HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWMTC 004 2019/03/12 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT
DATE: March 12, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 157/Bill No. 39
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 11:20 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit, to which was referred Bill No. 39, reports as
follows:
Bill No. 39, transmitted by Public Works Director David Yamamoto via Communication 157,
amends Chapter 24, Article 10, Division 1 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as
Amended), relating to speed limits. Bill 39 amends Section 24-256 to establish a new 30 mph
speed limit zone on Kukuau Street, District of South Hilo, from its intersection on Komohana
Street to a point 150 feet southwest (mauka) of Kahikini Street. The current speed limit for this
section is 35 mph.
As noted in the discussion for companion legislation Bill No. 38, the Traffic Division was
requested to evaluate the speed limits along Kukuau Street. Upon completing the review, the
Division determined it was appropriate to reduce the speed limit for the subject area referenced
in Bill No. 39, where the homes are more concentrated and the lot sizes are smaller, and the road
widths are more conducive and appropriate to reduce the speed limit.
Mr. Chung asked what would be involved in reducing the speed limit for this section of road
further to 25 mph. Traffic Division Chief Aaron Takaba said the results of the study determined
that 30-35 mph was a safe speed for that road.
Ms. Lee Loy asked how long it would take to change out speed limit signs. Mr. Takaba
responded that it depends on the division's scheduling. Once the sign location is determined, the
Hawai`i One Call Center is notified to determine whether any underground utilities exist. That
takes about a week, so to be safe, perhaps two or three weeks to get it installed, Mr. Takaba said.
Ms. Lee Loy asked about any outstanding sign requests such as that existing on Keaukaha Road,
where a one-way traffic pattern change (Ordinance No. 18-4) had been approved a year earlier.
PWMTC Report No.4
PWMTC-4 Page 2 March 12,2019
Your Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit is in accord with the purpose and intent of
Bill No. 39, and recommends its passage on first reading.
ps
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID X COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS
EOFF x AND MASS TRANSI
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
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XX —��1_ �
POINDEXTER x S� L. K. LEE L I , R
RICHARDS X PWMTC REPORT N I. 4
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: MAR 2 8 2019