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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 2353.000 1988-1992JOHN A. WAGNER County Clerk March 4, 1991 OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 TO: Merle K. Lai, Chair Public Works Committee FROM: Toni Wurster, Legislative Assistant SUBJECT: Ainako-Kaumana Intersection Oak -.- ROBERTS. SHIOJI Deputy County Clerk HARRYA. TAKAHASHI Legislative Auditor COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII Tim 61 : 3 RECEIVED J! ' Date 3 � � qq 1 In accordance with your instructions on February 14, 1991, I looked into complaints regarding traffic accidents at the subject location and requests for a traffic signal light and/or guard rails to provide greater safety for the children at Keiki Land and for students enroute to DeSilva School and other schools. FINDINGS CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS 1. The accidents at the subject area are attributed to right-of-way violations. (See attached letter from Chief Victor V. Vierra). 2.. Another factor in the accidents is the heavy volume of traffic on Kaumana Drive, particularly in the morning between 7:00 and 7:45, according to Sgt. Jay Enanoria, Police Traffic Services Division. Although he has not performed a detailed study of the cause of accidents at that intersection, he said that it is difficult for vehicles on Ainako to turn onto Kaumana Drive. Comm. No. c2 35'3 File No. re V..,q-t W. Tot pwC, M. Dates. MAR ...,...�..�. OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK HAWAII COUNTY BUILDING 25 AUPUNI STREET HILO, HAWAII 96720 NEED FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL 1. Sgt. Enanoria, Police Department Traffic Services Division, stated that other intersections in Hilo have a higher priority for a traffic signal, based on the number of accidents. He provided the traffic accident statistics at the subject intersection by calendar year (see attached letter from Chief Vierra). 2. The Department of Public Works, Traffic Division, has put a higher priority on signalizing other intersections, based on the number of accidents. According to Traffic Division Head Richard Nishimura, the two highest priorities are the Kawailani-Kilauea and the Kekuanaoa-Manono intersections. 3. The Department of Public Works anticipates that signalization of the Kaumana-Ainako intersection will be needed in the future and has accordingly scheduled the signal as a fuel tax CIP project for FY 1994 to be funded by $357,500 appropriated in Ordinance 89-86. However, the Department expects that schedule to slip and and the cost to rise to $375,000, according to Richard Nishimura, Traffic Division Head. The cost of the traffic signal would include civil engineering work, road widening and land acquisition for the additional right-of-way required. NEED FOR GUARD RAILS The function of guard rails is to protect vehicles, drivers and passengers at dangerous locations caused by a curve, bank or ditch, according to Deputy Chief Engineer Larry Ca.pellas. Guard rails between the road and Keiki Land's chain link fence cannot be justified from a traffic engineering standpoint because they would not protect vehicles at that location and might even be a traffic hazard. RFCOMMFNDATIOI\IS 1. Education on right-of-way at a two-way stop would be helpful. A press release on the subject intersection might help to increase public awareness in the short term. 2. An extension of Ponahawai Street above Komohana Street to connect with Kaumana Drive would help to reduce traffic volume at the Kaumana-Ainako intersection, according to Engineering Division Head Robert Yanabu. The developer of a proposed golf course mauka of Komohana Street between Punahele Street and the Alenaio Stream should be required to construct an extension of Ponahawai Street through the development. Other future developments in the area should similarly be required to put in connector streets to Kaumana Drive. Att. • Lorraine R. Inouye Mayor Victor V. Vierra Chief of Police oN�I OF Police Department Francis C. DeMora les .: Deputy Chief of Police 349 Kapiolani Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 • (808) 961-2244 • FAX (808) 961-2702 ,TF•O,•N►J, February 19, 1991 Ms. Merle Lai, Councilwoman County Council County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Ms. Lai: We acknowledge your request of February 15, 1991, regarding traffic accidents at the intersection of Kaumana Drive and Ainako Avenue. A traffic study was conducted over a (6) six-year period and results of the study are indicated as follows: 1991 -- 4 accidents year-to-date 1990 -- 2 accidents 1989 -- 1 accident 1988 -- 1 accident 1987 -- 9 accidents 1986 -- 4 accidents TOTAL-- 21 accidents for six years In reviewing these accidents, the number one contributing circumstance was noted to be right-of-way violations. If you have any further questions, please contact Sergeant Jay Enanoria of our Traffic Services Section at 961-2305. Sincerely, • C, VICTOR V. VIERRA CHIEF OF POLICE JNE:wlc COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 March 13, 1991 Mr. Victor Vierra, Chief of Police Hawaii Police Department 349 Kapiolani Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Ainako-Kaumana Intersection At its meeting held March 11, 1991, the Committee on Public Works took the following motion with regard to the above subject: "Refer to the Department of Public Works and to the Police Department for comments and recommendations." May I have an early reply. Thank you. f Ms. Merle K. Lai, Chairwoman COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Attach: Comm. 2353 COUN, Y Coin yCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 March 13, 1991 Mr. Bruce McClure, Chief Engineer Department of Public Works Hawaii County Building Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Ainako-Kaumana Intersection At its meeting held March 11, 1991, the Committee on Public Works took the following motion with regard to the above subject: "Refer to the Department of Public Works and to the Police Department for comments and recommendations." May I h�ei an early reply. Thank you. /ee Y s. Merle K. Lai ,,,,Chairwoman COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Attach: Comm. 2353