Ask the Mayor: What Can Be Done to Make Crosswalks Safer?

Pedestrian signage in Wailuku, Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor,

Q: As a resident of Kīhei, I would like to know if there are any plans to make Maui a more pedestrian-friendly place. It seems that most of the areas that have new sidewalks are barely used; places that are in need of a sidewalk or even a crosswalk light, I feel, are neglected.

In Kīhei alone, an area of concern is the crosswalk at Moi Street. On many occasions, there have been pedestrians in situations where cars will not slow or stop when they are trying to cross. Why don’t we have a flashing light in place for a crosswalk that spans such a large distance across a not-so-well-lit highway, where flowing traffic is traveling at least 40 mph?

We have a number of flashing lights fronting the tourist areas in South Kīhei, where the road is much narrower and the speed limit much slower.

There have been many vehicle accidents fronting the Moi Street area. As a matter of fact, there was one just last week.

I strongly feel there needs to be a pedestrian light, if not a streetlight, especially for that left turn onto the highway.

I guess my question is, what can be done for places like Moi Street so pedestrians aren’t so vulnerable and drivers are made more aware? Mahalo.

A: This is not a new request; however, Moi Street intersects Pi‘ilani Highway between the Ohukai and Kaiwahine intersections, both of which are signalized. Since Pi‘ilani is a state highway, this would be something that the state Department of Transportation would have to address.

However, it is unlikely that the DOT would add flashers or a crosswalk at Moi Street because the department would much rather have people crossing the highway at the signalized intersections at Ohukai and Kaiwaihine.

Be that as it may, I will ask the DOT if it can make the Moi Street crosswalk more visible to motorists, but in the meantime I strongly suggest that pedestrians and bicyclists use the signalized intersection on either side when they want to cross the highway, and to stay away from Moi Street.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.