HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0964.167 2004-2006
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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
29 NOVEMBER 2006
COUNTY OF HAWAI' I ft STATE OF HAWAI' 1
BILL NO. 309
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HAWAII COUNTY GENERAL PLAN, AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE
NO. 05 25.
TRANSPORTATION - Roadways
Page 13-7, PUNA, 13.2.5.1.2 Courses of Action
Add a new course of action as follows:
(c) Encourage the State to widen Highway 130 to four lanes with a median and channelized
intersections or modem roundabouts.
TESTIMONY GIVEN BY: PREMA QADIR, B.S.C.E.
Aloha,
My name Is Prema Qadir. I am testifying with regards to Bill 309 for which the County Council
is taking a new course of action to "encourage the State to widen Highway 130 to four lanes
with a median and channelized intersections or modem roundabouts".
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1 have been a resident of the State of Hawaii, since 1984. In 1, I wwaas employed by the state
of Hawaii as a Civil Engineer on the island of Oahu. In May of 1990, 1 was involved in a near
fatal traffic crash. I was bedridden for 2 years and totally housebound for 2 more years. I stilt
suffer from health challenges and 1 was forced into an early retirement. In 1995, 1 moved to
the Puna District of Hawaii Island.
In September 2006, 1 volunteered to serve my community as a member of the Puna Community
Development Plan Transportation Working Group. 1 am the Coordinator of the Existing
Roadways Task Partnership. Our top priority is to resolve the problems of traffic congestion
and traffic crashes along Highway 130. The Existing Roadways Task Partnership is currently
reviewing State DOT plans to widen Highway 130 to four lanes and I am here, today, to urge
the council to defer a final decision, until the Puna Community Development
Plan process is complete.
However, if the Council is determined to make a final decision, then I would like to offer my
personal feelings to you, now.
My personal opinion is that "if" Highway 130 is widened, it should be done so in a way that
provides for safe, aesthetically pleasing and efficient movement of people, buses, automobiles
and trucks. In that regard, I would like to suggest the following:
• Transform Highway 130 into a 4-lane divided roadway with dense vegetation planted
along the median between the opposing traffic lanes, just like the section of
Highwayl 1 - between Hilo and Kea 'au. Q ' ~1
Comm, No.~0
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Engineer the widening plan to accommodate adequate land area for the construction of
large higher speed Modem Roundabouts at the major intersections along Highway 130
to guarantee:
o less traffic congestion along Highway 130
o less frustration and anxiety making left-hand turns onto Highway 130
o less pollution due to stopping and starting
o less expense due to the fact that the Federal Government provides for 100%
funding
o dramatic reduction of the number of intersection traffic crashes, particularly
traffic crashes that occur as a result of making left-hand turns
o fewer pedestrian and driver injuries
I am also the Moderator for the Rounabout Roundtable - A Movement to Explore Modem
Roundabouts in Puna, including their design and constriction, driver education on how to drive
a roundabout, 100% financing from the Federal Govemmenttanl Federal Highway
Administration guidelines and resources for intersection safety and information on how Modem
Roundabouts correct and improve high hazard locations. We also have links to other Websites
where you can view multi-medla presentations (Power Point slide shows, video and Live
Webcam) of Modem Roundabouts.
Our discussion form Webstte is located at the following URL:
http: //groups.vahoo.com/group/Roundabout-Roundtable. I invite you to join our discussion
form, where you will find everything you need to know about the use of Modern Roundabouts
along Highway 130.
Finally, I would like to urge the Council, once more, to defer a final decision, until the
Puna Community Development Plan process is complete.
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