HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 573 Draft 01 2006-2008COUNTY OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 573 D 8
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS TRAFFIC DIVISION AND THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAYS DIVISION TO COOPERATIVELY STUDY AND
RECOMMEND INTERIM TRAFFIC PATTERN OPTIONS FOR STATE HIGHWAY 130
AND ADJACENT COUNTY ROADS IN THE AREA OF THE KEA`AU BYPASS.
WHEREAS, the steady increase in traffic volume on the Hilo-to-Pahoa highway system
has resulted in a congested, unsatisfactory transit condition on the section of Highway 130 known
as the Kea`au Bypass, particularly during the late afternoon "pau hana" hours of 3:45 p.m. to
5:45 p.m. that often results in near-gridlock conditions for Pahoa-bound traffic; and
WHEREAS, this section of Highway 130 is currently designed as the main artery for all
commuters heading towazds Pahoa from the Hilo area and also those heading towards Pahoa from
the mauka areas of the Volcano Highway; and
WHEREAS, during these congested hours on the Kea`au Bypass, the input flow from
Highway 11 and the output flow on Highway 130 is usually flowing well within design
parameters indicating the congestion is being caused locally in the Kea`au Bypass area as opposed
to a present inability of Highway 130 to handle the peak flow generated; and
WHEREAS, the main impediment to a smooth flow appears to be the existing design of the
"bottleneck" at the Pahoa side of the Kea`au Bypass where the two main bypass lanes and a third
right-turn lane (Old Kea`au Village to Pahoa Road) merge somewhat rapidly into one lane; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Island resident, Tim Rees, presented potential solutions to the
"bottleneck" problem on August 23, 2007, and subsequent dates to the Hawaii County Traffic
Division and the State Department of Transportation Highways Division, requesting that they
consider these possible solutions and their potential cost/benefiUsafety factors for the benefit of
affected commuters; and
WHEREAS, preliminary reviews of various alternatives conducted by the Hawaii County
Traffic Division and the State Department of Transportation show there is great potential for
several relatively low-cost alternative traffic patterns that can reduce the afternoon Pahoa-bound
congestion; and
WHEREAS, all of these alternatives could potentially create a smoother flow primarily
through a more efficient use of existing infrastructure and revised lane-channelization measures;
the most effective being the modification or elimination of the right-turn option (Pahoa bound)
where the Old Kea`au Village-to-Pahoa Road meets the Kea`au Bypass, and shifting the merge
area of the two Kea`au Bypass thru lanes further towards the Hilo side of the Kukula Street
intersection; and
• •
WHEREAS, these various alternatives present the State and County with a unique
opportunity to cooperatively and expeditiously mitigate and/or relieve a rapidly degenerating
traffic condition affecting a significant portion of Hawaii County residents and visitors; now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THF. COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
the Hawaii County Department of Public Works Traffic Division and the Hawaii State
Department of Transportation Highways Division aze requested to work cooperatively and
expeditiously to study and recommend interim traffic pattern options for Highway 130 and
adjacent County roads in the area of the Kea`au Bypass; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor; Brennon T. Morioka, Interim Director,
Hawaii State Department of Transportation; the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, County of
Hawaii; and Bruce C. McClure, Director, Hawaii County Department of Public Works.
Dated at Kona , Hawaii, this 22nd day of Anril , 2008.
INTRODUCED BY:
CO MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County ofHawai'ion Apr11 22, 2008
ATTEST:
~
~ Reference: C-tln7/ PWT
Rf: -F,A
CL
CH
AN & P DING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. c
.D ~I a3 ~~
ROLL CALL
AYES NOES ABS EX
FORD )t
HIGA X
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X
PILAGO X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
S 0 1 0
2