Keolu Drive project on hold
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — The city is rethinking a bicycle path and traffic calming proposal on Keolu Drive after residents condemned the changes and called for a halt to the project.
But the project contract has been signed and the contractor has marked temporary lines on the road where the proposed changes will take place between Keolu Center and Hamakua Drive. It includes reducing the number of lanes going in each direction from two to one and calls for a bike lane next to a parking lane.
"I'm finding it difficult to find support for this project," said Barry Wong, a member of the Kailua Neighborhood Board. Wong said residents are confused by the changes and 1,000 people have signed a petition urging that the project be stopped.
In the meantime the city director of transportation services, Cheryl Soon, has suspended work on the $240,000 project and met with area representatives April 1 to discuss concerns. Another meeting is set April 21, and those who attended the first meeting say they expect changes.
"She's talking about some redesigning that could meet more general approval," said Jim Wood, a member of the neighborhood board and one of the participants in planning the project. Wood and Wong attended the April 1 meeting with five other residents.
Soon said she hopes members will work together to resolve the issues. She said the first meeting was contentious, with a lot of finger-pointing, but everyone agreed on two things: The speed limit on the road should be 25 mph and the bike lanes should be made safer.
"That's the starting point we had to get back to," she said, adding that she didn't want to speculate about the outcome of the project to keep discussions moving in a positive direction.
The project will remain on hold, but the city will attempt to rework the striping to make the lines less confusing, she said.
Residents at Enchanted Lake Shopping Center said the new lines were confusing and hoped signs would clear things up.
Greg Jardon, 37, liked the idea of slowing traffic but said he wouldn't ride in the bike lane between the parking lane and the traveling lane.
Tina Johnson said the parking lane isn't necessary but she likes having the bike lane. "I think we need it, anything to make Hawai'i more bike-safe," Johnson said.
Others see the new pattern as dangerous for bikers and automobiles.
Cliff Kong said that if he follows the pattern, he has to make a right turn from an inside lane.
"You're out in the middle of the street and the bike lane is between you and some unused space," Kong said. "It seems like a waste of money."
The project originally began as a bike-lane proposal in 1998 by the Kailua Vision Team. It grew to its present design around 2000 after several community meetings.
The long interim between planning and implementation contributed to the current reaction, Wood said. The project was financed in 2002.
Despite the reactions to the project, Wood said he thought it will work, but that improvements could be made, especially around the shopping centers.
"I'm more convinced than ever after watching it in operation that it's perfectly workable," he said. "There's no need for two driving lanes."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com. or 234-5266.
