Posted on: Thursday, June 24, 2004
 |
BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
State sees no need for stoplight at Kailua crossing
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Q. I'm writing you to see if you can help me and the thousands of motorists who travel near the intersection of Ulupii Street and Kalaniana'ole Highway in Kailua. I work near this intersection and
witness accidents and near-misses nearly every day. We have kids from Kailua High School, parents from Maunawili Elementary and huge trucks. I also see the residents who live in the area waving signs once in a while reminding drivers that there is no right turn into the Pohakupu subdivision from 6 to 8:30 a.m. What has to happen before we can get a stop light here?
A. State Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said a traffic analysis for Kalaniana'ole Highway and Ulupii Street — based on a review of existing traffic counts and crash history — found that the intersection does not warrant a traffic signal. He said the sign prohibiting right turns at this intersection during morning school hours was installed at the request of the community in response to concerns with heavy traffic from Kailua High School.
If community members want the sign removed, they should go through the community association and/or neighborhood board. Ishikawa also said that adding a traffic light may encourage drivers to use the quiet residential streets as a shortcut to bypass the main intersection.
• • • Q. Why aren't rules in place that people have to put address numbers on businesses? I had a difficult time recently finding a business on Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City because many businesses lacked visible address markings.
A. Honolulu's Uniform Fire Code requires that approved numbers or addresses be placed on all new and existing buildings "in such a manner as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or road fronting the property," said Vicki Borges, executive assistant in the mayor's office. Those numbers are supposed to contrast with their background to help responding fire, police and ambulance personnel in locating addresses quickly.
• • •
Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:
• Write to:
The Bureaucracy Buster
The Honolulu Advertiser
605 Kapi'olani Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
• E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com
• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.
Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.
