Crossing reflectors sought for Farrington Highway

State lawmakers are calling for reflectors at crosswalks not located at traffic lights on Farrington Highway as a way to address dangerous road conditions and numerous pedestrian accidents along the Waianae Coast.

State Rep. Andria Tupola (R, Kalaeloa-Ko Olina-Maili) said there are seven midblock crosswalks in Nanakuli and Maili, and Farrington Highway should be given priority for reflectors, which range from embedded devices to systems that light up when someone’s in the crosswalk, to improve pedestrian visibility.

State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Kalaeloa- Waianae-Makaha) added that she receives the most concerns and complaints from residents about crosswalks that are not located at traffic lights on Farrington Highway near Kaupuni Street in Waianae and by Makaha Surfside.

“I think we have an unusual situation in Waianae because the highway runs throughout the whole town,” Shimabukuro said. “Every single person who lives on the Waianae Coast has to cross that highway. It’s impossible to avoid it.”

Shimabukuro said some reflectors were installed in Makaha that were “great, especially at night,” adding, “It made me stop.” But she said they were later stolen.

The state Department of Transportation’s priorities to improve pedestrian safety in Waianae include educational programs and re-striping faded crosswalks. Once those projects are completed, the department said it would consider “additional adjustments,” including reflectors. The department is operating from a 2013 DOT report that studied ways to improve and enhance pedestrian safety and mobility statewide. There were 13 areas of concerns for pedestrian safety identified, one of which was Farrington Highway.

On Oahu there have been 19 pedestrian fatalities this year, two of which occurred on Farrington Highway, according to data gathered by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Gayle Peeples, 57, was struck and killed in May while she and her 13-year-old granddaughter were walking along the makai side of Farrington Highway in front of Keaau Beach Park. Aulani Halemano, 32, died in September after she was hit by a truck while crossing in a crosswalk at Mohihi Street in Nanakuli, leading several residents to call for safer roads.

According to the state Department of Health, 33 pedestrians died on Oahu last year, 21 in 2013, 18 in 2012 and 17 in 2011. From 2005 to 2014,there were 214 pedestrian fatalities islandwide, 16 of which occurred on the Waianae Coast.

From 2010 to 2014 the department reported that Emergency Medical Services attended to 102 pedestrian injuries in Waianae, where annual totals during that period varied from 16 to 27. This year’s number was 30 in Waianae as of last week, according to the department. According to DOT’s pedestrian plan, the majority of pedestrian crashes on Farrington Highway from 2004 to 2008 occurred in crosswalks.

Waianae, along with Ala Moana, Kalihi, downtown Honolulu, Waikiki and Waipahu, were among the areas with the highest number of pedestrian crashes on Oahu from 2007 to 2011, according to DOH.

Lance Rae, who manages DOT’s Walk Wise Hawaii campaign, which educates residents on pedestrian safety and driver awareness, said that “any sort of infrastructure that’s put in to make pedestrians more visible is important.” But he added that pedestrians should not rely on infrastructure and should use caution when crossing streets.

“It’s a combination of infrastructure and education,” Rae said. “We do spend a great amount of time in Waianae. We need to change the way they walk.”

Tupola said an option could be to ask community members and local businesses for donations and to dedicate some crosswalks in honor of those who died. She added that it could be beneficial for businesses to help, especially for those located near crosswalks with no traffic lights.

“The more partnership you get in the community with awareness, the more likely they are to have ownership with it,” said Tupola, adding that she avoids midblock crosswalks and wears bright colors during her morning runs. “There has to be some type of responsibility all around, from drivers to pedestrians and state highways.”