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Hmmm. Well I don't propose a conventional road from Hilo to Pahoa. I propose a non-commercial parkway. I admit some of the suggestions I made are a bit out there. My premise was if there is to be an alternative route just how alternative could it be? I kinda figured the fuel standard proposal to jettisoned or disparaged first. Surprisingly you are one of the first to mention it. It is fluff.
Hwy. 130 serves the district quite well in a conventional way. Truck traffic, containers etc. What is missing is a route into and out of Puna which accommodates the new generation of lightweight fuel efficient vehicles. They have entered the market now and with the demise or restructuring of GM the Hummer is history. GM is looking to import cars from China. They will not be Hummers.
Some transportation routes in the U.S. do differentiate between vehicle weights and uses. A Parkway is one of the simpler and most obvious methods. Not used much in the western states. Extensive history in the eastern states.
The primary driving force for a PMAR is an alternative route in the event Hwy. 13o is closed for whatever reason. After that it can become a number of things. But it is not solely intended to serve HPP or to reduce traffic. Those are secondary benefits.
I do appreciate the dialogue. This conversation needs to continue and expand.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Any restrictions on the type, weight, or other characteristics of vehicles allowed on a new road would have to be enforced. Given the lack of enforcement of the current traffic laws and vehicle restrictions on oversized wheels and blackout windows, I have to strongly doubt that there would ever be effective enforcement. I even recall the Chief of Police's recent response to someone who questioned the lax enforcement of the oversized wheel ordinance. The Chief suggested that citizens write down the license numbers of offenders and send letters or email to the police. Really. He said that.
Another thing to remember is that the most likely closure of Highway 130 for any serious length of time would be a lava flow. Building an escape route a mile downslope would buy only a limited amount of time. A gated "emergency only" gravel escape route similar to the one in the National Park might be a solution. It would save a lot of money, too.
Cheers,
Jerry
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The PMAR isn't a dream; it's a reality that will happen. What it becomes, what restrictions, how big, how small, with or without landscape, with or without bike paths, and with or without flaming yellow Twinkies, will all be worked out. But it is coming and the priority is the route. Until they have a route, federal money is currently limited to only finding that route. Once the route is selected, the coffers open a bit more and money to design and engineering it becomes available. Once that's completed, money for construction starts to flow.
But if there is no route, other states are sucking up that construction money now with approved routes in their states. At this point, all the focus should be on the selection of the corridor and lining up the support of people and the major property owners who have it in their hands to kill this thing.
If you read the PRCP, it mentioned the whole thing over no matter what is finally approved; there are those who would never be satisfied no matter what. It also mentioned that here will be those who get the short end of the stick. But somebody is going to get the short end of the stick so pick the best route and go forward.
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East coast parkways are not a good example. most are high speed meat grinders in reality
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quote:
Originally posted by Rob Tucker
What is missing is a route into and out of Puna which accommodates the new generation of lightweight fuel efficient vehicles. They have entered the market now and with the demise or restructuring of GM the Hummer is history. GM is looking to import cars from China. They will not be Hummers.
I think it will take more than a generation for the locals to switch from their beloved trucks and SUVs to the kind of vehicles you mention. The Hummer is not history, GM is trying to sell it. I don't think the UAW would ever let GM import cars from China, but maybe it's even better that way. When I was in China last year I was told the locally assembled cars are not very reliable. (Several European automakers already have assembly plants there.)
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,ARB,BFT,CM,CBR,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
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Bob Orts has once again cut to the chase and got to the heartbeat of the issue.
There needs to be a route determined. The rest, whatever the rest will be, comes later.
The CoH has initiated an EIS. I will try to see what basis they are using for an EIS.
Update: I talked to the Planning Department. The Public Works Department has a budget line item in the current budget before council for the EIS for PMAR. Budget is before the council for vote soon. That is where it stands. Once the budget is approved then the selection of a route for PMAR becomes a primary point of community input.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Actually, I disagree. Hummer is a good example. It's a vehicle only the most consumptive minded people would be enticed to buy under circumstances of 1) cheap fuel 2) cheap credit 3) wages borne by both 4) A society that thought people in need of such prosthetics were cool and some sort of status symbol. This is never coming back, ever. Never. Again, never. We're not in a recession, per se--we're in a structural revaluation of our whole economy. Whatever comes out of that, hard to say. You can count 2005 or anything that looks like it out.
I fear we're hamstrung by a model, now invalid, that presupposes cyclical events. I reject that model. The cycle is broken. We are facing a very new future with different values. It's worth discussing what those values are and what will be workable in that world. I think roads will have little to do with it.
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Building roads is exactly the sort of work that should be done in a downturn, when costs are lower. Maybe things can get organized in time for the next recession.
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quote:
Originally posted by JWFITZ
...This is never coming back, ever. Never. Again, never.
Just remember, never say never ]
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!"
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The five most expensive words in economics:
This time it's different.
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