HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-15 - Highway Safety Council Minutes_MEETI(1,G MINUTES
HAWAI'l COUNTY HIGHWAY SAFETY COUNCIL
349 Kaplolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 9612305 -- Fax (808) 961-2228
Conference call in # (862) 902-0240 access # 311-3038
HAWAII COUNTY HIGHWAY SAFETY COUNCIL'S OBJECTIVE IS:
TO ADVISE THE MAYOR ON THE TOP—T2
DATE; May 15, 2014
TIME: 11-00 a.m. --1:00 p.m.
PLACE- Pahoa Neighborhood Facility
CALL `TC;RDER & ROLL CALL
Sharon Vitousek called the meeting to order at 11:06 a.m.
Present:
Jesse Ebersole — Hawai'i County Fire Department, EMS
Guaner Mench — Kohala Traffic Safety Council
Ken"Obenski — Kona Traffic Safety Council
Jon,01son — Puna Traffic Safety Council
Mitch Roth — Hawai'i County Prosecuting Attorney
Ronald Thiel — Hawai'i County Department of Public Works, Traffic Division
Sharon Vitousek Chairperson
Neil Yoshioka -- Hawaii County Fire Department
Absent:
Jeffrey Castillo — North Hawaii Community Hospital
Bobby Cory-irnand -- Hawai'i County Planning Department
Louise Fincher — Hilo Medical Center
Joseph Kamelarnela — Corporation Counsel
Sal Panem —State Department of Transportation
Robert Pauole — Hawai'i County Police —Traffic Services
Gerald Takase — Department of Liquor Control
Wendi Wagner -- Kona Community Hospital
Guests;
Keri Dickie -Clark -- Community Member
Gregor Ragan — Hawai'i County Council Member, District 4
Patricia Kawachi — Notary Public, Mobile Notary
Billy Kenoi -- Hawai'i County Mayor
Roy Lozano -- Puna Traffic Safety Council
Steve MorifUji — Department of Liquor, Control
Minutes frorn February 11, 201.4
Voice votes,- all members approved (2) amendments to minutes
Amendments Corrections to Minutes:
• Item 48 — sentence before action; department investigates ALL traffic fatalities and any DUI with a minor
involved for any indication of licensing involvement.
• Definition of minor; anyone under the age of 21. Opened up the liquor control class to anyone between the ages
of 18-21 years old. Legal for an 18 year old to serve liquor but cannot hold a managers card.
ACTION: Upon motion and seconded, minutes for February 1.1, 2014 approved and filed.
1) Ked Dickie -Clark
CQ.t.7..ce.r.n..:- Lava tree tunnel along Highway 132 — How are trees being maintained? Suggests fruit and nut bearing
trees be planted instead of albizia trees along the highway. Has the issue been addressed? What is the
possibility of planting these types of trees along this highway?
2) Ken Obenski
Concern: Motorcycle safety, Brought informational books for anyone interested.
Concerti 2.- Reasonable speed limits ..-- if they are set too low they are ignored. Inaccurate speed limits being set
enables poor or dangerous driving.
ACTION: Sharon asked if speed limit topic appears on the next agenda who would Ken suggest provide information
for attendees'? Sharon will try to add speed limit diS(uSSi(7
n at the end of today's agenda, if able to.
Comments. -
Ron Thiek speed limits depend on Department of Transportation,
Mitch Roth: Council needs the formula used for setting speed limits,
3) Announcements: Department of Transportation (DOT) Public Informational Meetings
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for, Fiscal Years 2015-2018
For more information visit: htt ido l -q aii,,F
-f.s I- ears-2015-201.8-2--dev
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..P C.a.--y .... .... . ........... --- ----- ---- ... . . . . .................. .
• Tuesday, May 27`""
— 6 p.m. @ Pjhoa Neighborhood Facility, 15-2710 Kauhale Street
• Wednesday, May 28"' -- 6 p.m, @ Hilo State Office Building, Conference Rooms A,B and C, 75Aupuni
Street
• Thursday, May 291h — 6 p.rn. @ Wairnea Civic Center, 67-5189 Karnamalu Street
• Friday, May 30"' — 6 p.m. @ Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria, 74-5062 Onipaa Street
ACTION: Sharon asked members if there are any additional items to be added to today's meeting agenda.
Ron Thiek Passing zones and bicycle safety
Sharon Vitousek: Alcohol and drug related deaths,- handout
. . .. .. .. . ..................... . .........
Notary Public in attendance (Patricia Kawachi)
1.) Sharan Vitousek
2) Jesse Ebersole
1.Eqjlj�n n
a) Report on high crash locations, data to identify locations and interventions
Ron Thiel (DPW) reported the following:
There is a shortage of passing zones and additional lanes island -wide. Passing lanes are few and far
between,- should be every 3 to 8 miles, based on national standards. Inadequate passing zones, frequently
lead to inappropriate and dangerous passing, such as drivers speeding to get past other vehicles. Current
highway speed limit is 55 mph.
ZMZ=
Concern: Passing vehicles must exceed set speed limit by 5-10 mph to pass another vehicle. Is it possible
to pass a law that states it is acceptable to pass another vehicle and exceed the speed limit while doing
so?
