Waimea Regional Safety Project

The Waimea Regional Safety Project is a Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) based study to identify potential projects for improving safety and operations, relieving congestion, and enhancing multimodal travel options in the Waimea region. The PEL approach is designed to streamline the process of project development and environmental review by encouraging agencies to take an integrated, systems perspective to support transportation, environmental, and community goals.

The study’s objective is to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and enhance non-motorized transportation alternatives (i.e., multimodal) under today’s financially constrained conditions. The process identifies multiple projects that meet the project purpose and needs, including a new bypass alignment around Waimea, and mulit-modal improvements along Kawaihae Road, Lindsey Road and Mamalaoa Highway.

This is the first PEL study conducted by SSFM, and to our knowledge the first PEL study in Hawaii by HDOT or FHWA. PEL. The process allowed for subtle adjustments as the team conducted 7 community meetings and four 4 focus groups.