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Maui Bicycle Alliance Minutes -- September 26th, 2001 Meeting

Minutes Summary

   1.Northshore Greenway
   2.Kihei Greenway
   3.Piilani Highway Update
   4.Political Questionnaire Results
   5.Makawao Forrest Reserve and Mountain Bikers
   6.Century Ride Update
   7.Late Update on Pali Tunnel Lighting System !!
   8.2003 Ride Calendar of Events.

Next General Meeting: October Thursday 24th, 6:00pm . Hawaiian Canoe Club Hale.

1) Northshore Greenway.

Phase II of the Northshore Greenway is a go from Oct 1, 02. Site Eng. out of Oahu got the notice to proceed last month and they are to begin construction this month. Completion date is set for February 24, 2003.   

2) Kihei Greenway.

Plans still going ahead. Joe brought up information about a resolution by the Public Works and Transportation Committee Chair Mike Molina. Joe will contact Richard to get info out on resolution Mike Molina is going to introduce to ensure continuity of greenway. We will inform club members to push for support as soon as possible. Final on EA (environmental assessment) will be later this month or next. Walter will be talking to Alan Unemori about changes suggested in the assessment around the 9th or 10th.

3) Piilani Highway Update

State DOT guys got back to us in writing to confirm changes to Piilani Highway widening plans. Long term solution would be adding outboard walkways but we can push for that later. Pedestrian access now will be provided. Bicyclists will have 4ft shoulder across bridge sections.

4) Political Questionnaire Results

Only 6 candidates responded to the survey so far. Will try and call and contact more of them about getting the forms back to us. Most responses have been of a positive nature. Only one current incumbent (Joanne Johnson) replied so far.  Alan Arakawa has expressed interest in participating in our club ride on October 20th. Other who have responded include: Kimo Falconer, Georgina Kawamura, Sunny Gutierrez, Brian Blundell,and Lance Holter.  

5) Makawao Forrest Reserve and Mountain Bikers

Some of the group wanted to find out a way to keep the Makawao Forrest Reserve open for bicyclists (area above Makawao at the end of Kahakapau Road) . Some DLNR officers have been getting on the MTB'rs there. Problems with individuals setting up jumps, ramps and other items have caused some issues to occur that need to be addressed. Dave and Joe were going to find more information and look into a solution through their involvement with Na Ala Hele and the possibility of meeting with DLNR officials about our concerns with this area.  

5) Social Ride-Group Ride Club Ride

Club Ride set Oct 20th. 7:00am at Kalama park lot across from South Maui Bikes. Ride to LaPerouse and back. Ride notice to members only, limit to 75 riders. No aid stations, $1 ins. fee, helmets required, one sag truck available. Intent of ride is to have FUN. Open to most riders who can do 20-30 mile rides. See other e-mail for more information.

6) Century Ride

The annual Maui Century Ride will take place on Sunday, November 24th.  Applications will be sent out via e-mail and will also be available at bike shops around the island. 

7) Late Update on Pali Tunnel Lighting System !!

Pali Tunnel Bicycle Warning Light System will be operational soon. State DOT Highways is almost finished with the warning signal lights placed before and after the Pali Tunnel entrances. Work done on the inside of the tunnel has been completed and looks WAY better than the past. System is due to begin operation (hopefully) by the end of this month. Look for push-button switch on short pole before entering tunnel to activate lights.

8) 2003 Ride Calendar of Events.

Have put together a tentative ride calendar for 2003. Would like to get your input on these events and assistance in putting these events on. I have consulted with Nancy Robberson who is putting together a calendar of all run, bike, swim, and tri-athlete events (so as to avoid conflicts). The list is as follows (includes some bike events not put on by club):


Pi'ilani Highway Progress Report.
Date:  Mon, 9 Sep 2002


Aloha Gang! Good news to report!! Spoke with State Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Vincent Llorin about Pi'ilani Highway Widening Project and it's inadequate space for bicyclists and pedestrians. He mentioned that our letter to challenge the width and lack of pedestrian access stirred up debate in Oahu DOT Highways Office and has resulted in some positive changes for us!!!

As it looks now, the traffic lanes will be narrowed and a 2" wide strip along the outside edge (with reflectors) will be used. This will result in the bike lane/shoulder being  4FT wide ( double of what was proposed)! Pedestrian access will be resumed and all signage prohibiting pedestrian access will also be removed!!! In addition, should the highway be widened in the future, outboard walkways will be integrated into the future plans to ensure bicycle and pedestrian access !!!

Special thanks go out to Vincent LLorin for his help is fighting for this on our behalf in DOT Highways... I propose we send him notices of thanks.

Thanks again to all of you who have helped make this happen!!! WE ARE MAKING POSITIVE DIFFERENCE!!!

Lets keep it up at the  Tuesday,Sept 17th meeting on there Kihei Greenway at 6:30pm at the Kihei Community Center.

Aloha for now.

Walter Enomoto

Notes from the County Council Public Works and
Transportation Committee Meeting . Sept 4, 2002.

Aloha members!! I would like to thank all of you who came to the meeting and testified or called their council members office or spoke to others about the Kihei Greenway at the Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting on Sept. 4, 2002. The turnout and testimony put our council members on notice that we are actively working towards making the Kihei Greenway a reality!!! The impact we had on council members was great !! They were even asking about our candidate surveys (which we told them would be disseminated to our members )!!

On news related to the greenway, Joe Bertram and I were able to attend the site inspection at 7:15am and talk with a number of Council members and Dave Goode from the Public Works Dept. We got an update from Dave that the funding for the first section of the greenway has been secured, that the project is on the list (of projects to get done), that the design work was done, and that only the Environmental Assessment needed to get done before construction could proceed. The hold up had to do with the engineering firm doing the E.A. had to get approval from the Cultural Resources Commission before it could finish the assessment. He could not say exactly when the project would begin but it would be sometime soon (before end of year).

Other good news is that it looks like the four lane expansion of Liloa St. may not need to occur until 2015. This means that the need for fours lanes of vehicular  can be postponed and that we can get the greenway in without having the County take land from adjacent developers or owners. The meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at 6:30pm at the Kihei Community Center (put on by the KCA) will go over the results of this South Maui Traffic Master Plan Study and what it means for the Greenway as well as other traffic issues. PLEASE COME TO THIS MEETING  IF POSSIBLE !!! Our show of support for the Greenway and the Kihei Community Association is still needed to get (and more importantly keep) this project going.

Some problems still exist however and we need to stay on top of the development of the Kihei Greenway to make sure it becomes a true alternative transportation corridor !!! There are still some issues that need to be resolved in the section of Auhana to Alanui Ke Alii. We will keep members updated on this project as it becomes available.

Other news (or no news ) to report in regards to the in-adequate space (only 2ft!!)  the state is allowing bicyclists on the four bridges along Pi'ilani Highway when they do the widening project. The other issue is that pedestrian travel would not be allowed to pass along the bridges too!! Any members who run or jog along Piilani Highway take note!! You rights may be infringed upon if the project goes through without the state correcting this problem.

As of this date, no word from the state DOT regarding these concerns have been received by me. The letter was sent out certified mail on August 19th, 2002. I will be contacting them Monday as to what the hold up is in responding to our concerns. If you would like to see a copy of the letter, e-mail me back.

I apologize for the long winded nature of this update but I feel that it is of vital importance to let you know what is going on in regards to these major bicycle development projects. Aloha for now...

Sincerely,
Walter Enomoto











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