
7/27/23 The State of Our Roads and Highways
Season 2023 Episode 20 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
EPISODE 2403
Does it seem like our roads and highways are constantly in need of repair? Why do road upgrades seem to take so long?
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Insights on PBS Hawaiʻi is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i

7/27/23 The State of Our Roads and Highways
Season 2023 Episode 20 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Does it seem like our roads and highways are constantly in need of repair? Why do road upgrades seem to take so long?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipTHEY HELP TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO, BUT DRIVING ALONG HAWAII’S ROADS AND HIGHWAYS ISN’T ALWAYS A SMOOTH RIDE.
FROM POTHOLES TO SPEED BUMPS TO SEEMINGLY NEVER‑ENDING ROAD WORK, WHAT’S BEING DONE TO IMPROVE QUALITY, SAFETY AND TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT OUR ISLAND THOROUGHFARES.
PLUS, HOW ARE WE PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE?
TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.
¶¶ ¶¶ WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.
I'M YUNJI DE NIES.
HAWAII’S ROADS NEED AN UPGRADE.
WHETHER YOU DRIVE, BIKE, RIDE THE BUS, OR EVEN WALK, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE EXPERIENCED THIS FIRSTHAND.
ACCORDING TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS, HAWAII HAS THE WORST ROADS IN THE COUNTRY WITH 69% OF THE STATE’S MAJOR ROADS IN “POOR OR MEDIOCRE” CONDITION.
THAT MAKES FOR NOT JUST A BUMPY RIDE, BUT AN EXPENSIVE ONE TOO!
THAT SAME REPORT FOUND THAT DRIVERS SPENDING AN AVERAGE OF $818 PER PERSON EVERY YEAR, TOTALING $772 MILLION DOLLARS, ON EXTRA FUEL, WEAR AND TEAR, AND ADDED REPAIRS.
SO WHAT’S BEING DONE TO MAKE TRAVELING OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS SMOOTHER AND SAFER?
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE FOCUSING ON TONIGHT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.
YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.
NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.
ED SNIFFEN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
PREVIOUSLY, HE WAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DOT’S HIGHWAYS DIVISION AND HAS A BACKGROUND IN ENGINEERING.
JORDAN MOLINA IS DIRECTOR OF MAUI COUNTY’S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND JOINS US VIA ZOOM.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE DEPARTMENT, HE WAS A CIVIL ENGINEER IN MAUI COUNTY’S DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND A PROJECT ENGINEER WITH T.J. GOMES TRUCKING COMPANY.
MICHAEL CHONG IS PRESIDENT OF THE AUTOMOTIVE BODY & AMP PAINTING ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII AS WELL AS PRESIDENT OF UNIBODY AUTOTECH COLLISION REPAIR CENTER.
WE DO WANT TO ADD, WE DID REACH OUT TO THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, A REPRESENATIVE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SHOCKING IF I THINK ABOUT OVER $800 THAT DRIVERS ARE SPENDING ON AVERAGE.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THOSE IN YOUR BUSINESS?
>> MAJORITY OF OUR BUSINESS IS COLLISION REPAIR AND ALIGNMENTS.
CLIENTS COME IN, BELIEVE THEY HIT A POTHOLE OR CURB DAMAGE OR HOWEVER IT MAY BE, MOST OF IT'S TIME LOOK AT TIRE WEAR, DAMAGE, SUSPENSION DAMAGE, WHEEL DAMAGE AFTER ALIGNMENT DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG.
>>Yunji: DO YOU THINK THE QUALITY OF OUR ROADS IS ADDING TO THAT.
>> I BELIEVE SO.
YES.
>>Yunji: GET TO THE GUY IN CHARGE OF THOSE.
ED SNIFFEN I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON THAT 69%.
HEAR POOR AND MEDIOCRE CONDITION, DOESN'T SOUND SO GREAT.
>> IT DOESN'T.
REALLY, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY WEIGH IT, RANKING IN THE NATION DOESN'T SOUND SO GREAT EITHER.
THAT BEING SAID, TRYING TO CORRECT THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SINCE 2014, PUTTING OVER $100 MILLION INTO OUR ROADS EVER YEAR.
KEEP REPEATING AND RECONSTRUCTING FOR BETTER ROADS FOR EVERYTHING.
WE CHANGED EVERYTHING.
IN THE PAST, RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROADS INCH HALF TOP OF THE ROAD AND PAYMENT EVERYTHING BLACK.
PUT ANOTHER LAYER OF AC AND CALL IT GOOD.
THAT WAS FAST.
MADE THINGS LOOK GOOD FOR A WHILE.
BUT THAT CRACKING AND RUNNING OCCURRED VERY QUICKLY RIGHT AFTERWARDS.
DECIDED FROM 2014 AND '15 TIME FRAME TO ENSURE WE TOUCH THE ROAD, WE WOULD RECONSTRUCT EVERYTHING.
REASON YOU SEE CRACKING AND RUTTING ON ROADWAYS AND POTHOLING BASE LAYER, BELOW THE AC OR BELOW ASPHALT, THAT FAILED.
IF YOU DON'T CORRECT THAT, THE ROAD IS GO TO CRACK AGAIN IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
RECONSTRUCTED EVERYTHING.
DUG DOWN.
TOOK OUT BUSINESS LAYER RECONSTRUCT THAT RECONSTRUCTED ASPHALT THAT EVERYBODY DRIVES ON BETTER MATERIAL.
INSTEAD OF USINGS HIGHWAY MIX 4 IN THE PAST, POLYMER AND TRAIN ASPHALT OR MATRIX ASPHALT LASTS 25 YEARS SO WE DON'T HAVE CHEAP CHASING THAT ROADWAY AN REPAIRING IT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.
PAVEMENT LAST A LONG TIME.
>>Yunji: BEEN DOING HAD A SINCE 2014.
WHY THEN ARE SO POORLY RANKED?
A LOT OF LEAD TIME.
NINE YEARS AGO.
THAT THIS WOULD HAVE STARTED.
A LOT OF ROADS TO COVER.
DOES IT TAKE THAT LONG.
>> >> IT DOES.
LOOK AT IT, WE HAVE STATE OWNS 2500 LANE MILES OF ROAD.
THAT IS JUST THIRD OF THE ROADS IN THE STATE.
WE TAKE ON 67% OF THE TRAFFIC.
SO JUST THAT 2500 LANE MILES, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON, SINCE 2015 TIME FRAME, REPAVED ABOUT 700‑MILES.
EVERY TIME WE START LOOKING AT ROADWAY, OR PRIORITIZING ROADWAYS LOOK AT TWO THINGS OFF THE TOP.
CONDITION OF THE ROAD DEFINITELY.
ALSO VOLUMES.
ONE OF THE FIRST ROADS WE HIT WAIMANU VIADUCT.
H‑1.
$80 MILLION PROJECT.
MONEY GOES QUICKLY START RECONSTRUCTING ROADWAYS MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO EVERYBODY.
ENSURING THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAS ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE WORK.
THAT IS HOW WE FOCUSED ON EVERYTHING.
WE JUST WENT SCHEMATICALLY FROM, PALI, LIKELIKE, NIMITZ.
HIGHER VOLUME ROUTES.
>> AND LOWER VOLUME ROUTES AS WELL.
>>Yunji: GO YOU TO MAUI.
TELL US ABOUT THE STRATEGY YOU'RE EMPLOYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE ROADS IN YOUR COUNTY?
>> YOU KNOW, LIKE DIRECTOR MENTIONED, RESURFACING TO RECONSTRUCTION, IS SIGNIFICANT, NOT ONLY IMPROVEMENT IN THE APPROACH TO IMPROVING QUALITY, BUT INTO THE BUDGET AS WELL.
BECAUSE TALKING UP TO COST TO RECONSTRUCT ROADS AND RESTORE THAT UNDERLYING STRUCTURE SO THAT THE PAVEMENT BETTER CONDITION LONGER.
SECOND PART IS LOOKING AT PRESERVATION PROGRAM TOO SO THAT WE CAN EXTEND LIFE ONCE WE BUILD THE STRUCTURE GOOD, HAVE THE PAVEMENT SURFACE GOOD, HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY OF MAINTAINING THAT OVERALL PAVEMENT STRUCTURE OVER THE LONG RUN.
