2022 Legislative Session – Bills
Several bills have been introduced that will impact mobility, safety and environmental sustainability. Track the bills and consider submitting testimony. Learn more.
- SB3158 – Establishes the Electric Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program and special fund to encourage the purchase and use of electric bicycles and electric mopeds. Allocates a portion of the barrel tax for the rebate program.
- SB3274 – Requires the Department of Transportation to increase funding, pursue grants, and work on projects focusing on safe, low-user- cost pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Appropriates moneys for two grant writing positions.
- SB2096 – Lowers the threshold blood alcohol content for the offense of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.
PROJECTS AND PROGRESS
Maui Bicycling League advocates for bicycle- and pedestrian-related improvements on Maui. We work in partnership with Maui County officials and meet with them periodically to share updates and ideas. We also attend meetings of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization (Maui MPO) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to ensure that bicycle-related projects are included in plans for Maui County.
Check out the latest about these projects:
Northshore Greenway
West Maui Greenway
South Maui Greenway
Here is the latest about other bicycle and pedestrian projects in Maui County:
West Maui Development Corridor Master Plan (2/2021)
The County of Maui Department of Planning was awarded $500,000 from the State Office of Planning to develop a transit-oriented development corridor master plan for West Maui. The Plan focuses on a 3.6-mile stretch of Honoapiʻilani Highway that connects Lahaina to Kāʻanapali.
The TOD plan will implement many of the proposed multimodal and transportation policies, projects and programs in the West Maui Community Plan update and Hele Mai Maui 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan.
West Maui Community Plan (1/2021)
The Draft Plan, completed in December 2020, is the result of a 10-month review by members of the West Maui Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC), followed by a 5-month review by members of the Maui Planning Commission (MPC). The MPC unanimously voted to forward their recommended Plan to the Maui County Council for final review and adoption.
South Maui Community Plan (1/2021)
The public is invited to participate in vision workshops for the South Maui Community Plan. The South Maui Community Plan provides guidance on future development and revitalization in South Maui and provide recommendations for future transportation systems, parks, greenways, and infrastructure.
Hele Kakou Kahului (1/2021)
A new Complete Streets implementation project for Kahului will include a signage and wayfinding program, as well as physical improvements to roadways and intersections to make our streets safer for all modes of transportation.
Hele Mai Maui (1/2021)
Hele Mai Maui Long Range Transportation Plan 2040 is a vision for Maui’s transportation needs and opportunities over the next 20 years.
Paia: Safe sidewalk route to school
A needed sidewalk for schoolchildren who are walking or bicycling between the town of Paia and Paia Elementary School on Baldwin Ave. has received $2.15 million in funding.
This is not a bike path per se. It will be a sidewalk. However, MBL believes that children will ride bikes on this path and has asked the County to plan to install barriers between the road and the sidewalk to help keep children on bikes from drifting into the roadway.
Update:
Maui County is obtaining permits and approvals for this sidewalk. Once approved, the project can go to bid. It is hoped that construction can begin by late summer/early fall of 2017.
Paia/Makawao: Baldwin Avenue Bikeway
$500,000 was included in the 2016-2017 County budget to design a bikeway along Baldwin Avenue, an important travel route for bicyclists wishing to travel from Paia to Upcountry Maui.
Update:
This project is currently on hold as the County looks at the possibility of creating an off-road path, possibly on former sugar cane land owned by HC&S. MBL is offering to help the County identify a route for the off-road path and to participate in future planning meetings about the Baldwin Avenue bikeway. We recognize that Baldwin Avenue is an important route for cyclists traveling upcountry, yet it is also narrow, winding and has heavy traffic. An off-road path would provide a safer alternative.Wailuku: Central Maui Bikeway and Pedestrian Study
As Central Maui expands, and new businesses, parks and neighborhoods are added to the Kehalani area and along Waiale Road, Maui Bicycling League believes it is important to act quickly to develop an off-road path that will allow bicyclists and pedestrians to travel “car-free” to downtown Wailuku.
Update:
Using $150,000 in the 2016-2017 County Budget, the Maui County Public Works Department has hired consultants at SSFM to do a walk and bike audit of Waiale Road in Wailuku and Papa Avenue in Kahului. The consulting firm will create an initial concept plan in February 2017. MBL has offered to help gather data relating to the plan and to help gather public input about these proposed projects.
In addition, MBL recently requested that the County add a freestanding bike path along the Maui Lani Parkway and Kuikahi Drive, from the Kuihelani Highway (Route 380) to Waiale Road, to link the neighborhoods in this area with shopping and amenities, and make it easier and safer for children to bicycle and walk to Pomaika’i Elementary School. Currently, there are plans to create a roundabout at the intersection of S. Kamehameha Ave and Maui Lani Parkway. MBL would like to see plans for a bike path incorporated into the plans for the roundabout.
Countywide bikeways
$310,000 in the 2016-2017 County Budget was allocated for County bikeways.
Update:
Some of this funding was used to develop an on-road bike lane on Onehee Ave. in Kahului and to create a walking/bicycling shoulder protected by traffic dividers at the corner of Kaohu Street and Waiale Road, primarily to serve children who are walking or riding bikes from Iao School. This funding is also being used to design Phase 3 of the Kihei Bikeway.
Countywide Safety
$400,000 in the 2016-2017 County Budget was used for curb improvements and to conduct a feasibility study of the roundabout on the Maui Lani Parkway.
Sidewalk Improvements
$400,000 in the 2016-2017 County Budget was used to help construct the sidewalk along Old Haleakala Highway in Pukalani, from the intersection with Kula Highway and to the intersection of Makawao Avenue. The funding was also used to improve sidewalks on Puea Road in Haiku and also for sidewalks near the Kihei Fire Station.
Haiku Bike Path
The Haiku Community Association is advocating to establish a pedestrian and bike path to link Haiku’s two commercial centers — the old Pauwela and Haiku canneries.
Click here to learn more.
