HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-29 Knopp-PCDPAC DEA Comment Response'•: 'k' * 1 tit r"` -ar
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phone: (808) 938 -8583 fax: (808) 775 -1530 P.O. Box 1310 Honoka`a, Hawaii 96720
gpknopp@gkenvllc.com
Patti Pinto Chair Communication No. 2013 -29
Puna CDP Action Committee
County of Hawaii Planning Department
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
May 14, 2013
Dear Ms. Pinto:
Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for B.T.
Kuwahara Private Commercial Development and Related Use of
State Land, Pahoa, Island of Hawaii, TMIK (3'd) 1- 5- 007:006, 055,
069 & 070.
Thank you very much for your comments regarding this Draft Environmental
Assessment. We appreciate that you and the Puna CDP Action Committee are interested
in this proposed project.
We understand that you are advocating for a roundabout at the Kahakai Boulevard -Pahoa
Village Road intersection. Construction of such an intersection would be beyond the
abilities of the applicant in this case, as it would occupy lands owned by no less than six
landowners, including the State, County, and four private landowners. Therefore, this is
not a feasible alternative for the applicant. And, a signalized intersection here is predicted
to maintain traffic LDS over a 20 -year timeline. we have added a discussion of this issue
to the Environmental Assessment.
We understand that the proposed roundabout construction at the Pahoa Bypass -Pahoa
Village Road intersection has the potential to conflict with construction of the proposed
project's roadway improvements. The applicant will ensure that the two projects will not
conflict and will not occur at the same time. More recent information from HDDT
suggests that the Pahoa Bypass -Pahoa Village Road intersection roundabout may not
begin construction before mid -2014.
As stated in the Draft Environmental Assessment, the Traffic Impact Analysis Report
assumes both a 1% and 2% annual increase in traffic. A 2% increase over ten years
implies an increase of about 20 %, reasonable close to the 24.5% increase in population
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that you note. It is important to realize, also, that traffic and population are not
equivalent, although they are certainly directly related. The number of vehicles per
capita for Hawaii in 2007 is reported as 0.76 by the Federal Highways Administration.
This means that a 24.5% increase in population would imply in an increase in the number
of vehicles of 19 %.
We also encourage you to consider the positive traffic impacts of this project, as its
construction will result in fewer vehicle trips to Hilo and Keaau and would improve
traffic on the Pahoa Highway.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Graham Knopp, Principal — GK Environmental
Cc: Mai *a Cottle, CGH Planning Department, Jon McElvaney, Project Consultant