Speed traps on Hwy 130

[james weatherford]

Bob,

Thanks for the digging up info.
Hope your friend paid for his own lunch!

Yes, roundabout really is only a tool -- only one traffic control tool among others.
The problem is, it is a very effective one that our County Dept of Public Works and the State Dept of Transportation have refused to even consider for most projects -- that is, roundabouts never even come into the decision making process. The basic question is never asked, on installation and/or alteration to an intersection. These agencies have not simply passively neglected this tool, they have explicitly refused to ask this simple question, "Will a roundabout work best?" -- this is what needs changing, the policy of evaluating the potential for using this proven and effective tool.

As for the 'one way in, one way out' situation for Puna, yes, we definitely need another roadway -- not high-speed highway, not an expressway, not a railroad, not a mud track only for emergencies.
A simple two-lane County road with limited access and no large trucks, and a one-lane dedicated busway. HPP N 15th to makai end of Macadamia Rd, up Mac Rd and across Hwy 11 (with overpass?), mauka along Stainback Hwy to N Kulani and on to Komohana. Build that and Hwy 130 traffic is cut way back and, unlike widening Hwy 130, there will be minimal disruption to traffic.

Thanks again for following up with you friend.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[YurtGirl]

quote:

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Originally posted by DanielP

Thanks Bob,

That is exactly why I think that PMAR and a secondary road system has to take a priority position in discussing traffic on 130.

ONE ROAD?

Dan

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Which brings me back to my earlier question, wasn't there a bypass road in the works toward the back of HPP? Why did that come to a halt?
Dan's right, so roundabouts are a better alternative in some situations... OKAY. But the priority should be more efficient roads that meet the capacity needs of the population, local as well as visitors. And it is definitely ridiculous that the current road is a two lane, randomly bottlenecking obstacle course. If we don't get another route in and out of Puna, where is the traffic going to go when the road is being worked on for months/years on end? And like someone said earlier, heaven forbid any kind of major evacuation need to happen, which isn't all that bizarre of a thought considering there's RED HOT LAVA FLOWING ALL OVER THE PLACE out there. Amazing that this is just coming up now.
And just a reality check, certainly if we all just follow the law and go the speed limit... but that isn't likely to happen, last I checked we're in Paradise, not Utopia, with young reckless kids, drunks and pushy pissed off people driving along with us. What more pressing things would the police be doing, btw, than making a lasting impression on would-be dangerous drivers on the road? More council meetings? Busting more pot smokers before that new law passes? I wonder...

[james weatherford]

"...bypass road in the works toward the back of HPP..."

Everything within one mile of the coast is tsunami inundation zone -- no Federal funds for anything other than 'scenic byway' along Beach, aka Government, Road.

Most traffic congestion for Pahoa-Keaau Rd can be abated by an alternative route OUT OF HPP to the North.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[YurtGirl]

quote:

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Originally posted by james weatherford


Most traffic congestion for Pahoa-Keaau Rd can be abated by an alternative route OUT OF HPP to the North.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.

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Yes, I could see that helping a quite a bit, though it wouldn't help Pahoa residents if they needed to evacuate quickly...

[olin137]

Getting a ticket for going too fast is one thing. Getting one in an obvious "trap" is something else. My story is the first time on BI I was driving near Volcano. It was a straight-away of about a half mile, with lisght traffic. I had no intentions of passing anyone, but when I hit the straight-away I let the speed get up to about 10 mph over the limit. I got pulled over by two very arrogant acting officers. Yes, I was going 60 in a 50 zone, but there were no side roads to potentially endanger entering/exiting traffic, no other traffic, and the police car was hidden off the road. Now, I don't argue I wasn't over the limit, but was that REALLY the most pressing place on BI for limited police resources to be sitting all day? I would venture that you could observe any of the feeder roads into HPP any day and see a hundred vehicles going 15-30 mph over the limit - mainly older vehicles/pickups. Yet, I've never seen a single one pulled over and getting a ticket. I believe it likely I got the ticket mainly because I was obviously not "local" - rental car.

[YurtGirl]

quote:

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Originally posted by olin137

Getting a ticket for going too fast is one thing. Getting one in an obvious "trap" is something else. My story is the first time on BI I was driving near Volcano. It was a straight-away of about a half mile, with lisght traffic. I had no intentions of passing anyone, but when I hit the straight-away I let the speed get up to about 10 mph over the limit. I got pulled over by two very arrogant acting officers. Yes, I was going 60 in a 50 zone, but there were no side roads to potentially endanger entering/exiting traffic, no other traffic, and the police car was hidden off the road. Now, I don't argue I wasn't over the limit, but was that REALLY the most pressing place on BI for limited police resources to be sitting all day? I would venture that you could observe any of the feeder roads into HPP any day and see a hundred vehicles going 15-30 mph over the limit - mainly older vehicles/pickups. Yet, I've never seen a single one pulled over and getting a ticket. I believe it likely I got the ticket mainly because I was obviously not "local" - rental car.

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What is all this "pressing" business that people think the police should be doing? Where did you discover that we have such "limited police resources" that police shouldn't be doing what the majority of police all over America do? Random traffic stops. I'm not going to complain and blame the cops if they pull me over because I'm breaking the law. Take some responsibility, otherwise you'll always be a victim. I think traffic stops just about anywhere serve a purpose, if you're breaking the law then you can be sure plenty of others do to, rationalizing that it's ok because a, b, c... If you had seen someone else pulled over there then you probably wouldn't have sped through there, right? And by the way, a "trap" isn't a police car tucked away off the road trying to catch speeding drivers, a trap is when somewhat unethical methods are used, i.e., a speed limit going without warning from 55 to 25, much like what we see all along the Hamakua coast.

[rbakker]

The State really should employ more traffic cops. It's a budget neutral measure as long as some people seem to think speed limits are optional, and it cuts down on the dead and maimed.

[james weatherford]

"...feeder roads into HPP ... never seen a single one pulled over and getting a ticket."

Glad to report that we have twice observed speeders on Maku'u being stopped by police. Thanks, Officers!

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[StillHope]

There so many people here from HPP,that sometimes I have a feeling I am on PPW.)):

[Beachboy]

quote:

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Originally posted by amf217

Good ideas James, the copter can be effective and most people think it is more accurate then radar. Time and distance.

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who gonna pay for the fuel? Us(taxpayers) of course! That seems a bit extreme in my opinion. To avoid confrontation on the road. If you are going below, or even the speed limit,and you get someone on your tail. Don't let your "ego" dictate your fate when behind the wheel. Another words, never mind you're going the speed limit. If someone is on your tail, and you are going the speed limit. Why aggravate the situation? Never mind you are within your legal driving rights by going to legal speed limit. Keep in mind the person who has been tailgating you for the past several miles is about to go into "road rage" because you feel you are within your rights! Are you willing to take a risk with your health in this manner? I promise you the driver behind you who has been tailgating for several miles will have no problem getting in your face at the first chance he gets. Right or wrong it's gonna happen. We have to many documented cases of road rage against Punawebbers in the past. The easiest way to shut down this situation before it escalates, is just pull over and let the people by! Why do any of us have to risk our health on the road under these circumstances? Just shut your ego down and pull over. Never mind your going the speed limit. Look in you rear view mirror, and if there is a big line of cars following you. Why not pull over and let them by you? It sure beats a confrontation in my opinion.

Road Rage is one of the biggest problem we face in a growing community. So avoid it at all cost. Even if it means you have to kowtow the offender. Sure beats confrontation in Puna.

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