THAT'S APPROACH THAT THE COUNTY HAS COMMITTED TO IN DOING MORE PAVEMENT PRESERVATION OF THE ROADS THAT WE DO RECONSTRUCT TO EXTEND THAT LIFE MORE COST‑EFFECTIVELY.
>>Yunji: WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.
WHAT CAUSE THIS ROAD DAMAGE TO BEGIN WITH?
IS THERE SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT OUR STATE?
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN A BIT.
I'M SURE THAT THAT FACTORS IN HOW YOU DECIDE WHAT TO PRIORITIZE WHAT TO DO.
IS THERE SOMETHING IN OUR TOPOGRAPHY, IN OUR WEATHER, WHAT IS CAUSING THIS THAT MAKES HAWAII UNIQUE OR IS THERE NOTHING?
>> YOU THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE, UV BREAKS EVERYTHING EVERYTHING DOWN FOR ASPHALT.
ONE OF THE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO BREAKDOWNS OF ROADWAYS.
IN REALITY, IT'S NOT GOING BACK TO RECONSTRUCT ROADWAYS.
ROADS WERE BUILT IN THE SIXTIES BASED ON A VOLUME SET AT THAT TIME.
FOR H‑1, QUARTER THAT I TALKED ABOUT WAIMALU DESIGNED TO 60,000 VEHICLES A DAY.
270,000 THROUGH THEIR AREA.
CERTAIN LEVEL OF TRUCK.
BIGGER TRUCKS GOING THROUGH THAT AREA NOW.
LEFT THAT PAVEMENT IN THE CONDITION IT WAS FROM 1960, IT WOULD FAIL EVERY YEAR.
ALL OF THE ROADS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WERE BUILT BASED ON THAT ORIGINAL VOLUME AND ORIGINAL LOADING.
WE GOT TO RECONSTRUCT IT TO ENSURE WE'RE SERVICING HIGHER VOLUMES, HIGHER VEHICLES EVERY DAY.
>>Yunji: AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE CAUGHT UP.
>> RIGHT NOW, PLAN IS FOUR MORE YEARS BEFORE THE STATE'S SYSTEM IS IN GOOD REPAIR.
REALLY, GIVE THE COUNTIES AND JORDAN A LOT OF CREDIT.
LIKE I SAID, THEY OWN THE BULK ROADS.
THEY GET LOWEST AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
SO THE STATE IN GENERAL KEEPS ABOUT 70% OF THE FEDERAL FUND THAT IS COMES IN.
AND DISTRIBUTES 30% TO THE COUNTIES.
THEY HAVE MORE ROADS BASED ON THE VOLUME.
WHOLE INTENTION MAKE SURE STATE CATCHES UP ON SYSTEM TIME ALL OF YOUR ROADS ARE NO BETTER CONDITIONS.
>> DON'T HAVE TO KEEP CHASING THAT RECONSTRUCTION.
SO MORE OF FEDERAL FUNDING CAN GO TO THE COUNTIES NOW.
THEY OWN MORE OF THE ROADS.
THAT THE PUSH THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOING TOWARDS.
FOUR YEARS, ANTICIPATE THAT SHIFT, FEDERAL FUNDS, TOWARDS COUNTIES.
>>Yunji: THAT HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD USE MORE MONEY.
HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRIORITIZE WHICH ROADS TO FIX?
>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE VARIOUS METHOD PLANNING EFFORTS.
FOR MAUI IN PARTICULAR, WE NOT RECENTLY TEN YEARS OR SO, ESTABLISHED OUR OWN METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
THAT BECAME LEAD AGENCY THAT DRIVES PROGRAMMING ALL THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS WE GET EVERY YEAR FOR ROAD PROJECTS.
DRIVES SCHEDULE A LOT.
>>Yunji: BACK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THOSE ROADS DOING TO OUR VEHICLES.
KNOW WHEN WE HIT A BIG POTHOLE.
DRIVE AROUND IT.
HIT MANY TIME, CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON A CAR AND WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DO YOU SEE?
WE KNOW THE BIG ONE.
YOUR ALIGNMENT IS OFF.
OVER TIME,.
>> OVER TIME, CARS TODAY, THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE POINT THAT REALIGNMENTS ARE KEY.
TALKING ABOUT ROTATING TIRE.
OVER TIME, HITTING SMALL BUMP THROUGH YOUR NATURAL PROGRESSION OF YOUR SAME TRAVEL DISTANCE, AND YOU DON'T GET THAT ALIGNMENT CHECKED, IT'S GOING TO EITHER WEAR THE TIRE OFF MORE AND OVER TIME, GOING TO ACTUALLY WEAR COMPONENTS OF THE SUSPENSION.
BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MORE SENSITIVE TODAY, PLUS WE HAVE MORE EVs ON THE ROAD.
WHEN YOU HAVE EVs, BATTERY WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION DIFFERENT.
SO THEN IT CAUSES DIFFERENT DAMAGES OVER TIME FOR SUSPENSION AS WELL.
WE WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN MORE OFTEN.
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU, I BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOUR TIE RODS, ARE WORN OR JOINTS ARE WORN, ALMOST LIKE HAVING CARTILAGE IN THE SUSPENSION PIECE.
IF IT'S PROPER, IT'S SUPPOSED TO, ENGINEERING OF IT SUPPOSED TO WORK PROPERLY.
BUT OVER TIME, IF YOU'RE HAVING CONSTANT BUMPS, NOT CAPABLE OF, CARTILAGE.
WHEEL THAN OTHER SIDE.
MIGHT DETERIORATE FASTER.
PULLING TO ONE SIDE OF THE OTHER.
OTHER THINGS THEY CAN LOOK AT.
THAT MIGHT CAUSE ACCIDENT.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT SEEING AS IT GOES INTO PLAY TOO.
>>Yunji: INTERESTED WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT EVs.
NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE.
WHAT MAKES THOSE VEHICLES DIFFERENT?
SO MUCH FOLKS SWITCH TO GO THOSE KIND OF CARS, WHAT SHOULD THINK SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR.
>> WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING OUT FOR?
CAN'T SAY, HEY, AVOID THIS STREET MORE BUMPS OR MORE OF A CURVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I BROUGHT UP WHOLE EV STANDARD BECAUSE OF THE FACT CARS ENGINEERED DIFFERENTLY.
CENTER OF GRAVITY HEAVIER CENTER OF THE VEHICLE.
GAS AIR FUEL VEHICLES, WHEN YOU LOOKING AT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TYPE OF VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUSPENSION UP FRONT.
EVERYTHING IN THE BACK IS TRAILING.
THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT POTHOLES, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT'S DESIGNED TO HAVE BUILT WHERE THE ENGINE, SUBFRAME, SUSPENSION IS ALL ONE PIECE, LITTLE BIT MORE DURABLE.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOK THE EV, WHETHER IT'S SINGLE OR DUAL REMOTE OR BATTERY IN THE CENTER, WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION IS DIFFERENT.
EFFECTS WHEN YOU HIT POTHOLES OR DON'T WANT TO SAY BAD ROADS BUMPY ROADS PER SE.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE'VE BEEN SEEING AS WE PROGRESS AND DO MORE REPAIRS ON EV VEHICLES.
>>Yunji: SO INTERESTING.
MICHAEL BEING VERY DIPLOMATIC.
I WANT TO GO BACK.
>> I KNOW.
THAT'S WHY I INVITED HIM ON TONIGHT.
I DO WANT TO GO BACK THAT 69%, POOR OR MEDIOCRE CONDITION.
WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?
>> WHEN WE REPORT OUR ROADS TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS REPORT IT EVERY YEAR, REPORT IT BASED ON OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS REQUIRES TO US REPORT IT BASED ON RIDABILITY, BUMPINESS THROUGHOUT A MILE STRETCH OF THE ROADWAY, CRACKING, AND RUTTING.
BASED ON ALL THREE OF THOSE CRITERIA.
IF WE RANKED EVERYTHING BASED ON RIDABILITY OR BUMPINESS THROUGHOUT, ALL OF THE ROADS, WOULD BE ROUGH.
ALL OF OUR ROADS WOULD REQUIRE MORE REPAIR, MORE OFTEN.
TO GET TO THAT SMOOTHNESS COEFFICIENT, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GOOD IN ALL AREAS.
IN GENERAL, COST A LOT OF MONEY TO BUILD A SMOOTH ROAD AND KEEP IT SMOOTH.
