Keapuka’s Residents Want Speeders Curbed

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Residents of the Keapuka subdivision in Kaneohe are concerned about traffic safety at the intersection of Anoi and Luluku roads - a place that’s grown hazardous because of speeding motorists who use the neighborhood streets as a convenient detour off the highways.

Drivers on both Likelike and Kamehameha highways often turn into Luluku or Anoi in order to avoid congestion or to skip the long traffic light at the Kaneohe Bay Drive intersection by Burger King. And they frequently exceed the 25 mph speed limit in the residential neighborhood.

A community meeting was held last month to discuss the issue, sponsored by City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, state Sen. Jill Tokuda and state Rep. Ken Ito.

“DTS (city Department of Transportation Services) came up with and made a proposal for a system of improvements that would deal with the traffic congestions and speeding issues,” explained Tokuda, “They were proposing three different things: One was shoulder parking lanes; the second, a solar driver-feedback sign; and the third, a traffic circle.” Shoulder parking lanes visually separate the roadway from the pedestrian path. The driver-feedback sign is a fixture displaying speed. It also acts as a data collector, informing DTS of peak speeding hours. The traffic circle was suggested because it would force people to slow down.

“The proposed system would be carefully researched for safety issues,” Tokuda said, “to ensure that safety vehicles and buses could traverse them.”

Anderson also is pleased with the city’s proposal. “It does reflect the wishes of the community members who have been attending the meetings. However, I, along with Sen. Tokuda and Rep. Ito, will be going through the district this summer to touch base with those residents who couldn’t make the community meetings. We want to get their input.”

Traffic improvements could be implemented after gathering opinions from the public on the proposal. Anderson acknowledged that it is because the community and its leaders have been working together that movements toward change are happening so quickly.

“I would like to thank DTS director Wayne Yoshioka and his team for their responsiveness to the community,” he said, “and Sen. Tokuda and Rep. Ito on their willingness to collaborate with the city on this important project.”