Mayor Caldwell moves forward Kamehameha IV Road “diet”

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, January 13, 2015

Kalihi – Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that the rehabilitation of Kamehameha IV Road in Kalihi Valley will include a “road diet” to incorporate Complete Streets features which will make the major thoroughfare safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons with disabilities.

“Complete Streets is about public safety,” said Mayor Caldwell.  “With two schools and a major park connected by the road, Kamehameha IV is regularly used by vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, especially keiki.  At the urging of the community, we decided to revisit the striping plans for the road to make Kalihi Valley safer for all.”

Mayor Caldwell was joined by the directors of the departments of Design and Construction, Transportation Services, and Emergency Services, Honolulu Police Department, representatives of the Honolulu City Council, Neighborhood Board members, nearby school administrators, and officials from AARP, Kokua Kalihi Valley, KVIBE Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange, BikeShare Hawaii, the Hawaii Bicycling League, and others.

"Kokua Kalihi Valley applauds Mayor Caldwell’s decision to make Kam IV Road safe and efficient for all of our community members, whether they are on foot, in their car, on the bus, or on bikes,” said Kokua Kalihi Valley Quality Officer Jack Christenot.  “The Kam IV Road repaving project will encourage a healthy, active, and engaged community."

“This Kamehameha IV Road project is a big win for the community,” said Hawaii Bicycling League President Chad Taniguchi. “It means the keiki of Kaewai Elementary will have a safer walk to school, the middle school students of Dole Intermediate will be able to safely bike to school, the youth of Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange will have a safer bike ride to KVIBE, and the driver heading home to Kalihi Valley Homes will have a safer drive. We applaud the Caldwell Administration for embracing this community driven initiative that will result in a safer street for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. We applaud the Caldwell Administration for embracing this community driven initiative.”

Dole Intermediate School, Kaewai Elementary School, and Kalihi Valley District Park are all located on heavily-trafficked Kamehameha IV Road.  The existing road has two lanes of traffic in each direction and the proposed layout calls for one lane in each direction with a center turn lane and bike lanes, with a goal to maintain on-street parking.

The above diagram shows what Kamehameha IV Road will look like when finished, using the example of Keolu Drive.

Kamehameha IV Road will not be the first existing road project Mayor Caldwell has revisited and enhanced with Complete Streets components.  Two “Barns Dance” crosswalks were installed on Kalakaua Avenue, speed humps were installed on Papailoa Street, and Ulune Street underwent a road diet similar to Kamehameha IV Road.

Bike lane projects include the Civic Center Multi-use Path, Date Street Bike Path Restoration, Kealaolu Shoulder Widening, King Street Protected Bike Lane, Kuala Street, Waialae Avenue, and Wailua Street.  Sharrows were installed on Coyne Street, Kapahulu Avenue, Varsity Place, and Young Street.

Walk audits have been completed at 20 future rail stations as well as in Kalihi, University, Kapahulu, Nuuanu, Papipi Street (Ewa Beach Elementary), and Mililani.

The Honolulu City Council adopted a Complete Streets ordinance in 2012 that requires city roadways to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons with disabilities.  For more information on Complete Streets, please visit http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/complete-streets-faq.

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