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE CRACKING OR RUTTING.
BIG PRIORITIES.
BUILD IT SMOOTH, MAKE SURE IT'S SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE, BUT ACTUALLY, RATHER HAVE BIT OF ABRASION ON THE ROADWAY, AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE STRONG FRICTION COEFFICIENT WITH NO CRACKING OR RUTTING.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE DESIGNING IT.
RATED BASED SMOOTHNESS THROUGHOUT NATIONWIDE, OPEN OKAY CONSIDERING US 69% MEDIOCRE.
FINE WITH THAT.
IN OUR REPORTING TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS WE HAVE 30% OF OUR ROADS IN GOOD CONDITION.
4% POOR CONDITION.
REST ARE FAIR.
IMPROVING ON NUMBER WITH RECONSTRUCTION ALL THE ROADS WE DO AND FUNDS WE PUT INTO IT MIGHT WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.
WHAT YOU WERE TELLING US ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE PART OF THIS.
OBVIOUSLY, ED TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE NEW WHAT WAY SINCE 2014 REPAIRING THESE ROADS INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE THAT IS MAKING.
>> OH, YEAH.
SURE.
IT BASICALLY ‑‑ ROAD WORK WE CAN DO, VARIOUS NAMES FOR IT.
LARRY RIGHT NOW, WHAT IT DOES APPLIES WEAR SURFACE TO RENEW IN PAVEMENT SURFACE RESTORE THAT SMOOTHNESS, ALSO TO MAKE SURE IT KEEPS OUT WATER.
WATER ROAD CRACKS OPEN UP A ALLOW THE MOISTURE TO GET IN THERE.
ALLOW THE STRUCTURE TO BE COMPROMISED.
WEAR SURFACE FIVE TO TEN YEAR SCHEDULE, KEEP THE STRUCTURE IN GOOD CONDITION.
MAINTENANCE COST IS LIKE A 10TH OF DOING THE RESURFACING AND SO VERY COST EFFECTIVE GOOD YOUR ROAD IN GOOD CONDITION, STAY ON TOP OF THE MAINTENANCE, IMPROVES OUR CAPABILITY TO ENSURE WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT.
>>Yunji: SAME GIVING ROAD OIL CHANGE.
>> EXACTLY.
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THE STATE'S PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN WAS JUST TO RECONSTRUCT THE SURFACE.
EVERY YEAR, THAT REPAVING WOULD BE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.
WHICH DOESN'T WORK AFTER A WHILE BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWING WATER TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM.
AS I FIGHT TO KEEP WATER OUT OF THAT STRUCTURAL BASE.
IF WE KEEP THAT SURFACE IN GOOD CONDITION, THAT PAVEMENT STAYS IN GOOD CONDITION LONGER.
BUDGET THAT PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE MONEY IN THERE, AND I THINK ALL THE COUNTIES AND STATE ARE ALL DOING IT NOW, ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THAT REGULAR FIVE TO TEN YEAR PLAN TO KEEP THAT RIDING SURFACE IN GOOD CONDITION UNLESS YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING SAME BATTLE.
>>Yunji: SUBJECT OF MAINTENANCE.
GO TO YOU NOW.
WE GOT ROADS, ROADS WE HAVE, UNTIL ED CATCHES UP, FIVE YEARS.
STILL GOT TO DRIVE.
WHAT SHOULD A DRIVER DO SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME SEE YOU AS OFTEN?
>> AVOID POTHOLES.
I MEAN, IT'S HARD BECAUSE I LIVE IN ALA MOANA.
I THINK IT'S KONA STREET AS WELL AS GOING TO ALA MOANA, BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH BUS TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING THERE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY TRY TO REPAVE OR REBUILD THOSE ROADS, I'VE NOTICED A LOT POTHOLES COME IN.
ESPECIALLY AFTER BIG RAIN LIKE YOU SAID WHEN WATER GETS INTO THE STRUCTURE.
DETERIORATES AND BREAKS IT UP.
BUT AGAIN, WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS MUCH ALWAYS WANT TO TRY TO AVOID IT, IT MAY BE FILLED AND CORRECTED ONE DAY, NEXT WEEK, HAVE BIG RAINSTORM, COMES BACK, AND BUS GOES THROUGH, CRACKS AGAIN.
BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, WHAT TO LOOK FOR, BEST WAY I COULD SAY IS I MEAN, ALWAYS IN A RUSH.
WHAT I'VE SEEN IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE IN A RUSH, GOING THROUGH THE POTHOLE TOO QUICKLY.
AND THAT IS WHERE IT WILL CAUSE DAMAGE.
IF IT'S SIDE ROADS LIKE KONA STREET, JUST MAY BE TAKE YOUR TIME A LITTLE BIT BEST WAY I CAN SAY.
YOU CAN'T AVOID THE POTHOLES IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT.
I'VE SEEN DAMAGE OCCURS BECAUSE OF FACT THEY'RE IN A RUSH WENT THROUGH THE POTHOLE TOO QUICKLY.
>>Yunji: GOOD ADVICE.
YOU'RE A BIG PROPONENT OF SLOWING DOWN.
I WANT TO GET SOME VIEWER QUESTIONS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE KIND OF ADDRESSED THIS.
I DO WANT TO GET THIS.
LANCE IN KAILUA.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
REGARDING ASPHALT, WHY AREN'T REPAIRING ROADS PROPERLY.
DIG DEEPER TO PREVENT POTHOLES.
FEASIBLE TO REPAIR CERTAIN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS WITH CONCRETE PROLONG USAGE.
OTHER PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES IN ROAD MATERIALS THAT ARE MORE DURABLE AND COST‑EFFECTIVE.
>> BOTH.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> MAKING SURE RECONSTRUCT EVERYTHING.
NOT JUST REPAVING ON SURFACE.
RECONSTRUCT ALL THE BASE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CAN LONGER LASTING PAVEMENT.
WEARING SURFACE PORTION, ITSELF, USING MUCH BETTER MATERIALS THAN WE DID THE PAST.
POLYMER ASPHALT GIVES US 25 YEAR LIFE.
STONE MATRIX ALMOST LIKE CONCRETE IN THE MIX.
25, TO 30 YEAR LIFE.
TESTED IT IN MOANALUA AREA WHERE WE PUT IT IN 17 YEARS AGO.
HAVEN'T TOUCHED IT.
GREAT WORKS.
WE KNOW THAT WORKS.
WE ARE YOU USING MORE CONCRETE DIFFERENT AREAS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T ALLOW US TO GO WITH CONCRETE IN A LOT OF AREAS CAST CONCRETE IN PLACE.
SHUT ROADWAY DOWN FOR A WEEK VIEWERS WOULDN'T LIKE THAT.
WAIMALU VIADUCT AREA, PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS DROPPED IN NIGHTLY.
EVERY NIGHT CUT OUT PORTIONS REMOVE THE ASPHALT.
REMOVE THE BASE, RECONSTRUCT THE BASE AND DROP IN A CONCRETE PORTION IMMEDIATELY.
NEXT DAY, EVERYBODY COULD DRIVE OVER IT.
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BUMPY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T LEVELED IT BUT YOU CAN DRIVE IT.
NEXT TIME COME OUT, RELEVEL IT, GROUT IT, LOCKED IN PLACE.
2, 3 DAY WORK KEEP THE FACILITY OPEN.
VIABILITY ALTERNATIVE TO LOOK AT MORE CONCRETE ON THE SESSIONS.
>>Yunji: CLEVER WAY TO DO THAT.
LIKE THAT.
LET'S GO TO YOU.
WE DID ADDRESS AND I THINK MICHAEL BROUGHT IN UP.
ALL OF US EXPERIENCED THIS.
WHERE RAINS ONE DAY.
AND THAT POTHOLE THERE BEFORE IS RIGHT THERE AGAIN.
DID ALLUDE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE OPEN.
I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.
WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN HEAVIER RAIN WE HAVE THIS YEARS PAST.
THEN ALSO, THESE PERIODS OF DROUGHT.
I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THE CLIMATE IS AFFECTING YOUR JOB.
>> YEAH.
GOOD QUESTION.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY GO CLIMATE.
DRAINAGE.
A LOT OF THE OUR ROADS BUILT WITHOUT ANY SORT OF DRAINAGE.
