In May, HBL convened a group of elected officials, HPD officers, City transportation engineers and planners, community organizations, businesses, and residents to talk about how to make our streets safer for those that walk and bike. It was tragedy that brought them together.
A meeting in Pearl City where 86-year-old Cecila Palaraon was struck and killed crossing Lehua Avenue. Another in Kaneohe where a young mother, Laney Salva, was struck and killed crossing Kamehameha Highway.
The meetings were part of HBL’s Solution Meetings program that brings people together to work to turn the preventable tragedy of lost life into something positive by taking engineering, enforcement and education actions to make the street safe and welcoming for walking and bicycling.
The Pearl City and Kaneohe meetings had as many great ideas for solutions and participants. The solutions spanned from more education for commercial drivers, to increased speeding enforcement, to road diets and pedestrian safety medians. While it was just the beginning of the conversation, things have been set in motion. The City Department of Transportation Services has committed to studying a road diet on Lehua Avenue. And the City (both DTS and Department of Design and Construction) have committed to looking at all available Complete Streets improvements (such roundabouts, bike lanes, pedestrian safety medians) as part of the planned Kamehameha Hwy resurfacing.
HBL is going to work hard to ensure that some of the identified solutions are implemented. If you live or are connected to either of these communities, please get involved to help make us make safer walking and biking streets a reality. Contact our Advocacy Director Daniel, daniel@hbl.org, to get involved.
