that the developer be required to eliminate the traffic siynai and construct agrade-separated interchange at the northern access road. The grade- p.~ p Comm. No. O / • ~O Ref. To:Frasew"ed REf. Date 2 separated inkerchanga uuili enable traffic to flow smoothly on f Iwy '9, and elimurating a traffic signal will enhance salary. Furthermore, the funnel effect of the eventual completion of Phase 2 of the Hwy 19 widening project, culminating at the Airport Road, will he minimized with agrade- separated, non-signalized intersection one mile north. The other principal access to the property is trom Hwy 190. The developer Slates that it is actively pursuing an alignmenC that could connect north of Makalei Drive so that Makalei Drive ovouid net have to be the only point of connection to Hwy 190. The developer also proposes to limit use ct Makalei Drive to vehicles weighing lass than 10,000 lbs. Although connectivity between Makalei Estates and Hilu Hilu is desirable lsecause it could provide alternate access to Nwy 19 far Makalei Estates residentY, thereby lessening traffic volume on Hwy 190 and Kaiminani Drive, we urge that the county require the developer to provid+~ gr~rna~ access from Hwy 190 north of Makalei Drive before occupancy is permitted, and to lower the weight restriction on Makalei Drive, which is much too steep to serve as a coNectar road, to 8006 pounds rather than 1U,OGU pounds. The existlng Makalei Drive will not support convenGonaE mass transit due to the steep grade; it doesn't meet ADA requirements because, for example, most Peesonal 11Aobifity Vehicles (power chain and scooters} cart only operate up to 13 percent grades; and iYs inaccessible for many cyclists. The collector road must meet the maximum 1U percent grade. 'this wi91 be a major regional bypass road as well and will be a primary arterial that may warrant an even nigher standard. But it is more than just meeting standards. in real terms, if Makalei Drive, with its 20 percent grade is allowed, it also means: many pedestrians wiV1 .~rof be able to walk up the street: conventional mass transit cannot gper,~te on thr routa• and most irc: fx7rtan8y, emergency vehicles will be severely hindered. And the fact that ether nearby rnauka-makai collectors fail to meet the standards is not an acceptable excuse to continue to disregard reasonata(e standards. In fact, it implores us to demand that at feast one collector meet the minimum r>tandards. Lees not excuse this mistake an the basis of having made the same mistake in the past. in the interest of safety, the primary access road from Hwy 19U must be designed to comply with the 1G°k grade restriction and all rther standards applicable to collector roads. The standards are there for a reason, and the County is inviting a lawsuit in the event of an accident. We believe that extending University Avenue to Nwy 19U will provide the most efficient connection for most Kona to Waimea or dWast Hawaii traffir,. 'This is also true for traffic from North and East Hawaii bound for Kaahale Airpavt. We applaud ine devekrper's offer to construct anorth-south road from the Palamanui ViNage Center to Kaiminani Drive. But because the: road will necessarily crass the Airpprt Road mauka of Hwy 19, we urge that you txmsider requiring that HELCt1 and the applicant aureate a grade- separated interchange at the Airport RaadlHwy 19 intersection, thereby eliminating another signalized and dangerous intersection, and enhancing iratfic flow on Hwy 19. And, we suggest that the none-south road be extended to Keairak;he Pkwy, Finally, it appears that a question has arisen relative to the proposed Community College site, with the recent announcement by the Department of Hawaiian Homeland:; of a 4,082-unit development for the Kealakehe area, which is proposed to include a Community College site? and a hospihai. Tha announcernenC a:rr'ztes uncertainty with respect to the aveatuai IocaUon of the Colege, and indicates a need k~ proceed slowly, if at alt, with this application anti! the final College site is determined fn any avant, between Hilu Hilu, the recently announced 4,082-unit development, and the many other developments already underwayr beNvreen f alani Road and the Airport, we Head infrastructure to accommodate the increased population. The recent avalanche of subdivision applications indicates a need to wait until an impact fee ordinance is passed before even one more subdivision is approved, and efforts to tum North Kona into a densely populated urban zone must not succeed absent supporting infrastructure and funding for infrastructure development. Last Saturday morning, while working on this tesfimany, I was searching for an apt and attention- getting conclusion. f had to intenupt my work, however, to meet my wife at the Sheraton Hotel, where she was working at the Kona Outdoor Circle's annual Pua Plantasia sale. We left there at 11:30, heading for Costco to do some shopping. But because Palani Road had been closed aue to an accident, it took us an hour to go from Hualalai Road to Hina Lani Street on Hwy 19! Traffic was bumper-to-bumper and the level of service at each of the seven stoplights we encountered was E! And this wasn't a weekday rush hour; iE was at midday on Saturdayl Need I say that this is unacceptable? And yet there are some who would agree to put more vehicles on the road by approving more subdivisicnsl Hence, my conclusion. We have six, na seven, words. Not now, Not now, and deBnitety Not now! Thank you for the opportunity to ;.omment. I'I! be happy to answer your questions.