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Committee forwards $2.63 million Safe Routes to School project near Kionipoko School
Summary
Bill 91 was forwarded to full council after discussion with Public Works about adding pedestrian/bicycle shoulders and a turn lane near Kionipoko School. The project uses a $2,100,000 federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant with a $530,000 county match.
The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on Oct. 8 forwarded Bill 91 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The measure amends the capital budget to fund Safe Routes to School improvements near Kionipoko School: $2,100,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and a $530,000 county match.
Keoni Thompson, Engineering Division chief in Public Works, told the committee the TAP grant will fund added shoulders for pedestrians and bicyclists near the county public school and that the highway division is planning a turn lane to address school-time traffic backups. "This grant is a Safe Routes to School grant, it's a Transportation Alternatives Program grant that we got from the federal government," Thompson said. He confirmed the federal portion is $2,100,000 and the county match is $530,000.
A council member asked whether the project will include a physical barrier between the new shoulder/path and adjacent traffic; Thompson said an AC berm (asphalt berm) currently separates the roadway from an existing walkway on one side of the road, and that the project will include shoulder paving and drainage improvements. Thompson also said the county is working on other school-related projects islandwide and named the Waikākea complex schools and an upcoming project near Wainaku/Teal Union as projects under consideration; he noted those other projects were at different stages and one federal obligation was not yet finalized.
Council Member Kirkowitz thanked Public Works for pursuing the long‑standing traffic‑calming and safety improvements near Kionipoko School. The committee moved Bill 91 to council with a favorable recommendation. The clerk recorded nine ayes; Council Member Onishi joined the meeting prior to this vote.
The committee record does not include final design details, construction schedules, or pedestrian-protection specifics beyond the discussion recorded above. Those elements will be decided during project design and contract phases if the appropriation is approved by council.
