Paia Relief Route Advisory Group Meeting #12. Kaunoa Senior Center July 30, 2015

Transcription

1 Paia Relief Route Advisory Group Meeting #12 Kaunoa Senior Center July 30,

2 Opening Remarks and Introductions Ed Sniffen, P.E. Deputy Director Hawai i Department of Transportation 2

3 Important Players HDOT Project Sponsor FHWA Funder, Federal Lead Agency Federal, State, and County Resource Agencies You The community 3

4 Introductions Role of PRAG Members Need to Update and Replenish Membership 4

5 Summary of Tonight s Meeting Status of Environmental Process Alignments Environmental Effects and Mitigation Archaeological Inventory Survey 5

6 Background on the Project Purpose and Need, Alternatives and Environmental Process Cheryl Soon, FAICP Project Manager SSFM International, Inc. 6

7 PRAG Meetings #1-9 Purpose & Need Statement Identify Universe of Alternatives Develop methodology for screening the Universe of Alternatives Identify Preliminary Alternatives Screen Preliminary Alternatives Identify Reasonable Alternatives Confirm Reasonable Alternatives Prepare for Scoping Meeting Pā ia Relief Route Advisory Group & The Environmental Process Prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) Technical Studies: Agency Pre-Assessment consultation (30-days) March 2009 to October 2010 Public Scoping Meeting On EIS Aquatics & Water Quality Air Quality Archaeology Noise Social Impact Botany Flora & Fauna Economic Traffic PRAG #10 Review Agency & Public Comments Review Technical Studies Screen for Preferred Action May 9, 2011 July 7, 2010 We Are Here PRAG #11 PRAG # 12 Update Meeting July 31, 2014 July 39, 2015 Draft EIS & 4 (f) review Compares Alternatives FHWA reviews, approves for release to public Section 106 Consultation Archaeological Inventory Survey Public Hearing On DEIS Complete Section 106 Consultation Incorporate Agency & Public Comments 45 day comment period PRAG Meeting Updated: July 2015 Prepare Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) 7

8 Study Area 8

9 Purpose and Need Provide Mobility and Relieve Congestion: Motorists are burdened by excessive delays from existing congestion. Alleviate Congestion in Lower Pā ia: Signalized intersections in Pā ia Town are currently congested, and future traffic growth is projected. Improve Safety for All Modes of Travel: Safety needs to be improved for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. Provide Improved, More Convenient Access to the Towns for Pā ia and Ha ikū: The existing roadway system limits travel options and reliability to and from the study area. Support Pā ia s Quality of Life through Transportation Improvements: Pā ia s quality of life, particularly the environment for commercial properties and community patrons of those businesses, is adversely affected by congestion. 9

10 Purpose and Need Support Land Use and Economic Development Objectives: Pā ia Town is the local economic center of activity in the region, and the Relief Route would complement future economic development in the area through reduction of congestion while also maintaining the future viability of agriculture in the area. Agriculture is the single largest industry in the area. Civil Defense and Evacuations: The current evacuation route for Pā ia is Hāna Highway, which is in the tsunami inundation zone. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, the Relief Route would offer a second alternative roadway for evacuations and would provide additional capacity for emergency responders. 10

11 Other Goals and Objectives The PRAG has identified the following elements that should be incorporated into the project as part of a successful solution to problems within the study area: Emphasize native landscaping and shading Integrate the project with County planning efforts to promote logical patterns of land use Create the least impact on agricultural lands Expedite the effort to take advantage of existing and future funding programs Accommodate ample parking in Pā ia Town 11

12 Alternatives Alternative 1: No Build Alternative 2: Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternatives 3-5: Build Alternatives Makai Midfield Mauka 12

13 Alternative 3: Makai Route 13

14 Alternative 4: Midfield Route 14

15 Alternative 5: Mauka Route 15

16 Western Terminus Options At its west end, Alternative 5 incorporates one of three options for connecting with Hāna Highway: Option A (Makai Terminus) Option B (Slip Ramp Terminus) Option C (Haleakalā Terminus) 16

17 Option A: Makai Terminus 17

18 Option B: Slip Ramp Terminus 18

19 Option C: Haleakalā Terminus 19

20 Baldwin Crossing Options For Alternatives 3, 4, and 5, there are two potential locations where the Relief Route would cross Baldwin Avenue. Under Alternatives 3 and 4, the Makai and Midfield Routes, the new Relief Route would cross Baldwin Avenue at a 230-foot wide vacant stretch of land at the upper end of the Pā ia Mill site between the Rum Distillery and the buildings servicing agricultural trucks using Pā ia Mill Road. Under Alternative 5, the Upper Field Route, the Relief Route would cross Baldwin Avenue between Upper Pā ia and Pā ia Elementary School. Several alternative design concepts for the Relief Route s crossing of Baldwin Avenue are under consideration: at grade-with signals, a roundabout, and a grade-separated intersection. 20

21 Baldwin Crossing Option: Signalized Intersection 21

22 Baldwin Crossing Option: Roundabout 22

23 Baldwin Crossing Option: Grade Separation 23

24 Eastern Terminus Options Three options for the eastern terminus for the Relief Route were developed for study. The termini were formulated to consider access to Kū au and Ho okipa Park. Option X (Holomua- Kū au Connector) a 0.45 mile realignment of Hāna Highway from Kū au to the existing Relief Route/Holomua Road intersection, with the realigned highway replacing the portion of Holomua Road makai of the proposed intersection Option Y (Holomua-Kū au Connector and Ho okipa Entrance) addition of a direct connection from the Relief Route to the existing Ho okipa Beach Park entry drive with a new spur from the Relief Route. Option Z (Kū au -Ho okipa Realignment) Hāna Highway is realigned with a straight-line connection from Kū au to the Ho okipa Beach Park entrance. 24