Received a letter of concern from bike riders in Waikoloa. Request a minimum of 6 foot wide shoulders
along Waikoloa Village Road. Ron supports this idea. .
Plan: Would involve DPW striping to indicate bike lanes using skid resistant striping material. Solid lines
will indicate where bike use is. Striping will appear to match skip lines and merge lanes. DPW is able to
complete 5-10 miles of bike lanes annually.
MOTION: HCHSC recommends that we follow DPW recommendations to:
Increase the number of passing zones to be more consistent with national standards,
Improve bike safety between Queen K Highway and Highway 190 by adding shoulders.
ACTION: All members in favor — none opposed, none abstained. Motion passes,
b) High crash location & interventions (State)
No member from State DOT present.
b) High crash locations & interventions (EMS)
Jesse Ebersole (Fire Department, EMS) reported the following:
# Crashes between the 1.1 and 12 mile marker on Saddle Road.
From 2009-2012: A low of 8 crashes; high of 38 crashes in the same area
Since 2012: 37 documented crashes
This calendar year: 21 documented crashes
SU
�stions. DPW could add more striping and signs to indicate cross slopes throughout the road. Road
has inadequate elevation. Majority of accidents occur along the left side of the road and are single
vehicle crashes,
ACTION: This discussion topic will be added to next HCHSC agenda, Ron Thiel is currently working on improvement
plans. No motion made by council.
2. OVUI1 —Public Awareness CaLnpAign for Hawaii Coun
Bobby Command not lan
Sharon Vitousek (HCHSC Chairperson) shared the following information:
Public Awareness Campaign — Hawai'l County Departments committed to making the reduction of impaired
driving deaths a priority by utilizing a public awareness campaign.
�RtqtL., Integrate a common message regarding impaired driving with emphasis on data -driven
performance.
Discussion: Since it seemed that the mayor previous press conference on safe & sober driving before the holidays
helped to get the message out previously, do we want to recommend that the Mayor try to do a similar event between
Thanksgiving and Christmas this year? Mitch recommended we discuss this with Mayor at next meeting,
ACTION: Sharon Vitousek to obtain updated information from Bobby Command, Once information is obtained, Sharon
will present information to HCHSC rneeting. Sharon also stated that motion
3 1 P a g e
Department of Liquor Control Currently interviewing'for 2 additional investigators for, East Hawaii.
Compliance Checks:
0 2008: Started tracking date --- 23% non compliant; underage decoys could purchase alcohol.
* Current Cycle: Non compliance reduced to 6%
0 Decoy compliance checks completed annually
0 Fines: Range from $1,000 .. $3,000
Suspension of license: Occurs due to sales made to minors; in some cases this occurred for 5
consecutive business days and there is a 30 day suspension for allowing sale to a minor
A total of 4 licensees unable to meet requirements to have license reinstated.
Difficulties: Finding decoys
• Program brings decoys in from C'ahu; this is to avoid retaliation.
• Typically, the person who sells to a minor is a friend
SuggestionlPlan of Action:
• Police or Fire recruits under 21 may be good decoy candidates.
• Plans to speak to Police and Fire Chiefs regarding recruits.
Licensees have been doing well. They are being educated and they care. The key is education and enforcement to
continue to keep compliance ratings high,
0 Retail outlets — Class 4: Over 200 licenses
0 Total Licenses: 400 (currently)
4. Hawaii Strategic HighwaSafely Plan
a) SHSP implementation in Hawaii County
Mitch Roth (Prosecuting Attorney) reported the following:
Moving forward with strategic plan for 2013-2017
To view strategic plan, visit: hjtp.:/zWww,hawaiishs corn_
• Final version of strategic plan should be released soon
® Big Island represented and served well in new strategic plan
• New to strategic plan: first responders emphasis areas [Ex: speeding, impaired driving,
safeguarding pedestrians/bicyclists, motorcycle and moped safety, improving data and safety
management systems.]
New data for, m DOH/FABS shows a High level of impaired driving in state and on Hawaii Island:
201.2-
0 54% of fatalities were alcohol related
0 44% of fatalities were drug related
0 About a 20% overlap ( both alcohol and drugs
0 70% of traffic fatalities on Hawaii island are alcohol or drug related
Drug of choice for the drug related fatalities is marijuana. This is related to the fact that
Drivers under the influence of marijuana have delayed response times.
• Currently researching levels that are being used in Washington and Colorado
• Concern; Children using e -cigarettes and putting marijuana oils in them - .05 normal level; when oils are
added it increases the level to .31.
4 1 P a f,, e
a) What progress is being made on implernentation of EMS SHSP recommendations and what are the barriers,
Jesse Ebersole (EMS) reported the following.
Barriers: EMS limited to "every second counts and is vital" wording in the strategic plan, Any grant
funding that was applied for were field to this phrase and had to revolve specifically around that phrase.
