In a major effort to slowdown traffic on Kaahele Street near the entrance to the Newtown Recreation Center in Aiea, State Representative K. Mark Takai (D-Aiea/Pearl City) introduced the new Crossing Ped Flags Program to the public on Thursday with the help of Harbor Terrace residents, CTAP – Community Traffic Awareness Program volunteers, HPD and our Aiea/Pearl City elected officials.
Aiea resident Carmille Lim is credited with getting the Crossing Ped Flags Program in motion after contacting RepresentativeTakai with her concerns regarding pedestrian safety on Kaahele Street, fronting the Newtown Recreation Center.
Representative Takai has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the problem of speeding and safety on Kaahele Street as the coordinator of the CTAP – Community Traffic Awareness Program along with HPD Officers from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team and support from volunteers from the Aiea and Pearl City communities.
Two years ago, a pedestrian died from injuries suffered after being struck in the crosswalk on Kaahele Street fronting the entrance to the Newtown Recreation Center as she was walking to the recreation center to pick up her grandchildren.
“We're trying to address speeding in a very dangerous crosswalk," said Takai. "One of the things that we decided to do with the support of the city is to install pedestrian crossing flags. What's good about this program is the city has agreed to do it, number one, and supported our efforts. It’s a pilot program and they're giving us six months to see how it works and whether it actually addresses some of the concerns regarding the dangerous crossing, and also whether we can keep the flags here. There's a concern that we might lose some flags from people taking them."
Representative Takai actually funded the Crossing Ped Flags Program on his own to make sure the project got off the ground.
"It costs nothing to the city," Takai said. "I sponsored it with about a hundred bucks for everything. I think that's well worth the costs."
Newtown residents Ralph and Paki Portmore use the Kaahele Street crosswalk on a daily basis and are concerned about the increase of speeding in the area.
"We walk along here in the mornings and we see the cars moving very fast all the time and we know that somebody was killed using this crosswalk," said Ralph Portmore. "It's a serious problem and we really need to do something to slow down traffic. These flags will really help because this is a very dangerous crosswalk."
Harbor Terrace Community Association President, Margie Davis is excited about the Crossing Ped Flags Program and thrilled for the added safety factor.
"This is great, hopefully it will help with the safety factor and remind people to slow down," said Davis. "This is kind of a speeding place here and the flags that Representative Takai has arranged for us to have I think is going to help a lot. I'm really thrilled."
Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto (District 8, which includes Aiea and Pearl City) participated in Thursdays Crossing Ped Flags debut and CTAP sign waving event.
"Its great to be able to improve the safety for the residents crossing this very dangerous street, this will very much help," said Councilman Harimoto. "This is a good test case. Let's see how well it works. Let's hope the flags remain here, and if it works we can expand this."
Throughout the one hour event, which ran from 4-5pm, several area residents were already utilizing the flags as a safety tool to let motorists know that they were in the crosswalk. Harbor Terrace resident Marshalena Delaney was one of those who was happy to use the new safety system.
"The flags are a great idea to get a little bit more visibility," said Delaney. "I know people are watching, but there are moments when you're trying to take in everything and you just don't see. The flags with the bright orange is a great way to make us highly visible when we cross the road."
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
State Representative K. Mark Takai poses with Harbor Terrace Community Association President, Margie Davis with Crossing Ped Flags in hand on Thursday, June 14, 2012 next to the crosswalk on Kaahele Street near the entrance to the Newtown Recreation Center.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Harbor Terrace resident Marshalena Delaney pictured making way across Kaahele Street in the crossswalk near the entrance to the Newtown Recreation Center while holding her Crossing Ped Flag and a few of her favorite pets.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
(From left to right) City Director of Transportation Services Wayne Yoshioka, Representative K. Mark Takai, Senator David Ige, and Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto all participated in the debut of the new Crossiing Ped Flags Program on Thursday, June 14, 2012 on Kaahele Street in Aiea.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
HPD Officers from the Pearl City Community Policing Team and the CTAP – Community Traffic Awareness Program issued citations for motorists who were caught speeding on Kaahele Street on Thursday.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto (left) and Representative K. Mark Takai (right) pose with HPD Officer Kathleen Santiago from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team. Officer Santiago and Representative Takai work closely together to coordinate the CTAP – Community Traffic Awareness Program.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Harbor Terrace resident Smiley McCue pictured at the crosswalk on Kaahele Street as she prepares to make her way across the street using the new Crossing Ped Flag. The efforts being made to slowdown traffic on Kaahele Street near the entrance to the Newtown Recreation Center has a special place in her heart as she lost her mother a couple of years ago in the very same crosswalk after being hit by a speeding motorists.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Thursday's group of area resident volunteers, HPD, elected officials and their support staff pose for a photo after participating in the unveiling and implementation of the new Crossing Ped Flags Program and a CTAP – Community Traffic Awareness Program sign waving event.