The Issues:  Traffic Congestion

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We all try to avoid peak traffic hours through Wailua and Kapa`a, but traffic continues to worsen.  After decades of planning a Wailua-Kapa`a bypass relief route, the State Department of Transportation (SDOT) has abandoned that plan.  The following priority projects are now being pursued by the State to relieve traffic congestion.

1. Adding one more south-bound lane between the Wailua Bridge and the southern terminus of the Kapa`a Bypass Road, fronting Coco Palms hotel.  This project is fully funded and is expected to begin in 2020.
2. Adding one more north-bound lane on the Kapa`a Bypass Road, between the roundabout and Kuhio Highway.  SDOT requires funds for this project.
   
3. Adding one more Lihue-bound lane between Wailua River to Hanamaulu.   The additional lane could be adjacent to the existing highway or created using the existing Wailua cane haul road.  This would eliminate the need for contra-flow lanes, which is a costly operation.  SDOT is is securing funding so that planning and design can begin..

​Until the above improvements are made, Iʻve been working with the SDOT to implement contaflow cones on Sundays and holidays to address congestion through Kapaʻa Town.  

While these road improvements are critical to relieve traffic congestion, it is also important to work on reducing the number of vehicles on the road by improving the routes and frequency of our bus system and adding convenient shuttles that can help reduce the number of rental cars driven by visitors.
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I would also like the State and County to work together to build the Kuamo`o-Ma`alo connector road as a resiliency project to ensure that east and north shore communities have continuous access to medical, transportation, and other facilities in the event a tsunami or hurricane damages our shoreline highway and bridges. ​