HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0348.001 1998-2000 E STATE OF HAWAII
Pr~ 9s, Stit~N S
a/ ~sti~~- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION J _
HILO UNION SCHOOL pL r
506 WAIANUENUE AVENUE N ~ 0
~''~e.a,. •e~o HILO, HAWAII 96?20
'99 JUL 1 PSI 2
covNrr c~c3r:
COUNTt' O'r HAWAII
June 30, 1999
Honorable Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hawaii County Building
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Subject: Traffic Code Amendment
Kapiolani Street: One way traffic pattern, mid-block crosswalk, and
passenger loading zones
Thank you for your consideration to possibly amend the traffic code with respect to
Kapiolani Street, between Waianuenue Avenue and Haili Street to be altered into a
one-way traffic pattern on school days between the hours of 7:15AM and B:OOAM, to
add amid-block crosswalk near the school's covered walkway, and to expand the
existing passenger loading zone on Kapiolani Street.
I regret that I am unable to stand before you to provide testimony in favor of the
ordinance that is before you as I am on the mainland on the date you are meeting.
Please accept this written testimony in support of the ordinance on my behalf.
I have been the principal of Hilo Union School for ten years and have heard the
concerns of many parents and people in the community with regard to the safety of the
children because of the traffic conditions on Kapiolani Street . For years we have held
discussion meetings with members of the school community but the action remained at
the discussion stage.
For the past two years, Hilo Union School has had a Traffic Ad Hoc Committee that is
composed of parents as well as people from the community to seriously study this
situation. The members of this committee are to be commended for their concern and
interest in this situation and for the time they have given to see that this concern has
been brought to the attention of the County Council.
The Committee members informally observed the morning traffic condition on six
different mornings in the spring of 1998 noting the kinds of dangerous situations that
occur. A summary of these observations are as follows:
- Number of pedestrians crossing the street who are
NOT in a crosswalk ..............................................................average of 29 people
Comm. No. `J U~ ~
FSIe No.
Ref. To: ~W G
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ~ II 1) ; ~
Ref. Date
- Number of pedestrians who are not in a
loading/unloading zone and cross after being
dropped off in the middle of the road ...............................average of 3 students
- Number of cars making a left turn from St. Joseph's
driveway into Kapiolani Street ..............................average of 22 cars dropping
off 35 children
- Number of cars making a right turn from St. Joseph's
driveway into Kapiolani Street ..................................average of 4 cars per day
In August, 1998 the Committee met to determine the greatest need based on the
observations and concerns that the school has received over the years. Invited to the
meeting was Mr. Richard Nishimura, County Traffic Engineer who has been most
helpful by sharing his expertise with us.
In late September, 1998 a survey was distributed to our Hilo Union School community
as well as to 20 neighboring businesses to get a sense of what people thought about
the school's observations and to get further input regarding the traffic conditions on
Kapiolani Street and Waianuenue Avenue. Survey results indicated that the
absence of a crosswalk on Kapiolani street between Haili Street and Waianuenue
Avenue is a problem and that making Kapiolani Street with a one way pattern may be
safer for students. Another popular idea was to have a stop light installed at the corner
of Haili and Kapiolani Street. All results were shared and discussed at the Ad Hoc
Committee meetings that led to the creation of the ordinance that is before you.
Realistically, I know that such an ordinance may not satisfy everyone's specific
situation, yet, I know that the safety of our children cannot be ignored. The Hilo Union
Traffic Ad Hoc Committee members have spent much time studying this safety concern
for a period of time and the recommendations that have been made is not one that was
created in a hasty manner. I believe that the ordinance can help to create safer
conditions for everyone.
Your support of this ordinance is appreciated. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
~~t J ~ ~~J
Jayne K. Fujioka, Principal