State DOT ignores community’s concerns
The state Department of Transportation eliminated the Kawaihae Bypass despite 25 years of public meetings and input. It is now proceedinng to build two roads that have not had any public input. Gov. David Ige pleads with the public to express themselves and be involved and yet this is his Department of Transportation response: Ignore the public.
The DOT has ignored requests for information or for public hearings. These are the specific questions that have repeatedly been asked: What are the specific DOT traffic studies done to prove DOT’s claim that traffic is decreasing on Kawaihae Road? Where is the data to prove DOT’s figure of $280 million to build the Kawaihae Bypass road and only $108 million for the Daniel K. Inouye Highway extension? It is the same mileage on the same state land? Why are you building a road parallel to Waikoloa Road that has no apparent traffic or safety need?
Even more important are the safety issues. Ascending and descending Kawaihe Road, the large container and semitrucks pull over and continue driving on the shoulder in order to allow cars to pass. This is courteous but not only is it unsafe, it is illegal. Waikoloa has only one exit. In case of a fire or other emergency, there is no alternate route for the hundreds of residents to escape. The end of Paniolo Drive is a very short distance from the proposed Kawaihae Bypass and could provide an excellent second exit route. The Daniel K. Inouye Highway extension would run parallel to Waikoloa Road to the south and provide no help in an emergency.
The money to build these roads is our tax money — not the property of a private DOT company. Yet, that is the behavior of DOT when it comes to deciding which roads to build with no respect for the public’s needs or for any public input despite what the governor says.
Joyce O’Connor
Waimea
Bicycling duo needs to set a good example
On the evening of July 19, I witnessed questionable behavior by two prominent members of our local cycling community.
This male and female duo were riding south on Alii Drive. They charged through the three-way stop at Hualalai Road (without stopping) and in doing so, had enough speed to pass me on the right, between my moving vehicle and parked cars, as I was accelerating from my stop moments earlier.
Further down the road in front of Huggo’s, there were many pedestrians out enjoying the sunset. Traffic was slowing, and instead of this duo falling in line with the cars, they started passing on the right again, on a shoulder which was now full of people. The male yelled angrily “Hey! Hey! Make some room!” and the female chimed in “Yeah! Listen!” as they forced pedestrians aside.
After bearing witness to such an amazing display of cycling prowess I had to wonder: Does this behavior follow normal “rules of the road” for bicyclists? We all know it is a bad idea to pass on the right, especially with pedestrians present. Do bicyclists hold an exemption to this?
Motorists are constantly asked through West Hawaii Today, and specifically by these two individuals, to show aloha and share the road. This type of behavior is not consistent with those requests.
We are inundated for a month every year by athletes and their entourage, some of whom hold a blatant disregard for the strain they put on our town. This minority of athletes adversely affects the majority of public opinion.
The local cycling duo mentioned above are year-round ambassadors of their sport. I urged them to take their position seriously, and set an example for others to follow.
Kapihana O. Kealoha
Puuananhulu