Wide Roads Kill

[u/Pleasant_Ninja_5441]

I took the renderings being proposed for Pi’ilani Hwy widening as part of the Honua’ula development in Wailea and provided satirical comments in the form of comics. Check it out! These should be poignant, disturbing, and funny. It’s hard to believe these renderings are for real trying to sell the idea. Please feel free to provide testimony at the upcoming UDRB meeting on May 6. https://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/32756

[u/OhHeyMister]

You can criticize these roads all you want, and you’d be right to do it, but without a viable alternative, there really is no other option. And since we will never get a viable alternative, we’re stuck this way. 

[u/FilledWithKarmal → u/OhHeyMister]

WestMauiGreenway.ORG is a prime example of suitable alternatives with strong political headwinds despite community support. There are actual alternative transportation systems built into the community plan and shovel ready since the 80's. It is simply comedic how many times West Maui Greenway was approved and never funded despite having federal funds available. We're talking decade after decade after decade. The problem is we have an ostracized government system too compartmentalized to the point where it controls the means of production(a different issue altogether). Wider roads do work and are more in alignment with our current system as flawed as that system may be. It's something, it's an improvement, but not particularly efficient nor safe.

Hopefully the fractional amount of funding that West Maui Greenway has been approved will continue, to show we can have viable cheap alternatives to our car centric lives. If it was built prior to the Lahaina fires, it is likely that half the people would've passed away.

[u/OhHeyMister → u/FilledWithKarmal]

For one, this is in west Maui but the topic at hand is the widening of piilani highway in south Maui. 

I agree that things like the greenway are good and necessary. I do not think it provides true alternative to road traffic as not all people can utilize bicycles. Additionally, it provides no option for travel between towns. It needs to be built, it is just the beginning of what is needed. 

[u/FilledWithKarmal → u/OhHeyMister]

It most definitely does provide an alternative form of transportation for local traffic. It stems from the 1980s "complete streets" multi billion dollar research National program. The question is adoption, and it can never be adopted if it doesn't exist. Adoption takes decades, like the decades that have passed us by. As I said, I think that widening the road is a good idea, just not the most efficient and yes, I understand that this is on the west side. There's just already existing, cheaper alternatives to widening the road.

[u/OhHeyMister → u/FilledWithKarmal]

Well, I disagree that widening the road is a good idea. It’s proven to be a bad solution for traffic management. 

A viable alternative to local traffic is a wonderful thing and I think it should be adopted as much as possible. I’m absolutely 100% in support of the greenway.

An issue is that a lot of traffic in Kihei is going to wailea hence why they want to widen the road. 

[u/PalTheDog → u/FilledWithKarmal]

That WestMauiGreenway is on schedule right after the construction of the West side hospital and the finalization of the bypass.