05-12-2009, 10:15 AM
Take a look at Honolulu. They put off discussion for decades about the need for light rail. They live in a traffic nightmare. Now they have to do it and it is going to cost $200 million a mile. It is going to be a construction horror story with diverted traffic for years, property owners in turmoil and it will likely cost much, more than they admit.
My proposal is not the only proposal. It does look toward the future and it involves three intersections and zero driveways in HPP. It can also be built, essentially, without years of disruption for HPP residents during construction. That has to matter. It could be narrower. It could be wider. It could raise property values if done right.
James Weatherford's proposal is very different. It involves nine intersections and moving traffic past 750 driveways. It will likely require 750 eminent domain procedures. It will also be a major pain to construct. How do you make miles of road gradings and pavings and maintain people's access to their homes? Very costly. to utilize HPP roads means they have to be acquired and the blind hills graded out. That means driveways will need regrading too or they might be five feet higher than the road. But I respect James' intentions and effort. We just think differently.
It is good to have competing proposals and to debate them. HPP plays a big part in the traffic problem and will have to play it's part in the solution. Michael, who initiated this discussion, might prefer one or another method as long as it impacts someone else. If there is going to be money, anguish and sweat to make a new road then it should surely be a practical solution extending beyond the next few years. Too painful to have to go through the process twice.
During the recent years of PMAR discussion I have heard a number of HPP residents complain about how their properties should not be affected. I have never once heard protest of the Keaau Bypass which greatly eased traffic in and through Keaau and Keaau homes were lost to create it. I have never heard anyone say "I refuse to drive the Keaau Bypass because someone's home was purchased and removed to create it".
My proposal is not the only proposal. It does look toward the future and it involves three intersections and zero driveways in HPP. It can also be built, essentially, without years of disruption for HPP residents during construction. That has to matter. It could be narrower. It could be wider. It could raise property values if done right.
James Weatherford's proposal is very different. It involves nine intersections and moving traffic past 750 driveways. It will likely require 750 eminent domain procedures. It will also be a major pain to construct. How do you make miles of road gradings and pavings and maintain people's access to their homes? Very costly. to utilize HPP roads means they have to be acquired and the blind hills graded out. That means driveways will need regrading too or they might be five feet higher than the road. But I respect James' intentions and effort. We just think differently.
It is good to have competing proposals and to debate them. HPP plays a big part in the traffic problem and will have to play it's part in the solution. Michael, who initiated this discussion, might prefer one or another method as long as it impacts someone else. If there is going to be money, anguish and sweat to make a new road then it should surely be a practical solution extending beyond the next few years. Too painful to have to go through the process twice.
During the recent years of PMAR discussion I have heard a number of HPP residents complain about how their properties should not be affected. I have never once heard protest of the Keaau Bypass which greatly eased traffic in and through Keaau and Keaau homes were lost to create it. I have never heard anyone say "I refuse to drive the Keaau Bypass because someone's home was purchased and removed to create it".
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator