Stimulus Watch

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The lower section of the District of Puna south of Kea'au is currently serviced by only one roadway, the Kea'au-Pahoa Road or Highway 130. This two lane roadway is already at or near gridlock during the AM and PM peak travel periods and has at least three of the five most dangerous intersections in the State of Hawai'i. According to the State Department of Transportation, the Level of Service (LOS) for existing conditions on the Kea'a-Pahoa Road between Ainaloa Blvd. and Milo Street is betweem D and F in the respective commuter directions and no better than C in the reverse commute directions. Based on current population growth projections, the LOS for the Kea'au-Pahoa Road will deteriorate to levels between D and F in either direction by the year 2038 if nothing is done.

State DOT population projections for the Kea'au-Pahoa Road service area are estimated to climb to 67,000 by 2038 from the estimated population of approximately 24,000 in 2004. Even with the proposed widening of the Kea'au-Pahoa Road, which is not projected for completion until 2017, and the implementation of other multi-modal transportation choices,including a 2-lane Puna Makai Alternate Road (PMAR)and transit ridership of 12.5%, the November 2005 Puna Regional Circulation Plan (PRCP) projects an improvement to LOS C under the plans preferred alternative for the most congested section between Kea'au and Ainaloa Blvd. Without the PMAR and transit ridership at 10%, the PRCP projects a LOS E in 2030 for the Kea'au-Pahoa Road.

Of perhaps even greater significance than the impacts resulting from traffic congestion due to lower Puna's dependence on one roadway in and out of the area are is the potential danger to residents from the lack of alternative routes for emergency evacuation in the event of natural disaster, lack of redundancy for emergency service providers, and the economic hardships suffered by residents and local businesses when the Kea'au-Pahoa Road is closed due to traffic crashes, flooding, or other man-made and natural causes.

If the lower Puna area between Kea'au and Pahoa experiences another population and construction growth cycle anywhere near that seen between 2001 and 2007 before the Kea'au-Pahoa Road Improvements to increase safety and capacity and the new PMAR can be constructed, it is almost certain that traffic gridlock will severely impact social and economic stability of Puna and Hilo. Funding the Environmental Study and Preliminary Engineering for the PMAR should be among the highest priority projects for the County of Hawaii.

[edit] Points in Favor

amazing as we go backwards and copy plans rejected 10 years ago, 5 years ago. HPP and lower Puna's only solution has been to condemn our roads, and private property. what a waste of money Aibnaloa blvd and Moho street are. we are trapped by 19,000 extra cars a day.Commercial vehicles to cut through to the highway from Ainaloa bvd, Our community so jammed with traffic that our residents are trapped by cars trying to turn left at Moho Road and Ainaloa. Our beautiful community is going to have 80' of our private lots condemned to bail out Leilani ,Hpp, Kalapana etc. We said no, and Jacobson created a horrible road through the flood zone and forest reserve. Nobody voted for this road., or buses or Puna's traffic. I think we should donate everybody's property who spent all our money to turn in the CDP plan from 1999 everybody rejected. If you don't like Hawaii, and want a dozen more 7-11's and True Values in private communities, then go back to the mainland where you already had such conviences. Giving away other people's land where you don't even live should be a felony. Why are we still posting Keola Downings remarks???? give his land to the county. Give Jon Olsons land to the county. Give Diana Miller's land to the county. Stay out of Hawaiian acres, nobody said put another highway through the forest All connector lots should go through the middle of Larry Brown's land and other politicians land .

[edit] Points Against