"Traffic — everyone who lives here is talking about,'' said Judith Michaels of Makena.

The committee spent the afternoon learning how state and county officials determine which roads to build next, and that the process is slow and at the mercy of available money.

The Department of Transportation's chief traffic engineer for Maui, Bob Siarot, was urged to allow the public to have an earlier say in the planning process to avoid delays down the line that might result in the loss of funding.

As for short-term solutions, Siarot agreed to look at synchronizing traffic lights and implementing contraflow coning on heavily congested Pi'ilani Highway in Kihei.

More than 25 speakers told of their frustration as motorists, many saying traffic congestion is affecting their lifestyle and threatening the health of the visitor industry.

Former Maui Planning Commission member Kenny Barr, owner of a South Maui taxi cab company, said he hears complaints from tourists all the time who vow to never return.

"They can't believe this is so bad,'' he said.

The state Department of Transportation took a lot of criticism for a road system that has failed to keep up with growth. Some suggested the county take over state highways functions.

David Hunkins, owner of a small car-rental business in Kihei, said millions of dollars are collected each year for state highways from tourists renting automobiles, and that the county should consider getting its hands on that money.

Many called for a moratorium on development. Among them was Maui Community College economics professor Dick Mayer, who said construction workers could continue working by helping the county catch up on its infrastructure, including highways.

Kihei resident Pete Cladianos urged council members to get "aggressive'' by putting the burden of highway improvements on developers.

"Insist that these people pay for the problems they are causing. They are the folks who (are) making the money on this,'' Cladianos said.

Upcountry resident Peter Capriotti called on leaders to take action.

"Let's not do what O'ahu does and study this to death. Let's be proactive. If we're not proactive, nothing's going to happen,'' he said.

Michaels added, "We don't want to become a Waikiki. Nobody wants to go to Honolulu anymore. (Tourists) want to bypass it."

Mass transit was a popular suggestion, but there wasn't a lot of agreement on exactly what form it should take.

Architect and former mayoral candidate Tom Cannon said raised light-rail is what Maui needs to address long-term traffic problems. Maui Planning Commissioner Joe Bertram III suggested extending the steam-powered Sugar Cane Train that serves tourists between Lahaina and Ka'anapali.

"Let's go back to towns that are walkable,'' Bertram said.

ILWU leader Willie Kennison told the council he would urge union members who work at hotels to use car pools more, but cautioned county leaders to avoid mandating off-hour work schedules as a means of easing traffic. He said schedules are set to accommodate guests and there is little leeway.