Maui schools, roads 'did well' in budget proposal

The Maui News
Saturday, March 15, 2003

By MARK ADAMS
Staff Writer

HONOLULU -- It's still a work in progress, with the state Senate yet to get a crack at it, but the new state budget now being crafted has some big-ticket items tucked inside for Maui County.

The most expensive projects found among the capital improvement projects listed are money for a new school in Central Maui, continued widening of Mokulele Highway, and adding a fourth lane to Haleakala Highway between Pukalani and Hana Highway.

There is also money in the CIP budget to build a new alien species inspection building at Kahului Airport.

State Reps. Joe Souki and Bob Nakasone said this week they expect the projects on the list to make the cut as the final state budget is crafted. And with a governor in office who used to be mayor of Maui County, getting the money released once it is appropriated should be easier than in past years.

"Highways and schools did well," Souki said of the budget.

The state House of Representatives gave its initial approval Wednesday to Gov. Linda Lingle's $7.6 billion spending plan for the next two years and sent it on to the Senate.

Maui County CIP items include:

SCHOOLS:

• $25 million over two years for design and construction of the new Maui Lani Elementary School. Nakasone aide Merwyn Jones said the project will be a design-and-build school undertaken by a local developer, similar to the way Kamalii Elementary School in Kihei was constructed a few years ago.
• $3 million for construction of a six-room building at Hana High and Elementary School. The money is to pay for ground and site improvements as well as equipment and other related items.

HIGHWAYS:

• $22.5 million in the coming fiscal year that begins July 1 for the next phase of the widening of Mokulele Highway between Dairy Road and Piilani Highway. The first phase was the widening of the highway near the Dairy Road intersection.
• $19.5 million for constructing a fourth lane on Haleakala Highway from the Pukalani bypass down to Hana Highway.
• $1.5 million for the design of passing lanes on Honoapiilani Highway over the pali from Maalaea Harbor to Puamana.
• $100,000 to help plan alternate traffic improvements in the vicinity of Paia town. Alexander & Baldwin is working with the county to develop a temporary bypass route from Hana Highway to Baldwin Avenue serving drivers heading Upcountry.
• $1.2 million for land acquisition and design allowing rehabilitation of the Iao Stream bridge on Waiehu Beach Road in Wailuku.
• $750,000 to design a replacement for the Honolua Bridge on Honoapiilani Highway.
• $60,000 to design the widening of Haleakala Highway at Milepost 0.8.
• $700,000 for guardrail and shoulder improvements on state highways on Molokai.
• $225,000 for stabilization of the embankment at Milepost 13 and Milepost 14.3 on Maunaloa Highway on Molokai.

AIRPORTS:

• $1 million to construct an aviation facility at Kahului Airport that will include an "Alien Species Action Plan" building and general purpose apron.

HARBORS:

• $1.5 million to construct improvements to the barge terminal at Kahului Harbor, including piers, yards, sheds and other improvements.

Maui's delegation in the state Senate now gets a shot at the budget, with several major projects on their wish lists.

Sen. J. Kalani English's CIP bill alone contemplates an additional $83.8 million in improvements, including money for highways and schools on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

He is asking that the projects be funded with general obligation bonds issued by the state.

Return to Sen. English Home Page - KalaniEnglish.com

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