Road policy for “peak hours” in Nuuuli area remains the same

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government’s road policy during “peak hours” in Nuuuli — in front of the Laufou Shopping Center and CBT Tru Value Hardware along with Milovale restaurant — set by the previous administration is being continued by the new Lemanu Administration.

Motorists were pleased to observe on Jan. 4th, the day after the inauguration of Lemanu and Talauega, that the red-cones usually set up on the road in this area, were no where to be seen and photos were posted to social media that it appears the previous policy was no longer in place.

Many comments on social media applauded the removal of the red-cones, with no police officers on site, under the new Administration.

But 24-hours later, road-enforcement policy resumed, after Monday’s holiday on Jan. 4th, and ASG officials said early this week that the the Lemanu Administration will continue  with the road policy in this section of the public highway as set by the previous governor. Police officers also confirmed the continued enforcement of the road policy.

Although then Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga set the “Laufou/ CBT Road Policy” through a document dated Aug. 17, 2020, Lolo’s Office didn’t publicly release the policy on Dec. 27th of last year, along with the policy for public use of Samoan fales at Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Park and Fagaalu Park.

The policy explains that the road in front of Laufou and CBT and Milovale is one such area where the road is constantly congested during the morning hours and right at quitting time. Additionally, traffic is congested due to the public trying to get to work on the East side of the territory, the school children trying to get to school and buses and other vehicles trying to get in to the businesses which surround this area.

“In an effort to ease the congestion of traffic and ensure workers and schools children are able to get to where they need to be on time, a policy shall be implemented to regulate traffic during peak traffic hours,” it says.

The Laufou/CBT policy declared that the only entrance to the Laufou Shopping Center shall be at the west-side of the property, right before Mabuhay Travel Agency, while the only exist shall be the Carl’s Jr side of the property. These two driveways shall be for one-way traffic only.

CBT is required to develop their parking and entrance and existing driveway access to their businesses as well as to allow for a one-way entrance and one-way exit, according policy, which provides three options to easy traffic congestion.

Option one states that during the hours of 7a.m. to 8:30a.m. and 3:30p.m — 4:30p.m. Monday to Friday, “no vehicles will be allowed to turn in to any business nor to stop in the area right front of Laufou Shopping Center and CBT and Milovale’s.”

This policy applies between Aumoeualogo Te’o Fuavai’s residence to Savaliga’s residence.

Under option two — there is “no left turns” whatsoever — during the hours of 7a.m. to 8:30a.m. and 3:30p.m - 4:30p.m. Monday to Friday — in the area starting from Paradise Inc., to Mabuhay Travel Agency or from the CBT side of the main road. Right hand turns will be allowed ONLY during those hours. At at any other times, left hand turns will be allowed. No buses will be allowed to turn right or to make any stops.

Option Three states that there shall be NO left turns whatsoever in the area starting from Mabuhay Travel Agency and the CBT side of the road. Right hand turns ONLY will be allowed. No buses or taxis will be allowed to turn right or to make any stops.

It also states that Public Safety Department will be present to manage traffic during the hours cited in the policy and shall establish traffic-control devices to maintain the smooth flow of traffic through that affected area.

According to the policy, Department of Public Works will conduct - among other things — a traffic study for intersection improvements and review the possibility of installing traffic lights and roundabouts.

Violators of this policy will be issued a Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint-Summons for obstruction of traffic and for failure to obey traffic-control devices. The punishment of which is a class B misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in jail or up to $500 fine or both.