25 Option X (Holomua-Kū au Connector) 0.45 mile realignment of Hāna Highway from Kū au to Holumua Existing Hāna Highway becomes access to Ho okipa Park Stop control at intersection 25

26 Option Y (Holomua-Kū au Connector and Ho okipa Entrance) Similar to Option X Adds a new direct access to Ho okipa Park using a spur Stop control at intersection 26

27 Option Z (Kū au-ho okipa Realignment) Realigns Hāna Highway in straight line Access at Holomua where spur connects Relief Road to realigned Hāna Highway Realigns local access to Ho okipa away from cliffs Existing road is abandoned 27

28 Bicycle and Pedestrian Treatment Options Under the Build Alternatives, pedestrian and bicycle facilities can be attached and alongside or independent of the vehicular roadway surface. There are five alternative configurations for pedestrian and bicycle facilities: Shared Shoulder Bike Lanes Striped Bike Lanes Shared Shoulder Bike Route with Separated Pedestrian Path Multi-Use Path, One Side Multi-Use Path, Two Sides 28

29 Shared Shoulder Bike Lanes 29

30 Striped Bike Lanes 30

31 Shared Shoulder 31

32 Multi-Use Path One Side Not to Scale 32

33 Multi-Use Path Two Sides 33

34 Cost Estimates 34

35 Resources Evaluated and Mitigations Needed Faunal Resources Botanical Resources Aquatic Resources Cultural Resources Socioeconomic Environment Traffic & Transportation Air Quality & Noise Utilities Hazardous Materials Others 35

36 Faunal, Botanical & Aquatic Resources Aquatic field work performed by AECOS Botanical work performed by Geometrician Associates Biological work conducted by Rana Address threatened or endangered species (Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Blackburn s Sphinx Moth) Mitigation includes: Section 7 consultation with USFWS for waterbird species Use of Native species in landscaping 36

37 Cultural Resources Archaeological and historical work performed by Cultural Surveys Hawai i Reconnaissance level field work completed Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) Consultation letters sent April 20, 2011 Meetings with kupuna and organizations Archeological Inventory Survey (AIS) will be discussed later in this meeting 37

38 Socioeconomic Study Work performed by SMS Research Survey of businesses in Pā ia Demographics Environmental Justice Community Resources Project provides positive community benefits 38

39 Traffic & Transportation Work performed by SSFM and PB Intersection operations Roadway capacity Travel Speed Safety Alternative modes Transportation data is also used for air and noise analyses The project mitigates traffic problems in the study area 39

40 Air & Noise Analysis Air Analysis performed by B.D. Neal & Associates Microscale (intersection-level) Mesoscale (regional-level) Mitigations proposed include BMPs for fugitive dust and emissions Noise Analysis performed by D.L. Adams & Associates Monitoring of existing noise levels Modeling of future noise from traffic Mitigations for construction noise per permit 40

41 PRAG Meetings #1-9 Purpose & Need Statement Identify Universe of Alternatives Develop methodology for screening the Universe of Alternatives Identify Preliminary Alternatives Screen Preliminary Alternatives Identify Reasonable Alternatives Confirm Reasonable Alternatives Prepare for Scoping Meeting Pā ia Relief Route Advisory Group & The Environmental Process Prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) Technical Studies: Agency Pre-Assessment consultation (30-days) March 2009 to October 2010 Public Scoping Meeting On EIS July 7, 2010 Aquatics & Water Quality Air Quality Archaeology Noise Social Impact Botany Flora & Fauna Economic Traffic PRAG #10 Review Agency & Public Comments Review Technical Studies Screen for Preferred Action May 9, 2011 PRAG #11 PRAG # 12 Update Meeting July 31, 2014 July 39, 2015 Draft EIS & 4 (f) review Compares Alternatives FHWA reviews, approves for release to public Section 106 Consultation Archaeological Inventory Survey Public Hearing On DEIS Complete Section 106 Consultation Incorporate Agency & Public Comments 45 day comment period PRAG Meeting Updated: July 2015 Prepare Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) 41

42 Archaeological Inventory Survey By Tanya Lee-Greig and Hal Hammett Cultural Surveys Hawaii 42

43 Archaeological Inventory Survey Follows all requirements of HAR Chapter and Chapter to 284 Covers all build alignments Will include 100% pedestrian surface survey and also pedestrian subsurface testing Samples will go for laboratory analysis for dating Archaeological Inventory Survey Report 43

44 Consult with FHWA Consult with FHWA on 4(f) Evaluation Prudent and Feasible test 44

45 Current Work Conduct Archaeological Inventory Survey Revise 4(f) Evaluation Section 106 Consultation 45

46 Future Steps and Schedule Publish Draft EIS 45 day Comment Period Public Hearing will be held during Comment Period Public notice in newspaper Testimony will be taken in written or spoken form A transcript of the hearing will be produced Selection of Preferred Alternative Final EIS Record of Decision (ROD) 46

47 Q & A 47

48 Closing Ed Sniffen, Deputy Director and Ken Tatsuguchi Engineering Planning Manager Hawai i Department of Transportation 48