Rob Tucker's PMAR Proposal

[John S. Rabi]

There are several proposals on the table but regardless of which one will be implemented it adversely will affect some property owners.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,ARB,BFT,CM,CBR,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[Seeb]

Weatherford's plan is the best one I've seen so far

[Michael]

I'm also in favor of James Weatherford's PMAR proposal, it's the best I've seen...
Michael Rayner
11th Ave. HPP

Michael

[Bob Orts]

Can someone correct me if my understanding is wrong?

1. The Railroad and Beach suggestion are dead due to their inability to meet some minimum requirements of the project and that 130 widening is not a viable option.
2. The minimum land needed excluding lanes is 76 feet, resulting in a minimum width of 100' for just 2 lanes. (This requirement makes using many existing street problematic due to existing features and utilities)
3. One requirement is MINIMAL private property access directly onto the route. (Little or no driveways)
4. One requirement is that private property condemnation under eminent domain is to be minimal as far as the lost of lots. It is preferable to take a little from many versus all from a few.
5. Routes with a single corridor alignment is preferred to routes with multiple separated corridors alignments.
6. That funding for this route requires a restriction of commercial vehicles. That may force “no commercial vehicle” bans on existing streets if they are used.
7. That whatever route is selected, the design MUST be capable of supporting mass transit and bus traffic.
8. That whatever route is selected, it must be capable of handling heavy weight emergency vehicles during disasters.
9. Designs that use existing roadways can't cause complete shutdowns of these roads without alternative access.
10. That with everyone having an opinion on the plan, only 6 plans have been submitted between all of government and the entire population of citizens.

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha Bob,

I believe you are basically correct on these points. I would only expand on point #1 as follows:

Once there was a railroad easement from Hilo to Pahoa. When the RR shut down that easement was lost (it was granted to the RR for RR purposes) except where it was utilized and maintained in HPP. The Shipman lands between HPP and Hilo which once carried the RR are sectioned into leased agricultural plots. You can observe these lands makai of the Keaau Bypass at Keaau High School. The owner, Shipman Ltd., seeks minimal to zero impact and risk (theft) to it's agricultural leaseholders.

The land between HPP and Hilo on the makai side, perhaps 18th street and lower, has little or no agricultural use currently and the land is considered, by Shipman Ltd., to be of marginal agricultural value, which makes those lands more accessible politically and financially. Shipman Ltd. has also stated that they will not cooperate on a PMAR which only serves HPP. It would have to serve the whole of Puna Makai. Which is reasonable.

The Beach Road theory, while attractive, is limited by the fact that ZERO federal money will be available for road improvements in a tsunami zone. The Beach Road route is all in a tsunami zone. It may be very suitable for hiking, walking, etc. but is not practical for a thoroughfare.

[Bob Orts]

Thanks Rob for the Shipman info; I didn’t know the full story on their position. I wonder if people realize that the PMAR is not just a new exit "road" from HPP but a multi-purpose Puna transit corridor. I got the distinct impression that bike/walking path and landscape buffers are not optional, they are mandatory.

[mdd7000]

Rob, you did a nice job of research on your proposal. As someone who will soon be moving into the area, I found it interesting.

I was surprised (in a good way) to see your proposal has room for light rail. As a side thought, with all the recent federal money floating about, has anyone in the recent past floated about a light rail solution between Hilo and Kona?

(Better get that fed money now, before Hawaii sovereignty succeeds, otherwise these projects would never happen)

[Rob Tucker]

I have heard no suggestions for rail between Hilo and Kona.

The biggest thing that people fail to grasp in regard to PMAR is the need to think ahead to the next generation and not get bogged down in how might this affect me or my friends today. This is long term stuff. Planning, for transportation or other matters, requires some detachment.

[Seeb]

This thing has become detached form reality. a 2 lane country road running from hilo out toward 132 is a reasonable doable thing that people would support it. Trying to bulldoze a 100ft wide fantasy parkway thru existing neighborhoods is going to make the backlash over Kelo look like good PR. all the quoited rules and regs except the fed funding ones are bs. the cdp has no weight of law and county code can be changed ( they do it all the time )
130 is going to 4 lanes whats needed is a alternate route for emergencys not another expressway a mile parallel

[Rob Tucker]

I think that your points are very correct in the here and now. A two lane country road emergency route would indeed serve us well. Today and for some near years. It may take ten or fifteen years to do anything.

It is necessary to consider that someday Puna and all it's subdivisions will be nearly or completely built out. At that point in time the population in Puna Makai will be double that of the whole island today. 250,000 projected. And that is if no new subdivisions are allowed.

That is what my proposal is about. Acquire sufficient right of way to accommodate the growth that is reasonably expected. It is not necessary to build four lanes initially for the parkway I propose. That may come in the future if needed. Today in 2009-2012 the land is cheap and the route is lightly populated.

Fifty years ago the lack of thought and planning left Puna a real mess. All the issues that stress us now were kicked down the road to be dealt with by somebody else - us. We have largest cul-de-sac in the state - maybe the nation. And this is in a earthquake, hurricane and lava zone. A primary goal of the Puna Community Planning efforts was to not leave such a mess for the next generation.

So I surely agree that a two lane country lane is perfect for the present... but on that day when the population exceeds that capacity it will be triply painful to acquire more right of way for more lanes with more eminent domain and relocate more houses to meet needs that we can easily project today. There are a countable number of yet to be built house lots in Puna. No one has suggested a method or manner to prevent these landowners from building someday so the reasonable expectation is that they will build out. We may not be here for that event, but someone will be.