COME IN AND WANT TO RECONSTRUCT THESE ROADS, YOU'RE REALLY THROWING MONEY AWAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THE DRAINAGE TOO.
THAT IS ADDITIONAL COST OF COURSE.
IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.
SO HAMPERED YOUR ABILITY TO GET EVERYTHING DONE WHEN YOU HAVE NOT JUST PAVEMENT ISSUE, BUT REALLY OVERALL ROADWAY DESIGN ISSUE BECAUSE YEAH, WE BUILT ROADS SIMPLY IN THE PAST, AS WE GOT SMARTER AND UNDERSTAND MORE, WE REALIZED WE NEED MORE MITIGATION INCORPORATED INTO THESE DESIGNS.
TO HELP PRESERVE LIFE OF OUR ROADS.
DEFINITELY.
>>Yunji: CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT HOW CLIMATE AFFECTING YOUR WORK.
>> ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN TO ENSURE WE CONSIDER CONDITIONS OF THE ROADWAYS IN EVERY PLACE WE TOUCH THEM.
CAN'T HAVE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN UNLESS YOU CONSIDER FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
EVERYTHING WE DO CONSIDERS WHAT KIND OF CLIMATE CONDITIONS WE'RE EXPECTING IN THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
GIVEN THAT, WE GET MORE EXTREME EVENTS COMING MORE OFTEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JORDAN TALKED ABOUT, DRAINAGE SUPERIMPORTANT FOR OUR SIGNS BECAUSE ALWAYS A FIGHT FOR TO US KEEP WATER OUT OF IT.
NOW, ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS WERE DESIGNED BASED ON 100 STORMS.
THAT WAS THE STANDARD.
GIVEN WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING?
THE FUTURE, WE NOW GOT TO CONSIDER IS OUR STANDARD SUBSTANDARD CONSIDERING WE HAD SIX 100 YEAR STORMS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
GIVEN WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AS WE GO FORWARD, NOW, ALL OF OUR WORK GOT TO GET BIGGER.
DRAINAGE WORK.
WATERWAYS GOT TO GET, HAVE MORE BIGGER HYDRAULIC OPENINGS.
DRAIN IS CONSIDERATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR ROUTES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO ENSURE WHATEVER WE PUT IN NOW CAN STAY THERE FOR A LOT LONGER.
TRANSLATES TO MORE COST NOW TO ENSURE WE HAVE FACILITIES LAST LONGER.
>>Yunji: SUBJECT OF COST.
HOW MUCH MONEY FROM BILL IN MOILIILI WANT TO KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS GOING TOWARDS HIGHWAYS?
>> WE GET THIS YEAR, 220 MILLION FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.
THAT'S THE FORMULA FUNDS COME TO US.
30% OF THAT GOES TO THE COUNTIES ENSURE THEY CAN USE IT FOR THEIR ROADWAYS.
HE ALSO FOR A LOT OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.
MONIES OVER AND ABOVE THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COMES TO US IMMEDIATELY.
JORDAN MAUI REALLY AGGRESSIVE CHASING MORE GRANTS WE GOT TWO OF THEM NOW?
$50 MILLION TO BUILD MORE FACILITIES ON MAUI THAN THEY COULD HAVE BEFORE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE GOT ONE MORE ON THE STATE SYSTEM ON MAUI.
$75 MILLION CAME TO MAUI SPECIFICALLY JUST THIS BILL GRANT.
FOUR MORE YEARS OF BILL.
CHASING MORE MONEY.
GOAL IS TO GET 150 MILLION PER YEAR TO ENSURE THAT HAWAII GETS FAIR SHARE.
>>Yunji: JORDAN, $50 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.
WHEN ED LAYING OUGHT THOSE NUMBERS, FLYING THROUGH MY MADE.
FUNNY MONEY TO ME.
STUCK ON 818 COSTING DRIVES.
$50 MILLION WHAT CAN THAT ACTUALLY PAY FOR?
>> YOU KNOW, FOR THE TWO WE HAD AWARDED, THESE ARE NEW ROADS, AND THAT IS SORT OF ONE OF THEM PARTICULAR, KIHEI.
NEW ROAD, NOT NECESSARILY FIXING ROAD, BECAUSE OF OUR CAPACITY ISSUES, NEW ROAD DOES HELP ALLEVIATE STRAIN ON OUR EXISTING ROADS.
THAT CAN HELP EXTEND THE LIFE AND QUALITY OF THOSE ROADS.
YEAH, GOOD TIMING WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE AWARDS TO HELP WITH SOME OF OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE GETTING READY TO GO OUT.
>> >> $50 MILLION IS TO OFFSET COST FOR TWO PROJECTS.
NORTH SOUTH COLLECTOR TAKES PRESSURE OFF OF PIILANI HIGHWAY IN THE THAT AREA.
OPENS WAY FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING NECESSARY FOR THAT AREA.
SO VIABLE EXTENSION.
ANOTHER $25 MILLION THAT HE GOT FOR $45 MILLION PROJECT.
THAT PROJECT BUT FOR THAT PROJECT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN CENTRAL MAUI CAN'T BE BUILT.
THAT FUNDING THAT IS COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS HELPING US TREMENDOUS TIME HELP US GET TO THE PRIORITIES THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATOR SAY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.
>>Yunji: TALK ABOUT FUNDING SMALLER SCALE.
IF I HIT A POTHOLE AND I MESS UP MY CAR, WHO PAYS FOR THAT?
DOES MY INSURANCE COVERS THAT, DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
WILL THE STATE HELP ME PAY FOR THAT?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
IN REGARDS TO WHETHER THE STATE PAYS FOR IT, SOME OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE PUT IN CLAIMS FOR THE STATE.
NOT TOO SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT WORKS IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT HAPPENS WE RECOMMEND HAVE THEM MAKE INSURANCE CLAIM.
AND IRONICALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT INSURANCE CLAIM, INSURANCE CLAIMS IF IT'S A POTHOLE DAMAGE BLOWS OUT OUR TIRE AND DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE, IT'S LIKE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE TERMINOLOGY IS, BUT INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE BLOWOUT BUT IT WILL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE AFTER BLOWOUT.
>>Yunji: AT LEAST YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING.
>> YEAH.
IF YOU DO MAKE A CLAIM, IF IT WILL BE COVER BY INSURANCE.
POLICY.
NOW, IN TODAY'S AGE, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WHAT WE CALL SEVERITY AND COST WISE OF INSURANCE CLAIMS GOING UP, I'VE SEEN OUR CLIENTS COMPLAIN THAT THEIR POLICY GOES UP.
SO MORE AND MORE, YOU'RE MAKING DECISION BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACTUAL ACCIDENT, PER SE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AND WEIGH THE FACT DO I MAKE A CLAIM, AND COLLECT FROM INSURANCE, OR DO I PAY OUT OF POCKET AND FIX IT ON MY OWN?
IT VARIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
I'VE SEEN IT MORE WHERE WE'VE SEEN OUR CLIENTS ACTUALLY PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT POLICY TO GO UP.
>>Yunji: WHAT ABOUT THE STATE CLAIMS?
HOW DO PEOPLE DID THAT?
GET A LOT NOW.
>> HIT A POTHOLE OR DAMAGE YOUR CAR ON STATE SYSTEM.
>> PUT IN CLAIM REQUEST INTO OUR DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE LINKS NECESSARY ON OUR D.O.T.
WEBSITE.
IF YOU GO TO D.O.T.
WEBSITE LOOK UP A CLAIM, WE HAVE DIRECTIONS HOW YOU FULL ONE OUT INTO OUR DAGS OFFICE.
>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET TO VIEWER QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW.
A LOT OF THEM SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.
I INTERESTED APPLYINGS BOTH TO JORDAN AND YOU.
LET'S START WITH YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MOVE THE HIGHWAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE.
SHOWED VIDEO AT THE TOP.
KAAAWA, THAT SAME STRETCH, SEE IT DEGRADED UNDERNEATH.
HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY SAME ISSUE.
>> HAU'ULA, THAT'S A BIG AREA.
MOVINGING THAT HIGHWAY INLAND WOULD BE 1.5 BILLION.
>>Yunji: 1.5 BILLION.
>> THAT'S THE COST.
