Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1242.004 2006-2008 June 28, 2008 2009 JUL 1 PP1 $ 52 Honorable Council Chair Pete Hoffman and Members of the Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street, #209 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 SUBJECT: HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL BILL NO. 308 I would like to present to you by way of scenarios what the elimination of the traffic circle on Kamehameha Avenue, at the Shipman Street intersection may create. This is in reference to Bill No. 308, which is now up for Council action. Scene One 1. Assuming that I am not familiar with driving in this area. I am driving from the heart of Downtown Hilo, on Kamehameha Avenue, just passing through the Waianuenue Avenue intersection. This is the end of the town, or what appears to be the end, since I'll be heading into the Wailuku River if I do not make the turn through the left-curve. I want to get back into town, how can I do this, since they removed the traffic circle? 2. I do not know were I am going, I make a wrong turn into the Wainaku/Pu`ueo District, and I am lost. Scene Two 1. I am another motorist not familiar with driving in this area. I am driving from the heart of Downtown Hilo, on Kamehameha Avenue, just passing through the Waianuenue Avenue intersection. I want to get back into town, how can I do this, since they removed the traffic circle? 2. If I do manage to make it all the way up to and around the Post Office, I make a left- turn and head down Waianuenue Avenue, and try to make it back to the Kamehameha Avenue intersection. 3. At the Kamehameha Avenue intersection, I am mistakenly in the through lane. I am either heading out towards Hamakua, or if I am quick thinking enough, I can head right and turn onto the Bayfront Highway. I cannot make a left-turn onto Kamehameha Avenue; there is no left-turn permitted. I'll just cross over to the right- lane and head back into town, on Kamehameha Avenue. Whichever way, this is a lot of unnecessary driving for this unfamiliar driver. I get frustrated that I am doing all this unnecessary driving, especially now with the rising gasoline and oil prices; with excessive driving causes a waste of fuel/energy, time, more traffic on the roads (congestion), and the negative effects to the environment? Comm Na.------2~1/2 Ref. To= C- LM Ref. Date _J `u 2 Me Scene Three 1. I am another motorist coming from the heart of Downtown Hilo, on Kamehameha Avenue, just passing through the Waianuenue Avenue intersection. I see Koehnen's Interiors and would like to shop there. I see that there are no parking spaces open on the makai side, but I see an open parking stall fronting Koehnen's Interiors; I cannot get there since the traffic circle was removed. I now need to proceed around the block, going all the way up to, and above the Post Office. 2. I run into the same problems as in the above Scenes. 3. If I do manage to make it around the Post Office, I make a left-turn and head down Waianuenue Avenue, to the Kamehameha Avenue intersection. Shucks! I cannot make a left-turn! Now I am in the through lane, either heading out towards Hamakua, or if I am quick thinking enough, I can head right and turn onto the Bayfront Highway. Or maybe, if I am bold enough, I make the left-turn anyway? Nah, I'll just cross over to the right-lane and head back into town (in the Puna direction), on Kamehameha Avenue. Either way, this is much too much driving around, with the rising gasoline and oil prices. Scene Four 1. I am a motorist that is somewhat familiar in navigating onto Kekaulike Street, from Waianuenue Avenue. I make this left-turn, instead of continuing down Waianuenue Avenue, then make a right-turn and proceed down (makai) Shipman Street oops, don't forget to stop at the intersection with Keawe Street. Heading straight down (makai) Shipman Street, I stop at the Kamehameha Avenue intersection. I proceed right, onto Kamehameha Avenue, and I now see that there are no more open parking spaces fronting Koehnen's Interiors, but there is now an open parking space across the street, on the makai side of Kamehameha Avenue I give-up no shopping at Koehnen's Interiors today. 2. Well, maybe not, I'll give it another try. I'll head back into town, turn around somewhere, work my way through the congestion, and try again to find a parking across or fronting Koehnen's Interiors. More driving around! Scene Five 1. Bayfront surf is up! I'm traveling down Waianuenue Avenue, and I can't turn left onto Kamehameha Avenue. I need to make a right-turn, so I cut-over. I find a place to u-turn and head back on Kamehameha Avenue, so I can find parking fronting the Koehnen's Interiors area. I approach this area and find that there are no open parking spaces, on the makai side of Kamehameha Avenue, but I see a few open parking spaces fronting Koehnen's Interiors. Why not I'll make an illegal u-turn and park there, before someone else does. Scene Six a side note 1. I am driving from the heart of Downtown Hilo, on Kamehameha Avenue, just passing through the Waianuenue Avenue intersection, driving towards Wailuku Drive. I approach the left-curve, up Wailuku Drive. Why are all these cars and trucks parked here on the left, on the inside of this curve, where there once was none? This is blocking my safe sight distance (needed for the inside curve radius), for motorists and especially for pedestrians. I wonder if a fire truck or a semi-truck can get through this curve area safely? The above descriptions are just a few scenarios that may occur, as a result of removing the traffic circle; just to create more parking spaces. Besides being consciences about sustainable ("green") communities, I vision for proper traffic circulation. I believe that there are enough parking spaces in this area, and that traffic circulation should always take precedence over parking convenience; i.e., the amount of parking in this area is sufficient for the present use in this area. The amount of parking is not the problem, it's the people that park there for the extended duration, the people that like to park for free, and the people that want to park in front or very near to their establishments (that prefer not to walk for their health); that is the problem. It seems to me that there are enough parking spaces, but the merchants like to park in front of their stores; all day. You are proposing to remove a traffic circle which will disrupt circulation, cause unnecessary travel and traffic, and encouraging illegal u-turns. Be cautious in thinking about removing this traffic circle, you maybe creating more problems and/or promoting more driving. Why was this traffic circle created in the first place? Could it be because of; (1) the creation of the Kinoole and Kilauea streets oneway couplet, (2) the creation of the Wainaku Street oneway, (3) the creation of the Shipman Street oneway (In the past, without the traffic circle, you had an option to make a left-turn up Shipman Street; this is no longer possible), (4) the no left-turn from Waianuenue Avenue onto Kamehameha Avenue, and/or (5) the no left-turn from Kamehameha Avenue onto the Bayfront Highway. This area has too many restrictive movements and not enough driving options, to make traffic circulation flow smoothly and efficiently. To simply "remove the traffic circle" for the sake of creating more parking is not being prudent. Respectfully submitted; G° ~ 7 Case~gih .E/ . Hilo, Hawaii 96720