Roads and solutions

Aloha Barbara,

The roads are probably the biggest source of our problems. The planning department has added to this problem.
Frontage roads are common in many states. When the 500 million dollar high speed cable was installed out to Kawaihae they could have been required to cover the line and leave a frontage road but our planning department didn’t have the foresight to require it.

The lines on Queen “K” highway can be pulled right now and redone with two lanes in one direction half way to the airport and jump to the other direction for two lanes going the rest of the way. But we are more concerned about loosing two full empty lanes for the Iron man competitors. It is truly sad. The needs of the tax payers are the last thing we think about.

Another issue is police training on traffic management. If they know there is an accident up Palani Road. The police should be turning and redirecting the traffic down at Henry St. and not sending them up to wait for hours or try to turn around and create another danger. It is all about traffic management.

The planning department should require all developments to connect to surrounding subdivisions prior to being given a final permit. Just another case of poor or no planning.

If our councilpersons would take trips to learn about traffic management in other states rather then vacationing in China or the Philippines then maybe we could be on the track to correcting some of our problems.
There are many things we can do to correct our problems we just need to think outside of the box.

Rental cars can be charged an additional two dollars a day for a road maintance tax. This tax would go to the roads in the area where the car was rented from.

Awhile ago I wrote a letter on the huge expense of maintaining the old bridges in east Hawaii. How do they pay for these repairs on the mainland? There is a toll both for a quarter. Those that cross it (use it) pay for it. And I got more stink letters from Hilo people. A majority of our road funds were going to the little bridge across from Suisan that took 10 years, three contractors and cost more then the golden gate bridge to build.

Another problem with our roads is the destruction of the roads themselves due to large trucks. Once again on the mainland they up charge the large trucks on vehicle registration. It is done by weight.

There are many things we can do. We need to get involved and demand better government.
Thank you for an opportunity to voice my opinion.
Aloha, Susan