Maui Bicycling League promotes coordinated transportation plan
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The Maui Bicycling League is calling on state and county officials to coordinate nearly $600 million in planned and potential West Maui transportation investments to create a connected network for motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit users.
The organization discussed the projects during a community bicycle ride and meeting Sept. 12 in Lahaina. Participants included Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin and Sne Patel, a candidate for the state House District 14 seat.
The ride took participants along the recently reopened portion of Front Street before a discussion at Fork & Salad Lahaina. Projects the league is particularly interested in include the Honoapiilani Highway coastal realignment, Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C, safety and multimodal improvements along Keawe Street, Lower Honoapiilani Road improvements and the West Maui Greenway.
Based on publicly available estimates and announced funding, the projects represent approximately $600 million in planned and potential investment, according to the league.
The organization said West Maui is facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity shaped by climate change and recovery from the August 2023 wildfires, and it's critical that county, state and federal officials coordinate the work to prevent the projects from becoming disconnected pieces of infrastructure.
"Until we put these projects and their funding together, most community members do not realize the magnitude of the transportation investment being made in West Maui," Maui Bicycling League Chair and co-founder Saman Dias said. "True recovery requires us to look forward, not simply replace what existed before. We must use this opportunity to implement Complete Streets and Safe Streets for All principles and create a connected network incorporating protected bicycle and pedestrian facilities, safe crossings, public transportation and the West Maui Greenway."
Participants in the Sept. 12 bike ride emphasized the importance of learning from what happened and ensuring that significant federal, state and county investments are coordinated and put to the best possible use.
The federal government awarded Maui County $15.43 million through the RAISE program for the first 5.25-mile phase of the West Maui Greenway between the Lahaina Civic Center and Launiupoko Beach Park. Funding has not been secured for all remaining phases.
The Honoapiilani Highway coastal realignment has received a $23 million federal allocation, while Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C is estimated to cost between $220 million and $250 million. That project includes a recently announced $100 million conditional allocation in federal disaster-recovery funding.
The Keawe Street project received a $13.4 million federal Safe Streets and Roads for All award for improvements that include safer crossings, pedestrian refuge islands, roundabouts and buffered bicycle lanes. An additional $3.35 million conditional disaster-recovery allocation has been identified for multimodal construction along Keawe Street.
The league is recommending that the state and county establish a West Maui transportation coordination team, incorporate Complete Streets principles into the projects and develop a long-term plan to fund and complete the entire West Maui Greenway.
The organization also supports creating hubs that connect walking, bicycling, public transit and shared transportation services, along with infrastructure that could provide alternative evacuation and emergency-access routes when Honoapiilani Highway is blocked.
"The greenway should not be viewed only as a recreational trail," Dias said. "It can become an alternative transportation spine and a critical emergency route, supporting residents evacuating by bicycle or on foot, emergency access and the movement of supplies when the highway is blocked."
Paltin said sustained coordination among the county, state and community would be needed as the projects advance through planning, environmental review, funding and construction.
The league also expressed its gratitude to the Hawaii Department of Transportation for responding to the organization's request to clear storm debris from the bicycle lanes along Honoapiilani Highway before the Sept. 12 ride.
"When we contacted the department about possible storm debris in the bicycle lanes, its team acted quickly. That type of communication and cooperation makes a meaningful difference for the safety of people bicycling on our highways," Dias said.
For more information about the Maui Bicycling League, visit mauibike.org.