Action., The Safe Corti rn Lin ities grant pool of money is very small and Mitch Roth was able to help create
a new category under SHSP to assist with focusing on first responder interventions. The new SHSP plan
recommends EMS 10 Frist responder strategies, many of which Hawaii County EMS are working on,
Other Cornments/Discussion,
Service Tracking: Anyone who utilizes EMS 3 times or more in one month is tracked. This information
is used to create a list of high- utilizers so that EMS can conduct horne visits to provide educational
opportunities and ideally connect the client to community services as alternative to utilizing tacting
EMS. EMS is Collabor-ating with Public Health and Hilo Medical Center to assist with this data tracking
information.
20% of all calls are attributed to 300 patients.
Keiki Car Seat Checks: Fitting stations located at fire stations island. -wide.
Rate of incorrect installation: 99% - possibly due to a disconnect between car seat manufacturers
and car manufacturers.
S. Roundtablq_Ppd4es
a) Puna Highway Safety Council Issu
Jon Olson reported the following: I
There is a significant concern about timely Emergency Response:
Puna Regional Town Center is expected to grow to 50,000 people requiring infrastructure and
capacity to meet emergency needs of potentially 50,000 people.
o Delays in 130 widening which result in effective narrowing make acess for emergency vehicles an
even bigger challenge.
Development:
Allow for expansion of cornmercial developments in Puna. (Ex: Bryson Cinder's Development)
0 State:
a) Highway 130 expansion (shoulder lane conversion project); should have been completed a long time ago.
Still awaiting signalization along corridor so that highway is four lanes.
b) Roundabout:
Being built under emergency funding process which means it's incomplete. County services located at the
same area where roundabout will be constructed.
Concern: EMS will now have to navigate through roundabout construction phase,
Questions: Where Kahakai Boulevard meets Highway 130; will this area be utilized as a detour? Will it be
controlled by a timed traffic signal?
Coninieats/fleas wers:
(Ron Thiel) Funding source for roundabout is the Safety Improvement Program. Confirmed that crosswalks
have been added to the current roundabout plans.
(Jon Olson) Stated that P5hoa Council Office seems to riot have the most updated roundabout plans
posted for public view. The current plans posted have no crosswalks.
5 1 P a
(Ron Thiel) Obtained information regarding roundabout during a meeting held last week. Electrical
installer hired for project confirmed 3temporary signal lights, Developer still working with Public Utilities
Commission (PUC) regarding the permanent traffic signal.
ACTION: HCHSC0orequest updated roundabout project plans from State Department ofTransportation. 5alPanenn
frorn DOT (.an provide copies to HCHSC, P5hoa Council Office to post updated plans for public view.
0 Shoulder Lanes Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Issues:
Areas mƒconcern:
o P5hoa-KapohoRoad
p Safe routes tmschool; moved bus pick uplocations. Kids are walking along NanavvaYeRoad,-
shmu!dersaneno1maintained. Highway 132 in need ofa|biziatree maintenance.
o P5boaPost Office Road
o Puna needs toget control mfexisting right ufway
u Ainaloa Boulevard -- paving construction along right of way towards Highway 130. Now bus goes
op%oAina|ma Lon#houseso people walking home from the bus are still walking through nnud
along the shoulder mfthe noad,
o Hawaiian Acres, Road @ (Moho Rmmd)—no shoulder lanes
Comments:
The level of maintenance needed is extremely high. Population center ofthe 8|0 Island is Puna. Puna
Highway Safety Council requesting an increase to the level of service.
Rig
the inadequate shoulders and bike lane needs throughout Puna,
MOTION: (Jon Olson) County of Hawai'l to prioritize irnprovernents to its roads in the Puna district, especially in
regard to shoulders arid bike lanes,
Comments:
(Jon Olson) Connectivity points are a serious issue throughout Puna; subdivisions are not connected,
(Ron Thiel) This COUncil (HCHSC) is no Puna focused, Look at prioritization as a whole. Challenges are is[aod-vvide.
Suggestions:
(Mitch Roth) Ron Thiel can provide a presentation during next Puna Highway Safety Council meeting.
(Gunner Mench) Suggests that Jon call for a public meeting for Puna Traffic Safety Committee.
ACTION: Jon Olson tocontact Ron Thiel regarding presentation. Jon toalso plan public meeting, assuggested.
Sharon Vftousek stated that this discussion/follow-up will be added to next month's meeting agenda.
c) Policy efforts -motorcycle mandate
No discussion
6|page
glz�
If HCHSC were wildly successful, what would be better? What would success look like?
0 (Assurriptions: meets 3- 4 times a year around island, and has no paid staff)
--How do you think we can make this group even rnore effective in each of the existing roles?
• Annual Recommendations to Mayor? [Does this group want/need information on priorities and metrics for each
of the many agencies involved in traffic safety?]
• Recommendations on Safe Community Funding? [Does this group want/need information on outcomes/
evaluation of grants in order to make informed recorn rn end ations?)
8. FUTURE MEETINGS --- September 16, Tuesday, 2014. Same time (11 a.m.). Location will most likely be
Kealakekua. Kona Community Hospital conference roorn 2, thanks to Wendi Wagner and Karen Eoff staff to help
7 1 l;"I i g c,