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From: Adam Roberts <br /> To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv <br /> Subject: General Plan <br /> Date: Thursday,December 5, 2024 11:06:04 AM <br /> Aloha, <br /> I wanted to comment on the transportation and reducing miles traveled portion of this plan. <br /> I attended a general plan meeting on November 4th in Hilo. It was raining that day. I drove 77 <br /> miles from Ocean View to be there. I called the police line before I headed for home because I <br /> am aware that the highway floods near Punaluu and the road can be shut down. I was told that <br /> it was open and that I should go. They would not tell me if the road would be closing soon. <br /> I drove 57 miles in rain only to arrive at Punaluu and it was closed with no ETA on opening. I <br /> waited there with my 3 keiki for 2 hours. I then found out from a friend that it would likely be <br /> closed overnight. <br /> at 7:45 pm I headed out the long way around the island to get home. After driving 182 miles, <br /> we arrived home at midnight. <br /> This was 239 EXTRA miles driven by just me. Imagine how many other people had to do <br /> this. <br /> This road flooding issue has been a known issue for as long as I can remember. There has <br /> been no solution, and there is not a good updating system. Had I known it would close, I <br /> would have just left over saddle road at 4:15 pm and avoided all the extra night driving in the <br /> rain and getting home so late, not to mention miles traveled. <br /> This is the second time in this semester I have had to do this. The first was after hurricane <br /> Hone. The rain had stopped but the road was still closed with no ETA on opening. I drove my <br /> daughter all the way around the island there and back just to get her to her college classes. <br /> Please address these important issues. It extend more than just the flooded road. When an <br /> accident happens and the highway closes, there are no updates. People end up driving many <br /> miles around to get home, where if they had an update, maybe they would not have. <br /> Please also address the issue of dogs. Our town has become unsafe. It is unsafe to walk, it is <br /> unsafe to own animals. A man was killed last year by dogs. People are attacked constantly by <br /> dogs. My neighbors, myself, and countless others have lost beloved pets (on our own <br /> property) to dogs. Please do something drastic about this problem! <br /> Please do not change land zoning and do anything that would hinder landowners rights in this <br /> plan. <br /> Mahalo for your time, <br /> Adam Roberts <br />