LOOKING AT, IF YOU STAND ON THAT HIGHWAY, LOOK MAUKA, LOOK BEHIND THE HOUSES, HIGHWAY WOULD HAVE TO GO, TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE INUNDATION ZONE, YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF IT IS UNDULATING HILLS.
ROADWAY RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 90% ON‑GRADE AND 10% STRUCTURES.
PUT IT BEHIND, ALMOST FLIPPED.
90 STRUCTURE.
10% AT GRADE.
SIGNIFICANT COST NOT JUST FOR THE ROADWAY, INFRASTRUCTURE, SEWER, WATER POWER.
CONSIDERING ALL OF THAT DISCUSSIONS WE'RE HAVING WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE FIRST, THAT ROADWAY BASED ON THE STATE'S INUNDATION PLAN BY 2100 WILL BE IMPACTED AND UNDER WATER BY ABOUT A FOOT.
YEAR 2100.
THAT ROADWAY ABOUT A FOOT OR TWO HIGHER THAN SOME THE HOUSES NEARBY.
SO IF THE ROAD IS GONE, YOU GOT TO CONSIDER IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY.
IF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT THERE, DO WE REALLY NEED THE ROAD THERE?
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T.
NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO SERVICE ANYBODY IN THAT AREA.
BIG QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO ANSWER NOW WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE BEFORE WE START MOVING ROAD AND PUTTING $1.5 BILLION INTO PLAY.
HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH POLICY MAKER AND COMMUNITY NOW TO DETERMINE WHAT LAND USE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
START PUTTING INVESTMENTS OUT THERE.
>>Yunji: DO A WHOLE SHOW JUST ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
AND ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE ROADS THAT ARE RIGHT ALONG THE SHORELINE THERE.
>> BATTLE FOR NEXT CENTURY.
AS FAR AS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?
WE HAVE TWO VERY TOUGH TOP OF THE LIST ISSUES WITH THOSE ON OUR LOWER ROAD.
>> AT SOUTH KIHEI ROAD IN THE BEGINNING.
IT IS QUESTION THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH TO DETERMINE LIKE ED SAID, WHAT WE TRYING TO KEEP, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO MOVE, WHO STILL GOING TO BE AROUND AND WHAT YEAR ARE WE AIMING FOR?
ROADS 20, 30 YEAR ROAD, DO WE GOT ANOTHER CYCLE, OUT OF THESE ASSETS OR DO WE BITE THE BULLET NOW AND FIND THAT MONEY TO RELOCATE EVERYTHING.
WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY TO TRY TO FIND AN ANSWER.
>>Yunji: WOW.
OKAY.
I WANT TO GET TO SOME ISSUES THAT ARE ON HAWAII ISLAND.
THIS IS MARGARET FROM KURTISTOWN.
>> I'M CONCERNED BRIDGES ON THE BIG ISLAND.
CRUMBLING, BIG TRUCKS DIDN'T DRIVE ON THEM BRIDGES ALONG THE HAMAKUA COAST.
BEAUTIFUL DRIVE.
SOME OF THOSE BRIDGES DO GET CONCERNED AND THERE ARE SOME BIG TRUCKS DRIVING TO HILO.
HOPEFULLY NOW THEY'RE USING OLD SADDLE ROAD NOW.
DANIEL K. INOUYE HIGHWAY.
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE BRIDGES.
>> BRIDGES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT THREE OF THEM.
ALL GOING TO BE RECONSTRUCTED ALONG HAMAKUA COST.
$200 MILLION TO RECONSTRUCT.
BIG BRIDGES, SO HIGH.
RECONSTRUCTED OVER THE NUMBERS SIX YEARS.
PRIORITIZING THOSE BRIDGES DETOUR ROUTE IS 200‑MILES.
NOT GOING TO ACCEPTABLE TO ANYBODY.
MADE SURE PRIORITIZE THOSE BRIDGES ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE MONEY WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.
PUTTING IN MORE DISCRETIONARY AND THE BRIDGE GRANTS TO COVER THOSE BRIDGES.
PROGRAMMED IN OUR SYSTEM WITHIN NEXT SIX YEARS RECONSTRUCT THEM.
>>Yunji: THIS ONE IS INTERESTING.
INSTEAD OF WHITE ARROWS, WHY NOT YELLOW PAINT.
OAHU DRIVER.
LINES ON ROADS.
YOU CAN BARELY SEE LINES.
MAKE IT DANGEROUS.
CAN YOU REPAINT LINES IN THE AREAS WHERE IT IS FADED?
>> COLORS OF THE LINES ARE SET BASED ON STANDARDS.
WE CANNOT GO AWAY FROM THE STANDARD.
YELLOW MEANS OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE YELLOW LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS TWO VEHICLES GOING ON OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
WHITE GOING SAME DIRECTION.
SAME WITH THE ARROWS.
COLOR DEMARCATIONS ARE SET IN STANDARD.
WE TRY TO FOLLOW THOSE NATIONAL STANDARDS.
FOR THE LINES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU SET A PLAN TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS, EACH ISLAND GETS REPAINTED.
>> ALL OF OUR ROADWAYS GET REPAINTED WITHIN A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.
THERE HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.
IT WILL BE DONE SOON.
MAKE SURE THOSE ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THOSE DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THE MARKING BUT ALSO THOSE THAT HAVE VEHICLES THAT SENSE LANE LINES AND THE LIKE.
>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING NO ONE MORE.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET, SO MANY.
I LOVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRITING THESE IN.
KEEP THEM COMING.
ONE MORE FOR YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN OUT DISCUSSION.
WHO IDEA, I WANT TO GET TO THIS ONE.
>> ADDRESSES PEDESTRIANS.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT PEDESTRIANS JUST YET.
WHO IDEA TO DO AWAY WITH THE CROSSWALKS I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THEM REMOVED.
WHAT ABOUT CROSSWALKS SAFETY?
YOU'VE ACTUALLY ADDED THOSE RAISED CROSSWALKS DOING A LOT TO TRY TO ADDRESS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
WHAT ABOUT WHAT DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT.
>> WISH I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.
STATE SYSTEM, ADDING MORE.
MORE PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY AREAS CAN EXPECT PEDESTRIANS TO BE.
TAKING OUT CROSSWALKS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
DOESN'T ALLOW DRIVERS EXPECT PEDESTRIANS IN DIFFERENT AREA.
>> START LOOK AT INTERSECTIONS.
MAY NOT IS EXPECTED MORE.
ONLY THREE CROSSING IN THE INTERSECTION.
>>Yunji: TELL US A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN IT COMES CROSSWALKS AND PEDESTRIANS HAVE SAFER EXPERIENCE.
>> POOR ROADS IN TOTALITY, PAVEMENT.
PEDESTRIAN COMPONENT, THAT AREA GROWTH WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO INCORPORATE STAY ON TOP OF PAVEMENT TOO.
BECOMES MORE PREVALENT IN OUR PROJECTS.
AND THEN ALSO.
THAT ENDS PRIORITY NOT ONLY DOWN FROM THE FEDS BUT LOCALLY AS WELL TRYING TO MAKE ROADWAYS MORE ACCOMMODATING TO ALL USERS.
>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK IN ON THIS.
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE WE KNOW WHEN WE HIT THE BIG POTHOLE, BUT OVER TIME, SAYING HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE ROUGH ROADS.
IF YOU WILL.
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF FRICTION IS OKAY.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR CARS?
>> YOU SAY JUST CLARIFY, WHEN YOU SAY FRICTION ON THE ROAD.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ROADS LITTLE BUMPIER THAN WHAT IS ACCEPTED FOR THE SURVEYS.
HOW BUMPY ARE WE TALKING.
>> THIS TABLE IS WHAT THE SURVEY LOOKING FOR.
NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
WHEN WE START BUILDING ROADS YOU SEE IT, GROOVES TO ENSURE THERE'S SOME KIND OF ROUGHNESS THERE TO ENSURE FRICTION BUILT UP AND WATER CAN GET DIRECTED OFF THE ROADWAY.
THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FOR.
OFF THE ROADWAY.
>>Yunji: THAT KIND OF ROAD WOULD FAIL THIS KIND OF SURVEY?
>> KICKED FROM GOOD TO FAIR.
>>Yunji: DOES THAT DO ANYTHING TO DAMAGE OUR CARS.
>> PROBABLY BE SAFER FOR THE CARS.
