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Kokua Line
Question: A Department of Transportation truck with flashing arrow was going 10 mph on the H-3, with no prior notice -- no cones, no signs, nothing -- about 8:40 a.m. one day in January. I came upon this truck unexpectedly (he was hidden around the curve by the Likelike on-ramp) driving at the required speed of 45 mph. If I hadn't had good brakes and quick reflexes, there would have been a several car pile-up. The cause for the truck with the flashing arrow: a street-cleaning machine further up. Usually when there is work to be done on the H-3, there are signs and cones directing us into one lane. I bemoan the signs and cones when nothing's happening, but they ARE NEEDED when a lane, especially the fast lane, is being used. Can you please let this crew's supervisor know there should be some advance warning? Surprised by slow
DOT truck on H-3Answer: According to the state Department of Transportation's Highways Division, the maintenance crew was following the traffic control measures set by the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
However, even though the road's configuration did pose a problem that day, the traffic procedures won't be changing.
On that day, there were two sweepers on the H-3 followed by a flatbed dump truck and a large bumper truck with an arrow board, in that order, said highways engineer Tom Gabrielli.
"Lane closure with accompanying signs and cones are not appropriate for this type of operation," he said.
"On a flat road, sweepers will pretty much travel at close to the prevailing speed of traffic," Gabrielli said. But on the H-3, between the Likelike on-ramp and the H-3 Tunnels, there is a relatively steep incline -- about a 6 percent grade. So the sweepers were traveling at about 20 mph.
That's "slow for the H-3, but necessary to effectively sweep the roadway and the wide shoulder area."
Normally, the size of the bumper truck and arrow board are visible from a safe stopping distance, although he acknowledged the curve of the road and the "speed differentials" of the vehicles created a problem that day.
Q: My homeowners insurance is up for renewal and there is a charge for hurricane insurance. My loan company requires me to carry hurricane insurance. I understand the state is no longer collecting money for the hurricane insurance fund, so where does this money go if the fund is no longer collecting it?
A: The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund was established by the state Legislature in 1993, to provide hurricane coverage to homeowners. The state stepped in because private insurers bailed out of writing new hurricane insurance policies in the wake of the widespread and costly damage caused by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
But private insurers have since begun offering their own hurricane coverage again, ending the need for the state fund.
The state stopped writing hurricane policies in November. More than 80,000 policies still in effect will lapse in the coming year.
Meanwhile, the fund has a surplus of $175 million and the issue being debated now is what to do with that money. Some say it should be refunded to homeowners who bought insurance from that fund; others say it should help pay for public-worker raises or go into a scholarship fund for the University of Hawaii; still others say that it should remain where it is, providing a foundation in the event of another catastrophic hurricane.
The decision will be up to the state Legislature.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com