Maui County Planning Update - Spring 2021
Community Plan Updates
By Jennifer Maydan and Kate Blystone, Maui County Planning Department Long Range Division
The Maui County Council has reviewed the Policy Framework and Implementation and Monitoring sections of the Draft West Maui Community Plan. Next they will review the Growth Framework, including community plan maps. We are looking forward to final adoption by ordinance in the summer.
The South Maui Community Plan update process continues to be challenging and inspiring in equal measure. We completed the public engagement component of drafting a new vision for South Maui and are busily writing a hybrid vision to inspire the community for years to come. We also hosted our first Facebook live Transportation Town Hall, combining the magic of Zoom and social media. The town hall was well attended in real time, but the best part was all the people who were able to access the same presentation after the meeting was over. We were able to reach so many more people by hosting this meeting in the virtual world than we ever could have in the real world. With vaccinations on the rise, we are trying to figure out how to combine the best parts of virtual engagement with the best parts of in-person engagement for the next phases of this update. Head over to https://southmaui.wearemaui.org/ to learn more about all we've been up to!
Public art and road safety improvements near Lihikai Elementary School
By Lauren Armstrong, Executive Director Maui MPO
To beautify the area, encourage walking and biking, and improve road safety, the Healthy Eating + Active Living Coalition, the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization, County of Maui Department of Public Works, County of Maui Department of Planning, and Maui artist Matthew Agcolicol created a “Quick Build” Demonstration Project at the intersection of Papa Avenue and Māʻalo Street in March 2021.
Funding for the project was provided by the Hawai‘i Department of Health. Quick Build projects in this funding round aim to promote active transportation near schools where 50% or more of students qualify for SNAP-Ed free or reduced-price lunches.
About 200 residents and Lihikai School staff, teachers and families participated in a survey last fall and shared their experiences using the Papa Avenue - Māʻalo Street intersection. Public input was instrumental in the project design and street beautification and will also inform long-term improvements by the County.
The Quick Build project includes the following improvements:
- Installation of bike and pedestrian crossings to make the area safer for people walking, biking, and driving in line with the principles of Complete Streets and the Vision Zero Maui initiative to end serious injuries and traffic fatalities;
- Reverse-in angled parking for improved driver visibility, easier loading and unloading, accessible parking and curb ramps, and traffic calming. This will be the first reverse-in angled parking on Maui – a proven design that promotes safety and has been adopted by multiple municipalities; and
- Street art by Maui artist Matthew Agcolicol to help beautify the intersection. Agcolicol’s design honors the area’s rich plantation history and gives a nod to the Lihikai Surfers.
The team looks forward to creating future Quick Build projects in other parts of Maui to beautify and activate public spaces.
Vision Zero Maui Action Plan nears completion
Related to road safety, the Vision Zero Maui initiative aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. The Vision Zero Maui Action Plan has been approved by the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board and now heads to the Maui County Council for review and approval.
Together with the County of Maui and the Healthy Eating + Active Living Coalition, the Plan is the culmination of a year-long process of public engagement to inform and solicit feedback on roadway safety concerns and opportunities.
“We analyzed crash data and gathered public input to inform the seven Vision Zero priorities in the Action Plan,” said Lauren Armstrong, Executive Director of Maui MPO. “This collective effort is community-driven and focuses on promoting health and safety.”
Vision Zero Maui priorities are:
- Eliminate impaired driving
- Create safe speeds
- Eliminate distracted driving
- Create a safety culture
- Build safe streets for everyone
- Institutionalize vision zero
- Improve data to support decisions
Working with the Maui Police Department and County Department of Public Works, an initial action will be to mitigate speeding through a public education campaign. The Vision Zero Action Plan is available at: www.mauimpo.org