Communication Number 2018-08 South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee Kawaihae Road

Home

South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee PO Box 2874 Kamuela, HI 96743 SKTSCsecretary@gmail.com May 4, 2018 County of Hawaii Department of Public Works 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 Hilo, HI 96720 public_works@hawaiicounty.gov Attention: Director Allan Simeon Subject: Community Request for Environmental Assessment of Kawaihae Road Aloha Director Simeon, The South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee (SKTSC) has been concerened with the County of Hawaii portion of Kawaihae Road for many years. At our Regulat January meeting, Committee memebrs showed unanimous support to write a letter addressing community concerns of this corridor. Through many discussions, County of Hawaii Department of Public Works Traffic Division Chief Ronald Thiel has encourages our committee ot request further study of this troubled section of highway. Please find this letter as our request for the County of Hawaii to puruse an Environmental Assessment of Kawaihae Road. Over the past few years, we have seen the addition of sidewalks to improve pedestiran safety. These crosswalks can create a helpful stuttering of traffic during peak hours, potentially giving motorists an opportunity to merge into the flow of traffic. The community has also seen numerous changes to the striping pattern at the Lindsey road intersection. At one-point stanchions were installed to create a barrier for turning and merging vechiles, but the sharp turn at this corncer led to the current iteration of the solid line striping pattern. Even wiht these beneficial chagnes, there hasbeen growing community concern for this stretch of County highway. It is th ehope that the analysis of this roadway by means of an Environmental Assessment will bring to light the troubles and lacking infrastructure needed to mke this corridor safe and effective. This corridor is heavily impacted by the numerous driveways and businesses along the entire stretch. Two schools heavily impact this roadway. The additon of Longs Drugs tends to create a traffic jame on a regular basis, with no turning lands for this business. It was a surprise to the community that its development did not trigger a necessity to improve the adjacent roadway. It is imperative to address the flow of traffic, or lack thereof, during Waimea peak hours throughout this corridor. Both intersections at Lindsey and Opelo Road need to be taken into consideration. Lindsey Road intersection is currently a bottlenec. Action neds to be taken to improve this location, and acquisition of adjacent land is necessary to provide the best solution. Opelo Road, on the other hand, may call for signalizaiton and a pedestrian crossing to better help with the stuttering of vehicles at this entry point of town and provide another safe point of passage for pedestrians. To accentuate further, pedestrian and cyclist safety should be a top priority. This corridor, while having wide shoulder lanes, is lacking the community's desire for Complete Streets with appropriate bike lanes and sidewalks. Installation of additional streetlights would help to further illuminate areas along this corridor. This would help to prevent pedestrian-vehicle accidents as seen one evening a couple months ago.