KOLOA — Even as dignitaries spoke, there were cars zooming by, obviously above the school zone speed limit, Monday. The effort to improve pedestrian traffic took its first step with the groundbreaking ceremony hosted by R Electric for the installation
KOLOA — Even as dignitaries spoke, there were cars zooming by, obviously above the school zone speed limit, Monday.
The effort to improve pedestrian traffic took its first step with the groundbreaking ceremony hosted by R Electric for the installation of the In-Road Warning Lighting System.
Once installation is complete, the In-Road Warning Lighting System will alert motorists of the crosswalks on Po‘ipu Road.
Motorists have a tendency to speed through this residential area creating a hazard for pedestrians and children, the program for the event states.
Designed to alert approaching motorists to the presence of a pedestrian at the crosswalk and enhance pedestrian safety, the system is a series of in-pavement signal lights that utilize a flashing light pattern to capture and hold drivers’ attention, states a release from the county.
The In-Road Warning Lighting System is a first for the island of Kaua‘i and would not be possible without the support of the County of Kaua‘i and the Community of Koloa, according to the program.
According to the county release, this is the first of two enhanced crosswalk systems that are scheduled for installation in Koloa this year.
“The crosswalks are necessary,” said Debbie Lindsey, principal of the Koloa Elementary School. “Because of the way the roads are built, the sidewalk on the Koloa Library side ends just before the boundary of the Koloa Church, and on the other side of Po‘ipu Road, there are no sidewalks.”
Lindsey said because of the rise on Po‘ipu Road, motorists heading to Koloa from Po‘ipu are oftentimes unaware of the school zone crosswalk.
She suggested the area between the crosswalk fronting the Koloa Library and the crosswalk at the end of Koloa Church be painted in striping with “School Zone” and “15 mph” signage incorporated.
“Providing Safe Routes to Schools is one of our Holo Holo 2020 projects, and the pedestrian safety improvements scheduled for Koloa are part of this vision,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., alluding to his inauguration speech where he unveiled Holo Holo 2020. “We thank the Koloa community and the Kaua‘i County Council for working closely with us on this project which will provide a 24/7 safeguard for our children and other pedestrians in the area.”
Even as dignitaries spoke, there was evidence of the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the area, and Carvalho noted that this is a classic example of private citizens working in partnership with county government that helped to make the project a reality.
“The impetus for the enhanced crosswalk system was a strong lobbying effort by Koloa residents,” the mayor said. “They took a pro-active role in this project which helped us to move it forward faster than it would have otherwise.”
Teddy Blake chaired an informal committee of Koloa residents, educators and parents that researched the various options available for near-term improvements to the crosswalks fronting Koloa School, the results being passed on to the county.
Pedestrian safety was also identified as a top priority, especially for children walking to Koloa School along Po‘ipu, Koloa and Waikomo Roads, in 2007 when the Koloa/Po‘ipu Circulation Plan was developed to address traffic flow concerns, mitigate traffic impacts of new development in the area and create a more balanced transportation system that includes all travel modes on the South Shore.
R Electric, the general contractor on the design and installation of the In-Road Warning Lighting System, was awarded $254,906 with the project expected to be completed by the end of May.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