IT'S PUSHING AWAY THE FLUIDS IN THE WATER AND RAIN.
SO FORTH.
AND BEING THAT MOST OF CARS TODAY WE CALL IT LIKE HIGH PROFILE TIRES, TIRES ARE NOT THEY DON'T HAVE THE THREADS LIKE THEY DID BEFORE, SO LITTLE BIT MORE SLIPPERY.
IF THE ROADS ARE TOO SMOOTH, IT CAN ACTUALLY HYDROPLANE THE VEHICLE OR CAUSE MORE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF ACCIDENTS.
SO HAVING IT A LITTLE ROUGH ON THAT SENSE, IT IS SAFER PAVEMENT FOR THE CARS TO BE DRIVEN.
NOT GOING TO BE REALLY AFFECTING FOR DAMAGE.
IT MAY PUT MORE WEAR ON THE TIRE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE SAME TIME.
>>Yunji: WHY HAVE THE TIRES CHANGED IN CONSISTENCY?
>> I THINK COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT MORE OF THE VEHICLES THEY'RE LOOKING AT HAVING IT MORE OF A PERFORMANCE TYPE VEHICLE, SO UNLESS IT'S SUV, OR TRUCK BASE, A LOT OF THE VEHICLES TODAY ARE EITHER GETTING SMALLER OR WIDER.
AND WITH THAT SAID, EVEN THE TIRE SIZE, AND HOW THEY'RE MAKING THREADS A LOT LOWER, SO IT'S WHAT WE CALL MAYBE THE BEST WAY I CAN SAY IT, SPORTIER VEHICLE.
SO THE SIDE VIEW OF THE TIRES IS GOING TO BE SHORTER.
SO SHORTER, THREADS ARE LESS.
SO IT'S SUPPOSEDLY SAYING THAT YOU WANT A BETTER GRIP ON ROADS BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE A COMPLETE DRY SURFACE, HAVING GROOVES IN THE ROAD ITSELF IS A LOT SAFER.
>>Yunji: I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU.
CURIOUS, IS THERE A TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT YOU SEE GETTING MORE DAMAGED ON OUR ROADWAYS THAN OTHERS?
>> USUALLY THERE WILL BE SPORTIER VEHICLES.
HOW WOULD YOU SAY, EVERY DAY SPORT COMPACT VEHICLES.
WOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAVE MORE DAMAGE FOR POTHOLES OR SUSPENSION WORK TYPE DAMAGES.
>>Yunji: ANYTHING LOW TO THE GROUND?
>> YEAH.
>>Yunji: LIFTED TRUCK.
JACKIE IN PALOLO SAYS, I AM A CONSTANT EMAILER TO THE STATE HIGHWAYS DIVISION COMPLAINT LINE.
THERE ARE SOME ROADS REPORTED ON FOR FIVE YEARS.
NEVER GET FIXED.
IS THERE A LACK OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE WORK OR ARE THE CREWS SAYING ROADS ARE FIXED AND THEY ARE NOT, I ALSO WONDER, HOW MUCH THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS PLAYING INTO WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO.
WE KNOW THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU AROUND 40% VACANCY IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN YOU TALKED TO PRIVATE BUSINESS SAY THEY CAN'T GET ENOUGH WAIT STAFF, COOKING STAFF FOR RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
IS THAT AFFECTING YOU AS WELL?
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO JACKIE.
>> I GOT TO CHECK ON THAT.
MAKE SURE THAT I CHECK ON WHICH ROADS SHE'S LOOKING AT AND IT'S TIME FRAME.
WEBSITE WE TRY TO PROVIDE ALL TIME FRAMES WE'RE LOOK FOR ROADS REPAIRED.
GOT TO PRIORITIZED BASED ON FUNDING WE HAVE AND WORK THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE INDUSTRY WE HAVE.
SO WE PRIORITIZED BASED ON CONDITION AND VOLUME IN ALL AREAS.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GETTING TO JACKIE'S ROADS VERY SOON.
>> THAT BEING SAID FOR D.O.T., AT ABOUT 22, 23% VACANCY.
ACROSS THE BOARD.
THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM.
SO ARE OUR CONTRACTORS.
WE START LOOKING AT TYPES OF WORK THAT WE CAN DO, GOT DID BASE IT ON WHAT THE INDUSTRY CAN ACTUALLY UPHOLD.
I WILL GIVE OUR D.O.T.
FAMILY A LOT OF CREDIT.
THEY DO A LOT MORE NOW THAN WE DID IN 2014.
A LOT LESS PEOPLE.
TRYING TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
SO CONTRACTORS.
TRYING TO ACCELERATE THINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO GET TO EVERYONE'S ROADS TO FIX THEM FASTER.
>>Yunji: EXPECT AN EMAIL FROM THE DIRECTOR.
VERY SOON.
FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
HOW IS YOUR, HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY THE LABOR SHORTAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT, UNEMPLOYMENT NOW HITTING 3% IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.
GOOD NEWS FOR JOBS SEEKERS.
BUT DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOLKS TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK THAT YOU GOT THAT $50 MILLION FOR INSTANCE FOR?
>> NO.
WE'RE ABOUT 20 PLUS PERCENT ALSO IN VACANCIES.
AND CRITICAL ONE FOR US AND FOR ED, ENGINEERS.
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT MONEY, MAKE THE MAGIC AND PUMP OUT NEW PROJECT FOR YOU FOLKS AND IT IS DIRE RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WE INFLUX OF FEDERAL MONEY AND WE HAVE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EVER HAD IT FEELS LIKE.
SO IT IS HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US.
>>Yunji: SO INTERESTING.
WHAT ABOUT YOU MICHAEL?
YOU'RE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN HERE.
SO FOLKS ARE COMING TO YOU FOR REPAIRS.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW LONG DO FOLKS HAVE TO WHAT WAIT?
DIRE ISSUE FOR US AS WELL.
I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO ANY SKILL SET LABOR JOB TODAY.
IT'S HARD TO GET.
WE WERE TALKING EARLIER BEFORE WHERE HOW DO WE TAKE OUT OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY?
FOR US, PERSONALLY FOR UNIBODY OUR ORGANIZATION, JUST TO GET CARS FIXED, PEOPLE ARE WAITING 3 TO 4 MINUTES.
ONLY BECAUSE FACT THAT THE SPECIALTY TYPE REPAIRS THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE ONE SINGLE PERSON THAT CAN DO CERTAIN TYPE OF JOBS.
WITH THAT SAID WE TRY TO CONSULT OUR CLIENT TO SAY, HEY, WE LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING US.
BUT IF YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER COMPETITOR TO IT QUICKER, RECOMMEND THAT.
STILL WAITING FOR US.
>>Yunji: WHO CAN WAIT 3 TO 4 MONTHS TO GET THEIR VEHICLES FIXED.
THAT'S A LOT OF UBER.
>> COMES DOWN TO WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE TO THE POINT THAT YES, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE AND WE CAN KIND OF FIT IT IN, IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE IT'S STILL OKAY TO DRIVE, FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEN SCHEDULE THEM LATER.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY'RE DOING.
STILL DRIVING IT BUT JUST EDUCATING THEM THAT TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS.
GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, COMING BACK UTILIZING THAT.
NIGHT OUT WEST SIDE OR WINDWARD SIDE, TRY TO FIND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FOR THAT.
>>Yunji: WOW.
THERE'S A FOLLOW‑UP FOR YOU FROM HAWAII ISLAND.
WHO ALLOWS BIGGER TRUCKS TO USE THE ROADWAYS?
SHOULDN'T THEY BE LIBEL FOR REPLACEMENT COSTS?
WEIGHT LIMIT POST THE ON BRIDGES.
ARE THOSE RESPECTED AND CAN YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE ANOTHER ROUTE.
>> ALL TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY HAVE TO FOLLOW NATIONAL HIGHWAY STANDARDS.
SO ALL THE TRUCKS THAT ARE ON THE ROADS FOLLOW STANDARDS THAT WE CAN ALLOW FOR THE ROADS.
THAT'S FOR GEOMETRY OF THE TRUCK.
LENGTH OF THE TRUCK AND AXLE LOADING FOR EACH TRUCK EACH TRUCK.
WE DESIGN AXLE LOADING MAKE SURE MODERN ROADWAYS TAKE CARE OF THE WEIGHTS ANTICIPATED FOR LARGER VEHICLES.
