City has ideas
for calming speedy
Palolo Valley trafficFlat-top speed tables, curb
By Harold Morse
extensions, a traffic island and
a roundabout are possible solutions
Star-BulletinThe city is targeting six hot spots in Palolo for possible measures to slow traffic and increase safety.
They are: 10th Avenue and Kiwila Street; Palolo Avenue and Orchid Street; a stretch of Ahe Street; 10th and Keanu Street; 6th Avenue and Palolo; and Waialae Avenue and Palolo.
Also, a stretch of Palolo Avenue is under scrutiny for possible narrowing at spots, at the expense of some parking spaces, to slow motorists.
Those locations were discussed last week at a traffic-calming workshop at Jarrett Intermediate School attended by about 30 Palolo residents.
Two main traffic arteries -- 10th Avenue and Palolo Avenue -- are each 40 feet wide on a 66-foot right-of-way, traits that encourage speeding, said Dan Burden, a consultant to the city on traffic calming.
Studies also have shown that if motorists can see a long way ahead of them and a thoroughfare has a stark appearance, without trees or other greenery, motorists are encouraged to speed, he said.
"When 85 percent of the driving public is going over the (speed) limit, it's real hard to write tickets," he said.
But traffic calming, through such means as narrowing a street or adding on-street parking, makes a difference and helps slow traffic, he said.
He pointed to 9th, 10th and Palolo avenues as especially speed-prone.
"All of these have a downhill run, which adds to the probability that some people will go faster than they should," he said.
A blind corner at Palolo and Orchid is particularly hazardous, Burden said.
Ahe Street is already narrow, but it's not immune from speeding motorists either, he said.
It's dangerous because there are many children there and on-street parking is at the saturation point, hampering visibility, he said.
Flat-top speed tables -- flat raised surfaces, serving a function similar to speed bumps -- every 300 feet with well-marked pedestrian crossings may be a solution to existing hazards on Ahe Street, Burden said.
Tree-planted curb extensions to further narrow the street, sacrificing some parking spaces, also are recommended, he said.
Also suggested are a traffic island on 10th Avenue near Kiwila Street and narrowing vehicular lanes there to 10 feet, plus a mini-roundabout to circle traffic through the intersection at Keanu and 10th.
"Statistics showed roundabouts are 50 percent safer for pedestrians than streets without roundabouts," Burden said.
The purpose of traffic calming "is to slow motorists to appropriate speeds but not to stop them," he said.
Trees that might go in would be trimmed regularly so a motorist's line-of-sight is not blocked, he said.
Roadwork planned this week throughout Oahu: Roadwork
LEEWARD OAHU
Ewa Beach
Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.
Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.
Maili
Waapuhi Street.
NORTH OAHU
Haleiwa
Haleiwa Bypass Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Helemano-Waialua Junction to Haleiwa Beach Park.
CENTRAL OAHU
Kunia
Vicinity of Kunia Interchange, Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; Kunia and Fort Weaver roads; H-1 freeway ramps 5 and 5-B and all other ramps in Kunia Interchange; and H-1 freeway in the vicinity of Kunia Interchange, Makakilo-bound lanes.
Wahiawa
Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; and Mala and Ilima streets.
Mililani
Mililani Interchange; and Lanikuhana Avenue.
Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.
Waipahu
Kipou Street from Hulahe to Honowai streets; Honowai Street from Kipou to Hoaeae streets; Hoaeae Street from Honowai Street to near the Hoaeae Pumping Station; Kamehameha Highway from Ukee to Lumiaina streets; and Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road.
Aiea
Heleconia Place; Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street; Maohu Place; and Akaaka, Ilee, Kulawai and Kaamilo streets.
Pearl City
Komo Mai Drive from Waimano Home Road to Hookupa Street.
HONOLULU
Foster Village
Halupa Street from Haloa Drive to Punihi Street.
Kalihi
Makuahine and Kalihi streets; Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; and Kapalama, School, Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Noe, North School and Pahulu streets.
Liliha
Liliha Street from North King Street to Vineyard Boulevard; Huli Street; and Vineyard Boulevard at Nuuanu Avenue.
Nuuanu
Kimo Drive Bridge; Kaohinani Drive from Kimo to Pelekane drives; Kahawalu Drive between Kaohinani and Niolopua drives; Kahawalu Drive; Ragsdale and Homelani places; Pali Highway at Waokanaka Street; Dowsett Avenue; Waokanaka Street; and Old Pali Road.
Kakaako
Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Coral Street from Ala Moana to Auahi Street.
Kapiolani
Harding Avenue between Kapahulu Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard; Kapiolani Interchange; Kapahulu Avenue between Kaimuki and Waialae avenues; and H-1 eastbound offramp to King Street.
Makiki
Keeaumoku and Heulu streets; and Piikoi at Lewalani drives.
Moiliili
Kahoaloha Lane from Kuilei Lane to South King Street; and Kuulei Street from Kahoaloha Lane to University Avenue.
Punahou
Spreckels Street.
Palolo
Keanu Street between 8th Avenue and Sierra Drive; and 9th and 10th avenues between Keanu Street and Waialae Avenue.
Waialae
Aha Nui Place; Ainakoa Avenue; Malia and Makaikoa streets; H-1 freeway 11th Avenue offramp; H-1 from 13th to 9th avenues; H-1 freeway, Koko Head to 21st avenues; and H-1 on-ramps at 5th and 11th avenues and offramps at 6th, Koko Head and Waialae avenues.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head Road; and Campbell, Leahi and Kanaina avenues.
Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; and Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues.
Wilhelmina Rise
Maunahilu, Pakolu and Pili places; and Paula Drive between Maunahilu Place and Iwi Way.
WINDWARD OAHU
Kaaawa
Kamehameha Highway from Mahe Point to Lau Place.
Kahaluu
Ahuimanu Road; and Kialua, Hoopai and Poomau streets.
Hauula
Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; Waikulama Street; and Kamehameha Highway from Pipilani to Kaupau places.
Kailua
Kalanianaole Highway, Kamehameha Highway to Kapaa Quarry Road; Ililani Street from Mokapu Boulevard to Iliwahi Loop; Iliwahi Loop to Ilimano Street; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Kailua Road from Kalanianaole Highway to Kawainui Bridge; Ilikaa Place; Alahaki and Akupa streets; and Akupa and Nanaloko places.
Waimanalo
Ahiki Street; Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; and Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets.
Kaneohe
Keaahala Road from Anoi Road to Keaahala Place.
EAST OAHU
Kalani Valley
Kalaniiki Street and Kalanikai Place.
Hawaii Kai
Kalanianaole Highway from Nawiliwili Street to Sandy Beach Park entrance; from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach; and Lunalilo Home Road between Kalanianaole Highway and Wailua Street.
