Pahoa roundabout plan a bad idea
I tried to attend the informational meeting on the Pahoa Roundabout Wednesday but had to leave once the announcement was made that Pahoa has no choice in the matter. Perusing the roundabout design, I fail to see how one lane circling is a safe exit for Pahoa and lower Puna in general, much less in an emergency. To be clear, the state Department of Transportation is telling us, the residents of Pahoa, that they are spending millions of dollars on our safety?
Look at what is being proposed. As it is now, at least we have separate lanes coming and going, a turn lane, and a merge now at Malama Market. In the event of a disaster, you all are are expecting an orderly evacuation on that one lane cattle-chute roundabout? Just one accident and the cars are going to be pinned in a circle, backing up very quickly, and the emergency responders won’t be able to access — they will have to walk in and no one will be able to get out of town. Eventually the roundabout gets increased to two lanes.
Pahoa can’t wait for eventualities anymore. It is time to help Pahoa with modernizing the entrances to Malama, Woodland Center, Hawaiian Beaches and Post Office Road immediately. You can use the money for the roundabout to accomplish all those projects. We have been waiting for years and years to get our fair representation and a decent road for Pahoa. Do we have to file more civil rights complaints to get fair treatment? I’d like an answer to this letter at your earliest convenience.
Sara Steiner
Pahoa