PERMIT THEM TO BE ON.
FOLLOW LOADING FOR THE BRIDGES.
>> IF THEY DON'T ISSUE CITATIONS TO THEM.
>>Yunji: GORDON FROM WAIPAHU WANTS TO KNOW.
HOW HAS SKYLINE IMPACTED THE WORK THAT YOU DO?
>> POSITIVE OVERALL TRYING TO PARTNER WITH THEM MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING THEIR WORK DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANY REPAIRING IN THOSE AREAS.
LARGE TRUCKS COMING THROUGH.
CONSTRUCTION WORK BEING DONE IN THOSE AREAS.
>> GO THROUGH THOSE AREAS START OPENING THEM BACK UP TO US WE START REPAVING FROM THERE.
PAVEMENT CAN LAST LONGER.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IN THE FUTURE, WITH SKYLINE UP AND RUNNING, AND MORE T.O.D.
AREAS BEING BUILT AROUND IT, HUGER HOUSES THAT COME UP WON'T ADD TO TRAFFIC COMES THROUGH BECAUSE THEY HAVE SKYLINE TO USE AS FIRST PRIORITY RATHER THAN JUMPING IN A VEHICLE.
SO HOPEFUL THAT IN THE LONGTERM HELP US TREMENDOUSLY.
>>Yunji: QUESTION FROM DAVID IN KAHUKU.
>> POST TO YOU.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE WHEN IT COMES TO DECIDING WHERE OUR ROADS SHOULD GO BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE.
DAVE SAYS, SEA LEVEL RISE, WHY DON'T WE RAISE ROAD BEDS 12 INCHES, ALLOW ROADS TO DOUBLE AS A DIKE.
WONDERING ABOUT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE.
>> TOUGH CALL.
ONE OF OUR DATES IS, NOT POPULAR, BUT SHORELINE HARDENING, KIND OF PERMANENT SHORELINE STABILIZATION, CONCEPT.
AND TALK ABOUT AT LEAST BUY ONE MORE CYCLE OUT OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREPARE FOR ROAD REALIGNMENT, NOT EASY TO ALLOW UTILITIES TO COORDINATE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICES.
HOW DO YOU RE‑ESTABLISH, OBLIGATION TO RE‑ESTABLISH SERVICES TO THOSE PROPERTIES THAT MIGHT MOVE BECAUSE GOT TO MOVE THIS ROAD.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT NEED BETWEEN INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND PROPERTIES THEY SERVE.
>>Yunji: THAT IS ONGOING DISCUSSION.
THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING HERE.
GREAT KAKAAKO ON SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
I WANT TO TALK, IF YOU COULD ANSWER, QUESTION FOR WAIALAE.
WHO REPAIRS ROADS WHEN YOU HAVE A WATERMAIN BREAK?
IS IT THE STATE OR BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY?
SO THAT'S INTERESTING QUESTION.
CITY/COUNTY NOT HERE TONIGHT.
BUT ON AVERAGE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS OAHU HAS ABOUT ONE WATERMAIN BREAK A DAY.
SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?
>> BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY IS.
AFTER THEY REPAIR THE LINE, RECONSTRUCT THE BASE IN THAT AREA.
THEN RECONSTRUCT THE PAVEMENT.
FOR THEM, OUR DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD ON POLYMER AND SMA, AFFECTS THEM ON THEIR COST TOO.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT WOULD LIKE MATERIAL AS WE PUT IN.
>>Yunji: THAT'S HIS FOLLOW‑UP QUESTION.
WHY CAN'T YOU DO BETTER JOB MATCHING PATCH WITH OLDER PART OF THE ROAD.
PATCHING WITH NEW STUFF ON OLD ROAD.
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE ROAD.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAVEMENT ONE AREA, DIFFERENT WEARS.
>> ALSO HAVE, THERE'S DIFFERENT TENSIONS THAT BUILD UP.
SO THE PAVEMENT WILL WANT TO SEPARATE.
WHICH IS WHY WHEN WE HAVE THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY REPAIR IT, MAKE SURE THAT USE THE SAME MATERIALS WE DID.
DID A LOT BETTER JOB.
IN THE PAST.
TRENCH THEM.
REQUIRE THEM TO REPLACE THE LANE TO MAKE SURE WE DO DON'T HAVE CUT UP PORTIONS.
>>Yunji: WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH CARS BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS?
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I COULDN'T SEE PEOPLE IN THE CROSSWALK.
WE DO THESE SORT OF, LED OR HALOGEN.
ARE THOSE SAFER?
SOMETIMES AT THE CAN, AS A DRIVER, SOMETIMES YOU DO FEEL BLINDED IF THEY CATCH YOU AT THE WRONG ANGLE.
>> IT'S INTERESTING AND AN OPEN‑ENDED QUESTION.
IF THE NEWER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS ARE SMARTER.
MOVE AND EITHER SWING OR MOVE UP AND DOWN.
NOW, THE PROCESS WITH THAT IS LIKE I SAID, I MENTIONED OPEN‑ENDED QUESTION BECAUSE THEN IT COMES DOWN TO WHETHER THAT CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE.
OR WHETHER THAT CAR HAD SERVICING BEFORE.
AND THEN WHETHER AT THAT CAR HAS THE SMART HEADLINES.
>> WAS IT CALIBRATED TO THE CAR TO MAKE SURE IT KNOWS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS WHEN THERE IS WEIGHT LOAD ON VEHICLE, LET'S SAY THERE IS SOMETHING HEAVY IN THE TRUNK.
VEHICLE IN THE BACK SAGS.
HEADLIGHT SUPPOSED TO BE SMART ENOUGH TO AIM LOWER.
NOW, IF IF IT'S NOT CALIBRATED PROPERLY, THINKS THAT LOAD IS THE SAME AND THAT'S WHY IT'S PROBABLY AIMING UP HIGHER.
SO IF YOU'RE COMING ACROSS FROM THE VEHICLE, LOOKS LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY SHINING DIRECTLY AT YOUR FACE OR AT THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE.
AGAIN, THAT IS OPEN‑ENDED BECAUSE IT COULD BE OLDER VEHICLE WHICH DOESN'T HAVE IT.
BUT IF IT'S NEWER VEHICLE, MAY HAVE.
IT'S HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.
>>Yunji: CAN I GET MY CAR CALIBRATED?
SOMETHING I GO TO MY YOUR ORGANIZATION, I WOULD GO THERE AND SAY.
>> WE CAN CALIBRATE OR GO FOR THE MANUFACTURE, DEALER OR HAVE IT CHECKED AND CALIBRATED.
NEW THINGS COMING IN WITH ALL OF THESE ADVANCED VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
>>Yunji: QUESTION FROM LUANA SAYING, WHY SPEND TIME AND MONEY REPAVING SHOULDERS H‑2 FREEWAY ACTUAL LANES MESSED UP WITH MULTIPLE POTHOLES.
WITH NO SUCCESS.
HOW MANY USE SHOULDER VERSUS ACTUAL DRIVING LANES.
>> IN THE PAST HAD A POLICY THAT JUST PAVED LANES.
NOT THE SHOULDERS.
WE WOULD LEAVE THE SHOULDERS TO GO INTO DISREPAIR.
LATER ON, WE TRIED TO REPURPOSE SHOULDERS FOR ADDITIONAL LANES NEED MORE CAPACITY IN DIFFERENT AREAS, COULDN'T BECAUSE THE SHOULDERS WERE IN DISREPAIR.
HAVE TO RECONSTRUCT THEM.
MADE THE DECISION ALWAYS RECONSTRUCT SHOULDERS TO BE VIABLE AS SHOULDER LANES AND EA OR POTENTIAL AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO GET REDIRECTED TO IN THE CASE WE NEED IT.
THAT BEING SAID, H‑2, THAT AREA IS ALL CONCRETE.
THOSE ARE CONCRETE LANES.
ONLY TWO PORTIONS I THINK I KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE AC OVERLAYS BECAUSE THE CONCRETE SETTLED IN THOSE AREAS.
THAT PORTION WILL BE FIXED IN OCTOBER, OR NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THOSE AREAS WILL BE ROA REPAVED.
OTHER PORTIONS CONCRETE.
REGROOVED.
SMOOTHER.
PUSH THE WATER AWAY BETTER.
