New road policy at Laufou-CBT in force until alternate solution found

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government is set to implement the new road policy to prevent traffic congestion in front of the Laufou Shopping Center and across the street at CBT store in Nuuuli, during the morning and afternoon commute, after police conducted an unannounced “trial” period late last month that caught Laufou tenants off-guard.

The new policy to be implemented before the start of the new school year for public schools on Aug. 31st, was explained by Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson at Monday’s cabinet meeting, where there was no mention of the trials conducted by police without advance public notice.

At a cabinet meeting last month, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga instructed the Attorney General’s Office and Public Safety to draw up a new road policy to address traffic congestion at Laufou, especially during the morning and afternoon commute, which gets even more congested when school is back in session.

During Monday’s cabinet meeting, the governor said he has observed a change in the flow of traffic in front of Laufou in the past weeks and this should be helpful when public schools open later this month.

Le’i informed the cabinet meeting of the new road policy that is the result of meetings and discussions with the Attorney General, Public Works and Commerce Department.

For the morning commute — from 7a.m to 8:30a.m — motorists from the east heading west cannot turn left into Laufou parking lot.  Buses and taxis are not allowed to drop off or pick up passengers in front of CBT.  The only ones allowed to turn into the CBT area are those who work there — as well as small businesses next to CBT.

Motorists traveling from the western side heading east, can turn right into Laufou, but upon exiting from Laufou, the motorist cannot turn left to head west. Motorists must turn right, and go down the street to an area to turn around — in order to make their way back to the west side.

Additionally, motorists from the west side heading east cannot turn left into the CBT store area.

This same policy applies to the afternoon commute from 3p.m to 4:30p.m. Le’i said DPS, the AG, Public Works and Commerce are working on a “permanent solution” for this congested area.

“We’ve seen a lot of situations where these specific areas are very congested with the traffic and so far we have noticed a big difference for that hour and a half,” he said. “So we request the general public to adhere to this policy.”

“We will continue to work to make sure that there is a permanent solution to the traffic congestion — during those hours in the morning and afternoon,” he said.

According to the governor this policy for Laufou will be on-going, unless and until there is another solution to address traffic congestion. He said spending an hour and half stuck on the road during the morning and afternoon commutes is too much time taken away from other responsibilities for the traveling public.

Lolo said discussions continue with land owners in Nu’uuli and Tafuna for an alternate road to address traffic congestion.  

At a previous cabinet meeting, the governor said the proposed alternate road would run behind the Laufou Shopping Center.  Among the landowners in this area is the Soliai family.

However, Chief Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono, the sa’o or head, of the Soliai family, told Samoa News last week that he is concerned with the safety of families with such a road, because it would be too close to family homes. He said the government had proposed a 55-year lease.

ASG CARS & CAMPAIGN

Early in the cabinet meeting, the governor instructed Le’i to have police fully enforce the government’s policy of vehicle use during and after working hours as well as the required 24-hour use permits.

Lolo then revealed that his office is looking into reports that two ASG vehicles were used during recent campaign events. He told directors and others using ASG vehicles, not to use ASG vehicles during political campaign activities, even for campaign committee meetings.

“Use your own personal vehicle or walk to the venue,” he said.