KEA AU AU-PĀHOA ROAD (HIGHWAY 130) IMPROVEMENTS KEA AU AU TO PĀHOA P Project No. STP-0130 (27) Public Informational Meeting Kea au au Community Center April 17, 2008
OVERVIEW OF TONIGHT S MEETING Introduction and Welcome Glenn Yasui, State DOT Presentation by Ron Terry > Project location > Project description > Relationship to other planning efforts > Development of alternatives > What is a Context Sensitive Solutions Process? > Formation of a CSS Advisory Task Force > Public Involvement Questions and Comments
PROJECT LOCATION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project involves 10.5 miles of an existing road between Kea au au Bypass and the intersection of Pāhoa-Kapoho Road For much of the length, it has one lane in each direction with shoulders
EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS Widening Safety barriers Culvert & drainage Shoulder treatment Treatment of utilities
EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS Driveways Add laneage Intersection Improvements Roundabout Bike paths/facilities Walking paths
PROJECT DESCRIPTION Improvements that could be included are those that are recommended by the community and have the concurrence of the State DOT and FHWA.
TYPICAL ROAD SECTION EXISTING ROADWAY
OTHER STATE DOT PROJECTS ALONG KEA AU-PĀHOA ROAD AM Shoulder lane conversion, Bypass Rd to Shower Drive PM Shoulder lane addition, Bypass Rd to Shower Dr Intersection Improvements at Kea au au-pāhoa Road and Kaloli, Paradise, Orchidland, Ainaloa Access Improvement at Ka Ohuwalu (Maku u u Market) Old Kea au au-pāhoa Road Resurfacing.
PUNA MAKAI ALTERNATE ROUTE (PMAR) This project would be a County project PMAR and the Kea au-pāhoa Road Improvements would be mutually supportive PMAR has been included in long range thinking including the Puna Community Development Plan
PUNA REGIONAL CIRCULATION PLAN Prepared by County of Hawaii Planning Department in 2005 Establishes the framework for growth in population and land use demands to a forecast year of 2025
GROWTH WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL
TRAFFIC FORECASTS By 2018 (ten years from now), daily traffic will increase by an average of 8-10,000 trips per day This means the level of traffic now experienced from Shower Drive towards Hilo will go as far back as Paradise Drive This increase is the equivalent of one lane in each direction By 2028, traffic volumes will increase nearly 77% By 2038, traffic will have doubled throughout the corridor
Are there ways to improve today s traffic, and to accommodate future travel needs, while retaining the quality of life that attracts us to live in this area?
The response to that question requires that this project proceed with a full understanding of previous study efforts and new concepts under discussion
STATE DOT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY Meetings with County officials Attending the Steering Committee of the Puna Community Development Plan Closely following the discussion of important issues
VILLAGE CENTERS CONCEPT The region could develop by creating Village and Town Centers HOW COULD HIGHWAY 130 HELP TO IMPLEMENT VILLAGES?
CONCEPTS FOR MASS TRANSIT If the County chooses to expand its bus system, HOW CAN HIGHWAY 130 BE DESIGNED TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE TRANSIT? Examples might include: - Bus Stop and pull out areas - Bus lanes - Park and Ride lots - HOV lanes - Bike lanes
CONCEPTS FOR BETTER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Street connections Emergency Access Intersection improvements
BICYCLES AND WALKERS HOW SHOULD HWY 130 BE DESIGNED SO IT CAN BE SAFELY USED BY BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS? Examples include: Share the Road with vehicles Separate pathways for shared use
WHAT IF YOU LIVE ALONG KEA AU AU-PĀHOA ROAD? You need access to your property from the road Frontage roads could be helpful Some alternatives might require sections of your property if so, you would be consulted and compensated
HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE OUTCOME FITS THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES? HOW WILL ALL THIS GET DONE?
CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS
CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS Context Sensitive Solutions are based on the concepts of Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. - Bruntland Commission, 1987
CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS Are in harmony with the community and values of the area Are safe for all users Satisfy requirements and resolve problems identified by a full range of stakeholders Meet or exceed the expectations of both designers and stakeholders Demonstrate effective and efficient use of resources Add lasting value to the community, the environment and the transportation system
CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS PROCESS Endorsed by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) Hawaii Department of Transportation has committed to participating in a CSS process for this project, Kea au au-pāhoa Road Improvements Encouraged as a matter of national policy by the Federal Highway Administration
HOW WOULD A CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS PROCESS WORK HERE? First, an Advisory Task Force will be formed from members of the community The Advisory Task Force agrees upon rules for how they will work together The Advisory Task Force starts the process by brainstorming alternatives
IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR KEA AU AU-PĀHOA ROAD The set of alternatives will consider other planning work to date. Some alternatives will fit entirely within the 100 existing right of way; others will involve widening and these will require purchasing land Some alternatives will use the entire length; others will have changes for only part of the route
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A LONG LIST OF ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED? HDOT working with the Advisory Task Force will determine which make the most sense and help to improve the community HDOT working with the Advisory Task Force will apply criteria for sorting out which alternatives should be reviewed in an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement
FIRMING UP ALTERNATIVES FOR EVALUATION When the set of alternatives has been created, there will be a public meeting to discuss them The Advisory Task Force, along with State DOT and the consultant will review the comments from that meeting and make additional recommendations The agreed upon list of alternatives will be evaluated in a formal environmental process
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS Starts with a notice in the Environmental Notice of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) A Public Scoping meeting is held to receive all comments from interested agencies and parties The public comment period lasts for thirty days after the scoping period
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS If the impacts of the alternatives are expected to have no significant negative results, then an Environmental Assessment (EA) is prepared If some of the impacts are considered major, then an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared. This is a lengthier process and includes both a draft and a final document At this point, we do not know whether Kea au au-pāhoa will involve an EA or an EIS because the alternatives have not been fixed
BACK TO THE ADVISORY TASK FORCE The Advisory Task Force will be formed from members of this community, from affected agencies and other interested parties To become a member, fill out an application, available here tonight. Get the blue application at the sign in desk State DOT will select members of the Advisory Task Force to ensure that there is wide representation We expect the Advisory Task Force to commit to the duration of the planning process Application period will remain open for thirty days If you know anyone interested, please have them contact us.
DUTIES OF TASK FORCE MEMBERS Advisory Task Force meetings will have a facilitator Advisory Task Force members are expected to attend all the meetings, to come prepared, and to engage in respectful dialogue Advisory Task Force members will sign a Charter that outlines their duties to each other and to the community
WHERE ELSE HAS THIS BEEN DONE? Context Sensitive Solutions process was used in Kaua i i to incorporate community ideas for design and maintenance on rural Hanalei Road Context Sensitive Solutions process is currently underway for Honoapi ilani ilani Highway on Maui, and that process started last April Context Sensitive Solutions process will be used for Paia Bypass on Maui and will start later this year
WHERE ELSE HAS THIS BEEN DONE? Context Sensitive Solutions processes have been used around the country. They are favored because of their emphasis on community setting its own values. For more information, check www.css.org Example shown is Paris-Lexington Road in Kentucky
HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE ADVISORY TASK FORCE First, all Advisory Task Force meetings will be open to everyone and minutes will be posted on the web site There is a project website. Access it at: www.keaau-pahoa.com There will be two more public information meetings about the project There will be surveys and small group meetings to make sure that we have a true understanding of the community needs and desires
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS There are comments forms available tonight for your thoughts You may also mail them in
FOR MORE PROJECT INFORMATION Contact: Dina Lau, HDOT Project Manager Phone 808-587 587-6307 Email: dina.lau@hawaii.gov Mail: Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Planning Branch 869 Punchbowl St. Honolulu, HI 96813 www.keaau-pahoa.com
MAHALO!!!