no alternate routes...

[alaskyn66]

Maybe toll roads are the way to go.

[Rob Tucker]

There was a time when Hilo roads weren't paved. The county figured out how to get that done.

[Kapoho Joe]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Tucker

There was a time when Hilo roads weren't paved. The county figured out how to get that done.

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Hilo is a long way from Eden Roc. Besides there are miles of Hilo roads that still need a sidewalk. The flow of Puna progress drips like molasses. A disappointment to some, a joy to others and an amusement for all!

[kalakoa]

There was a time when Hilo roads weren't paved. The county figured out how to get that done.

Does anyone have more details? Specifically, where did County find the money? Were costs passed along to the property owners? Maybe a bond, with property taxes raised to cover the payments?

Perhaps a simpler explanation: a thriving downtown commercial center was "economically necessary", whereas the vast unwashed subdivisions are merely "inconvenient".

It doesn't help that asphalt has to be imported from the mainland...

[Kapoho Joe]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

But there is no kickback on roads

In theory, better access makes properties more valuable, resulting in higher property tax revenue.

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If you had not noticed yet, Hawaii County is not interested in fairly enforcing and collecting the existing property tax revenue. They surely could care less about rising property values. I have come to surmise that East Hawaii is in a designed holding pattern, specifically meant to stall the impending gentrification from the massive west coast hordes.

Less roads is part and parcel of this plan, something akin to 'if they cannot drive there, they won't come.' (sorry Costner, et all)!

[kalakoa]

specifically meant to stall the impending gentrification

This plan is already not working very well, so it will be hilarious when it backfires.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

massive west coast hordes.
...
they won't come.' (sorry Costner

I always thought the California hordes prefered Kona side with its more dependable sunny weather, so much so that they'd rather live on a welded metal off-shore atoll, traveling to shore on jet ski smokers rather than drive our rutted, cindered roads full of potholes filled with rain.

There are some California transplants in Puna, but they always struck me more like the losing contestants from a reality show, trickling in from week to week.

“There's no such thing, unfortunately, anymore as facts." Trump spokeswoman Scottie Hughes