Mayor Hannemann is committed to improving pedestrian safety throughout Oahu.  He has brought together various city departments to work on this endeavor.  Staff has worked diligently to research trends and best practices to determine where to focus our resources.

We have decided upon a multi-modal approach involving enforcement, education and upgraded signalization.  The highlights are:

Upgrade Pedestrian Signals At Various Locations

Utilize funding in a FY 08 capital budget line-item and future capital budgets to install LED countdown signals at the city’s 525 intersections that have pedestrian signals. 

The administration requested $420,000 in Bill 31(2007) for this line-item for FY 08 and the Council doubled the amount to $820,000 in the CD1 version.

Countdown signals will be installed at a rate of approximately 105 countdown signals per year for five years at a cost of approximately $4,000 per intersection.

Undertake two pilot projects.

Install an in-pavement, illuminated crosswalk with flashing warning signs to be located mid-block on North King Street near Kalihi-Palama Post Office.  See attachment.

Install an overhead, flashing, pedestrian warning signal at a mid-block crosswalk located on South King Street by Times Market.  See attachment.

Use data from these two types of illuminated, mid-block crosswalks to guide future improvements to mid-block crossings.

Repaint to international standards outdated, two-line and faded international standard crosswalks as resources allow. 

Begin in Kalihi excepting those roads subject to upcoming road repair work. 

Finalize re-striping master plan for other city areas.

Remaining available funds each fiscal year will be used to replace faded or damaged pedestrian warning signs with high-visibility, fluorescent, yellow-green signs and for the production of public service pedestrian safety education announcements and other educational materials.

Support HPD’s on-going enforcement campaign.

HPD is extending enforcement efforts to include plainclothes officers stationed at strategic locations. 

According to Lt. Wocjik, HPD’s pedestrian safety coordinator, there has been only one pedestrian fatality since Phase Four of HPD’S campaign, the enforcement segment, began on March 6, 2007.

Although there have still been injuries to pedestrians since the enforcement phase began, these have declined from about four daily to four per week.

Support HPD, the Department of Transportation and/or AARP’s educational campaigns.

By producing Public Service Announcements explaining the three stages of cross-walk signalization emphasizing that a flashing red light means Do Not Start To Cross. 

Involve the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Senior Programs and the Department of Community Services’ Elderly Programs in pedestrian safety education.

Support the 2007 AARP National Day of Service, May 10, 2007.

Partner with the state to develop a statewide pedestrian safety implementation plan based on in-depth, empirical data verified by traffic engineering analysis.

 

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CITY WILL HOLD KALIHI ECONOMIC SUMMIT
ON APRIL 26

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development will hold an economic summit on revitalizing Kalihi from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 at the Farrington High School auditorium.

           “This is just one in a series of Kalihi Pride events we’re planning over the next few months,” said Hannemann.

            “Kalihi is one of Oahu’s oldest neighborhoods, and many, many people in today’s Honolulu have roots there,” said Hannemann, who grew up in Kalihi. “For many people, it was their family’s first home in Hawaii, as it was for my family.

            “Kalihi remains a fascinating, diverse mix of cultures, tastes and languages, but it could use an infusion of economic horsepower,” said Hannemann. “We hope to follow the model of our highly successful Chinatown Summit in June last year, which produced a wealth of great ideas and actions.”

            City Economic Development Director Ann Chung, said, “The goal of the Mayor’s Kalihi Economic Summit is to bring residents, businesses, community leaders, private organizations and the City together to come up with practical, concrete ideas to make Kalihi a better place to live, work and raise families.”

            The summit will draw a wide range of participants, from the Kalihi Business Association and Kamehameha Schools to the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.
           
           
            The summit will begin at 4 p.m. with Flavors of Kalihi, a sampling of heavy pupu dishes from many well-known Kalihi eateries.

            Following that, Mayor Hannemenn will present the keynote speech, discussing the City’s commitment to revitalizing Kalihi and will be followed by presentations on:

All interested business persons and community organizations are invited to attend the Mayor’s Kalihi Economic Summit, but registration is requested.
To register, call 237-3678, e-mail info@kalihisummit.org or visit www.kalihisummit.org.
April 23 is the registration deadline.

Contact:
Bill Brennan, 527-2968
Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767

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GRAFFITI PAINTOUT KICKS OFF ‘KALIHI PRIDE’ EVENTS

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann will join youth groups and community leaders in a graffiti paintout Saturday to launch a series of  “Kalihi Pride” events. The paintout begins at 9 a.m. at Song’s Auto Body, 1229 North King Street.
                       
             
         Contact:
            Bill Brennan, 527-6928
            Mark Matsunaga 527-5767