Honolulu City Council Policy Resolutions

(Link to original Word Processing Version)

03-35, CD1



ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS ON THE BUDGETING AND CONSTRUCTION OF TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECTS.

    WHEREAS, in Resolution 97-288, CD1, adopted on October 15, 1997, the Council found that in numerous cities on the mainland, the installation of traffic calming devices were highly effective in improving neighborhood livability by mitigating the impacts of vehicular traffic on residential neighborhoods while producing quantifiable reductions in pedestrian and vehicular accidents; and

    WHEREAS, in the Resolution, the Council also found that a variety of traffic calming schemes can be implemented at relatively low cost; and

    WHEREAS, in the Resolution, the Council requested the Department of Transportation Services to, in part, develop a program to implement traffic calming measures to increase safety in residential neighborhoods on Oahu; and

    WHEREAS, traffic calming devices are just one tool, in addition to police enforcement, Community Traffic Awareness Programs (C-TAPs), and traffic signs and signalization, that is used by the Department in deterring speeding in residential areas; and

    WHEREAS, traffic calming devices are meant to be evaluated for their effectiveness in providing a deterrence to speeding, and improved pedestrian and vehicular circulation following the installation of such devices; and

    WHEREAS, since passage of Resolution 97-288, CD1, various traffic calming projects have been constructed around the island; and

    WHEREAS, the traffic calming program has been considerably more costly than originally anticipated by the Council and the projects themselves have generated as much community ire as support; and



WHEREAS, the City's current fiscal constraints make it imperative that the Council temporarily halt the funding and construction of proposed City traffic calming projects and reconsider the efficacy and cost effectiveness of such projects on traffic in Oahu's neighborhoods; now, therefore,

    BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that the Council hereby establishes a moratorium, for a period of two years from the date of the adoption of this Resolution, on the budgeting and construction by the City and County of Honolulu of traffic calming projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the moratorium shall apply:

1. To all capital budgets and budget proposals for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 for the planning, design, or construction of new traffic calming projects.

2. To projects that have received appropriations in previous fiscal years.

a. Projects for which planning or design activities have been funded as of the date of adoption of this Resolution may be completed within the previous appropriations but no additional funds for planning, design, or construction shall be proposed, approved, or allotted for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.

b. Projects for which construction activities have been funded as of the date of adoption of this Resolution may be completed within the previous appropriations only if such funds have been encumbered before July 1, 2003. Otherwise, construction shall not commence during this moratorium.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council finds that the traffic calming projects listed in Attachment A may be completed within the previous appropriations for those projects, this moratorium notwithstanding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department shall report to the Council 180 days after the adoption of this Resolution on the effectiveness of each traffic calming device that has been operational for at least one year, such review to include community feedback; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the above report, the Department shall report to the Council quarterly on any additional traffic calming device subsequently becoming operational for one year; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event traffic calming devices are proposed to be removed, an alternate traffic safety method must be identified if and when a removal occurs, and if there is an alternative found, that it first be implemented as a demonstration project; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during the two year period of the moratorium, the Council and the administration shall jointly develop a Traffic Safety Program for Oahu, which shall describe the respective roles of the Council, the Administration, and the community in notifying the public of a safety issue, identifying root problems, evaluating the technical and engineering feasibility of alternatives, gathering public input, obtaining cost estimates, and moving toward decision-making; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing the Traffic Safety Program, the Council and the Administration shall consult other communities to identify successful models of traffic safety programs; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to the Mayor, the Managing Director, the Director of Transportation Services, the Director of Design and Construction, the Director of Budget and Fiscal Services, the Fire Chief, the Chief of Police, the Director of Emergency Services and the Superintendent of Education.

                         INTRODUCED BY:

                         Charles Djou

                         Donovan Dela Cruz

                         Nestor Garcia

                         Ann Kobayashi

                         Gary Okino

                         Romy M. Cachola

                         Rod Tam
DATE OF INTRODUCTION:
                        

February 5, 2003         
Honolulu, Hawaii                    Councilmembers

(OCS/040303/ct)