Laserfiche WebLink
p .1*: :: :,,, <br /> , ,„,, <br /> . , <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> RE: Bill 260 - Relating to Extending Public Use of the Haleki'i Street Extension <br /> Aloha, Chair Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Naeole- Beason and Council Members Ford, Ikeda, Hoffmann, Onishi, Enriques, <br /> and Greenwell: <br /> We want to thank you for your leadership and for the work of the Administration's Corporation Counsel to negotiate <br /> public vehicular access along the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass and mitigate impacts on Ali'i Drive. However we are <br /> very concerned about the prohibition of pedestrians and bicyclists. We strongly support bicycle and pedestrian <br /> access on Mamalahoa Highway Bypass from Haleki'i Street to the Ali'i Drive terminus in Keauhou. As a constituent <br /> and a resident of this island, I enjoy walking and bicycling for exercise, to get to work or shopping or school and I <br /> would like to be able to use this route on my bicycle or by walking. <br /> We ask you to amend Bill 260 to require Corporation Counsel to negotiate bicycle and pedestrian access on this road. <br /> There are several reasons why it is important to make the Mamalahoa Bypass accessible to pedestrians and <br /> bicyclists: <br /> 1. The Ordinances that uphold this legal agreement refer to opening the road to Public Traffic. The definition of <br /> Traffic in the Hawaii County Code includes pedestrians and bicyclists (Ch 24, Article 1 Section 24 -3). We feel <br /> that the current prohibition of bicyclists and pedestrians may currently be illegal under this definition. <br /> 2. The Bypass offers a much safer alternative to walking or bicycling along Kuakini Highway through the narrow <br /> sections in Keauhou Mauka, Honalo and Kainaliu. By opening the Bypass we make it safer for bicyclists and <br /> pedestrians and we make it easier on car drivers who may be worried about hitting a bicyclist or pedestrian, <br /> especially when school resumes in early August and roads become more congested. <br /> 3. Hawaii County is among the most unhealthy counties in our nation (http: // www.countyhealthrankings.org /). <br /> We need places to walk and bike to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We have very few public trails, pathways or <br /> bikeways. Opening the Mamalahoa Bypass to bicyclists and pedestrians provides an opportunity for Hawaii <br /> County residents to get exercise on a daily basis. <br /> We realize that a lot of work has been done to open this road to vehicular access but we ask that justice be served to <br /> pedestrians and bicyclists as public traffic. Please amend Bill 260 to require Corporation Counsel to allow bicyclists <br /> and pedestrians to access Mamalahoa Bypass. <br /> Mahalo, PATH members: <br /> Ken & Arlene Block David Hammes May Diaz Kevin Cavanagh Tanya Power Penn Henderson John <br /> Karen Crawford Summer Colquette Dawn Henry Bill & Theresa Barto Julia Chatelard Rod Hinman Broussard <br /> Judy Ann Williams Bill & Lynda Katherine & Neal Jenny Marine & Lynn Sinclair Kaye Levine Yasmin <br /> Richard & Jolene Johnson Takach Craig White Kris & Kym Kiser Phyllis Thrall Vatter <br /> Mears Chris Kutsch Michael Traub, ND Marty Barger Jim Bell Gary West Toni & Will <br /> Emily Gail Frank & Robin Jeff McDevitt, MD Walter Enomoto Michelle, Jon, Toni Zolezzi Friesen <br /> The Lindborg Family Parisi Margaret & Robin Sharon Faff Genevieve Curry Bob Smith Rich <br /> Greg McPheeters Bill Greentree Elock Dan Sabo Mark, Virginia, Chad Taniguchi Tucciarone <br /> Linda Greentree John & Chris Doug Sensenig Nova Lee Elizabeth, Chris Kutsch Anita <br /> Sarah Egan Barnett Kathleen Johnson Walter Miller Mitchell Dixon Howie Simon Anderson <br /> John Simmerman Bob Borns Roberta Hickman Peter Mazer Luis De La Torre Roberta Hickman Mindy & <br /> Jeannette Vidgen Michael Hyrenyvch Lyda Liu Eddie Herd, MD Sylvia Ravaglia Robin Parisi Gerald <br /> Janine Packett Dawn Velazquez Bennett Dorrance Clemson Lam, AIA Ryan Higgins Steven Okoji Gruber <br /> Rocky Campbell Ann Peterson LeeAnne Lowery- Timothy Kiernan Steve Lundblad Terry Ladwig Laura <br /> Gwen Hobbs Michelle Whitford Gorman Jeffery Manzo Gregg Mangan Kelly Pomeroy Dierenfield <br /> CC: Bobby Command, Special Assistant to the Mayor, West Hawai'i & Warren Lee, Public Works Director <br /> 74 -56 06 Pawai Place Bay 5 Kailua- Iona, HI 96740 cow No. <br /> www.pathhawaii.org - 8o8-936 -4653 - sharether oad@.pathhawaii.orRef. To <br /> Ref. Data <br />