OPERATE BETTER.
>>Yunji: BRING JORDAN BACK IN THE CONVERSATION.
NANCI GOT A QUESTION.
INTERESTED IN SIGNAGE.
AND SHE SAYS, WHY CAN'T THEY PUT PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SIGNS AND SPEED BUMPS ALL THE SCHOOLS STATEWIDE?
IDEA OF PUTTING MORE SIGNS UP.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE YOU SIGNS THAT YOU HAVE ARE ADEQUATE?
TALKED ABOUT THE ROADS.
ARE YOU SIGNS ARE ALSO A BIG PART OF THAT.
>> YEAH.
SURE.
AGAIN, WE DO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL STANDARDS ON SIGNAGE AS FAR AS HEIGHT AND PLACEMENT AND SPACING.
WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR CROSSWALKS YOU GUESS DETAILS INVOLVES STRIPING, SIGNAGE, COLOR OF THE SIGN, SIZE OF THE SIGN, SO WE ARE PUSHING TO IMPLEMENT THOSE SAFETY PROVISIONS WHERE NEEDED.
AND THEY ALSO GO TO DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LANE STRIPING.
SIGNS THEMSELVES NEED TO BE CYCLED OUT WITHIN A FIVE TO SEVEN YEAR WINDOW TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY VISIBLE AND VIBRANT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS SHINE ON THEM, YOU CAN SEE THE DETAILS IN THOSE SIGNS.
>>Yunji: I'M INTERESTED, JUST IF YOU COULD TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT ROAD SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT THAT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.
BUT IT SORT OF TIES TOGETHER.
GOT THOSE RED LIGHT CAMERAS IN PLACE.
PLANNING FOR SOME MORE OF THEM AND MORE RAISED CROSSWALKS.
UPDATE OUR AUDIENCE ON THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED.
>> LET ME DIGRESS A LITTLE BIT.
TODAY, WE ENDED UP WITH A BIG STREAK ENDED.
OUR LAST FATALITY IN THE STATE ON ANY STATE OR COUNTY ROAD WAS JUNE 18.
HAD A STREAK OF 37 DAYS OF NO FATALITIES.
TODAY WE BROKE IT.
FATALITY ON ONE OF OUR ROADWAYS.
SUPERSAD.
FOR SO MANY REASONS.
GREAT THING IS LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME 70 FATALITIES.
THIS YEAR, 47.
LARGE REDUCTION.
>>Yunji: 70 TO 47.
>> YES.
70 TO 47.
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.
HAPPY WITH THE LIVES SAVED BUT SAD ABOUT THE ONE THAT OCCURRED TODAY.
CONVINCED BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS ON SPEED MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.
A LOT OF REASONS WHY CRASHES OCCUR.
BUT THE FATALITIES ALWAYS BECAUSE OF SPEED.
SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT STATE AN COUNTIES ARE ALL FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT MANAGE SPEED IN THE CORRIDOR EXTENT AS POSSIBLE.
CORRIDORS HAVE BICYCLES PEDESTRIANS AND TRANSIT RIDERS IN CONFLICT WITH VEHICLES.
STARTED FOCUSING RAISED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS.
35 GOING IN ON THE STATE SYSTEM.
WORKING WITH THE CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU, TO ADD ANOTHER 12 ON THEIR JURISDICTIONS.
MECHANISMS TO PLACE TO ALLOW TO US MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY.
HOPE TO START PUTTING THESE IN DIFFERENT AREAS REMINDERS TO EVERYONE DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'M NOT DESIGNING THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU 5 MILES PER HOUR.
NOT THE CASE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN SPEED LIMIT COMFORTABLY OVER THEM GO THE SPEED LIMIT.
THAT HOPEFULLY, DRIVES HOME THE FACT THAT YOU CAN GO AT THOSE SPEED LIMITS STILL TO GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO IN A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME KEEPING EVERYBODY AROUND YOU SAFE.
BIG PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.
>>Yunji: LET'S GO TO YOU.
TALK ABOUT PEDESTRIANS AND ROAD SAFETY WHERE YOU ARE.
HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THE SIMILAR MEASURES ED IS TALKING ABOUT AND HAVE THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COUNTY?
>> YES.
ANNUAL PROGRAM RESIDENTS CAN REQUEST HUMPS IN THEIR AREA WHERE SPEED IS PRESENT.
ROAD AREA, ALMOST COMICAL THAT OUR BUMPY ROADS ACTUALLY HELP MITIGATE SPEEDING BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE COME THROUGH AND PAVE, FIRST THING WE GET CALLED ON IS EVERYBODY IS SPEEDING NOW BECAUSE ROAD IS TOO SMOOTH.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WHICH HAVE TO CHASE RIGHT BEHIND WITH SPEED BUMPS NOW AND SO KIND OF VICIOUS CYCLE BUT YEAH, SAFETY IS A PRIORITY.
AND TAKEN UPON OURSELVES A LOT OF INSTANCES TO INSTEAD OF DOING ONE OR TWO, END UP BUMPING WHOLE CORRIDOR WHERE IT MAKES SENSE WE CAN SEE THAT'S SPEEDING OCCURRING.
>>Yunji: 3 MINUTES LEFT.
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU TONIGHT.
WITH A FINAL THOUGHT ON THIS TOPIC.
MICHAEL START WITH YOU.
I GUESS THE ADVICE TO DRIVERS IS REALLY TO SLOW DOWN.
>> I WOULD SAY SO.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
IF YOU GO THE SPEED LIMIT, AND THERE'S A POTHOLE, YOU'LL FEEL IT AND WON'T DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE.
A LOT OF TIMES, I'M GUILTY.
ALWAYS IN A RUSH.
AT TIME SAW A POTHOLE, GOT FILLED.
NEXT WEEK IT RAINS, POTHOLE IS BACK.
>> LET'S SAY IT FILLED WITH WATER.
DON'T SEE IT.
AND YOU RUN THROUGH IT.
AND CAN DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE.
COMES DOWN TO MOST OF THE DAMAGES IS BECAUSE OF SPEED.
>>Yunji: OKAY.
JORDAN, GET A FINAL THOUGHT FROM YOU TONIGHT.
>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS WE DIDN'T GET TO.
A LOT OF FRUSTRATION INTO THESE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
YOUR RESPONSE TO VIEWERS ABOUT THIS TOPIC TONIGHT?
>> I THINK WE'RE IMPROVING.
GETTING BETTER.
BUT AS WE GET SMARTER, GET MORE EXPENSIVE AND WE HAVE TO DO MORE CONTINUE TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
I'M HOPEFUL, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP.
AT THE STATE LEVEL ON COUNTIES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
I THINK THE FUTURE LOOKS SMOOTHER.
>>Yunji: I LIKE THAT.
SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP.
OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT YOU TONIGHT.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AND WOULD WANT THOSE FIVE YEARS TO HAPPEN NOW.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF OUR ROADS?
>> ABSOLUTELY GET THERE.
WE DEFINITELY CARE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE ROADWAYS.
2,009 HUNDREDS OF US IN THE D.O.T.
DRIVE OUR ROADS DAILY.
FAMILIES USE THEM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SYSTEMS WORK BEST FORCE FRIENDS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES IN A LIVE IN HAWAII.
DOING OUR BEST TO GET THERE.
THAT BEING SAID, IN ORDER TO DO IT RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE MONEY.
WE DO IT THIS SUPERFAST, PAVE 50‑MILES A NIGHT IF WE WANTED.
JUST GOING PAINTING THINGS BLACK.
HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR AGAIN.
WASTE MONEY LIKE THAT.
DO IT RIGHT.
MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
TRYING TO MINIMIZE SUNNY IMPACTS TO THE PUBLIC.
GET DONE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
KEEP GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE WE GET THE SYSTEM THAT HAWAII DESERVES.
>>Yunji: BOTTOM LINE.
SLOW DOWN.
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: ED SNIFFEN, MICHAEL CHONG, AND JORDAN MOLINA.
NEXT WEEK, TO SOME FOLKS, THEY’RE CUTE AND CUDDLY.
TO OTHERS, THEY’RE A NUISANCE OR, AT WORST, A DANGER TO NATIVE BIRDS AND HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS.
WE TALK ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT FERAL CATS.
PLEASE JOIN US THEN.
I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.
ALOHA!

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