Question: I remember reading Kokua Line a while back where it discussed having the city and county repave private lanes if they are open to the public, serve X-number of houses, etc. My friend lives on a private lane with about seven other families, most of whom are elderly individuals. Their lane is in disrepair but he is unable to get everyone to agree on costs of repaving. I mentioned that the city may be able to repave the lane and wondered if you had a contact for who he could reach out to to start the process.
Answer: Call the city’s Department of Facility Maintenance at 768-3343 with questions about the paving or maintenance of privately owned roads, said Ross Sasamura, the department’s director.
Section 14-32 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, “Maintenance of Private Streets and Roads,” allows the city to maintain certain privately owned roads on Oahu, subject to available funding, as long as the road, among other criteria, directly serves as least six residential parcels; is open to the general public (no “private road” signs); and such upkeep is necessary to protect the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians or is otherwise in the public interest.
Read the ordinance at http://808ne.ws/2uiufp7. See Sec. 14-32.2(a)(1)-(12) for the full list of qualifying criteria.
Assuming that your friend’s road fits the bill, a request for the city to assume maintenance must be submitted in writing. A preliminary phone call to DFM and a perusal of the law should help your friend and his neighbors decide whether to move forward with a written request, which must be supported by 60 percent or more of the road’s owners (that is, those who collectively own at least 60 percent of the title or the easement).
Under the law, the city may do remedial patching, resurfacing or repaving, and may discontinue maintenance if the road ceases to meet requirements — for example, if “keep out” or “private road” signs are posted. Installation and maintenance of curbs, shoulders, gutters, drainage or similar infrastructure is not included.
As you recalled, Kokua Line covered this topic in 2010 (http://808ne.ws/pvtrd), and continues to receive questions about it.
Q: Regarding the parking permits for Kalihi Valley residents, do they have to pay for the permits?
A: No, currently there are no fees for residential or visitor permits in the Restricted Parking Zone the city implemented in parts of Kalihi Valley. However, the city Department of Transportation Services has said from the outset that it may charge fees later to cover costs of administering the program, which limits street parking to one hour from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily unless the vehicle displays an RPZ permit.
Auwe
Auwe to the male driver of a black Mercedes sedan who hit my son as he was biking to work in the bike lane going makai on McCully Street approaching McCully Shopping Center about 4:30 pm on July 17. Your abrupt right turn in front of him caused him to flip over his handlebars and over your car, landing him flat on his back in the street. You did stop, and got out to ask him if he was OK as others rushed to his aid; he responded that he thought he was OK. My son was in shock, not knowing what had happened or what injuries he had sustained. How unthinkable of you to then get back into your car and drive away, without so much as calling the police, an ambulance, or sharing your contact information with my son! I picked him up, took him in for multiple X-rays and evaluation. Thank God he was wearing a helmet and lived! If anyone has any information about this driver, got a license plate or any other details, please email me at c.comisofanelli@hawaiiantel.net. — Grateful mother
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
