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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, October 5, 2003

Salt Lake wants city to rule on roundabout

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Salt Lake residents were hoping to learn this week whether a controversial roundabout temporarily installed by the city on Ala Napunani Street in April would become permanent or be removed, but the city says it needs more time to make a final decision.

A roundabout created in April at Ala Napunani and Likini streets in Salt Lake was originally a 90-day demonstration project, but the city has extended the trial to collect data. Some residents want to know when and if it will be removed.

Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

At the Aliamanu/Salt Lake/ Foster Village Neighborhood Board meeting last month, board members voted 5-4 not to support making the traffic-calming device at Likini Street permanent, after hearing from dozens of residents, most of them opposed to the project.

The board will take up the issue again at its meeting Thursday, and has asked Cheryl Soon, city director of transportation services, to attend and give residents an answer on the fate of the roundabout.

"I talked to Cheryl Soon, who said she is still receiving input" and has not yet made a decision, said board member Howard Shima. "The community needs to be told as soon as possible."

Soon said the city was still evaluating traffic numbers involving the roundabout and collecting feedback from the board and elected representatives. The traffic circle will remain in place until a decision is made, she said.

"I'm not going to give answers; we are just taking input," Soon said. "From the input I've received, even from the board, it would suggest they should have some additional discussion themselves."

In April, workers set up cones and painted temporary lane markings reducing busy Ala Napunani Street from two lanes in each direction to one circle lane, slowing cars in the 25 mph zone in an attempt to make it safer for pedestrians to cross.

At a glance

• What: The Aliamanu/ Salt Lake/Foster Village Neighborhood Board meeting

• When: 7 p.m. Thursday

• Where: Aliamanu Intermediate School cafeteria, 3271 Salt Lake Blvd.

• Why: To address Ala Napunani Street roundabout and other issues

The demonstration project, which cost about $60,000, was expected to be in place for 90 days, but was extended to allow the effects on traffic to be documented when Moanalua High School was in session.

Moanalua High Principal Darrel Galera supports the roundabout, saying it is safer for students to cross the busy street. They negotiate only one lane of traffic at a time, and there is a safe area in the center of the circle for pedestrians to wait until traffic clears, he said.

"We think it has slowed down traffic in the area, and by doing that has provided a greater degree of safety."

City officials say the roundabout has reduced traffic accidents, with only one during the demonstration period, from May to August, compared with five during the same period last year, eight in 2001 and five in 2000.

Ala Napunani resident Gil Farias said he is all for pedestrian safety, but the roundabout is creating more problems than it is solving.

"I am opposed to the roundabout, but I support the application of some type of traffic control to slow the traffic down in that area," Farias said.

"The major problem with the roundabout is it is reducing a four-lane highway into one lane. This causes a tremendous backlog of traffic during the morning rush hour."

Farias said bumper-to-bumper traffic at rush hour can stretch to longer than a football field at the intersection, which used to back up only a few cars.

"You can still accomplish pedestrian safety with slowing traffic down and allow left turns from Likini Street, with traffic signals and speed humps," he said.

Rep. Glenn Wakai, D-31st (Salt Lake, Tripler) reported results from a survey done by his office at the September board meeting. In the survey, 180 residents were questioned, with 112 saying they supported the roundabout and 68 opposing it. That comes to 62 percent in favor and 38 percent against the project.

Shima said the permanent roundabout would cost taxpayers about $600,000, which would be better spent on a traffic light at the intersection.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.