My friend catches the bus daily all the way from Mililani to Kaneohe. Unfortunately, there is no shelter from rain or, especially, from the sweltering sun. Is there any way to create more bus shelters in Mililani? Bus shelters in demand
from Mililani to KaneoheIn Mililani, there are shelters along Kamehameha Highway, a major route, for buses 52 and 62, said Glenn Moir, transportation planner for the city Department of Transportation Services' Public Transit Division.
All other stops in the area are for express buses. No shelters are planned for those stops, at least for now, because they are used only for boarding in the peak morning periods on weekdays, Moir said. "There is not a lot of use" compared to other areas, he said.
The exception is in Mililani Mauka, where the express stop is at a sheltered park-and-ride center, where a child day-care center and other facilities are planned eventually, Moir said.
As Kaneohe's Kahekili road-widening project nears completion, it appears that something important was forgotten: bus shelters. The project is making improvements for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, so why weren't bus users tossed a few crumbs? Who wants to ride TheBus if they have to stand for long periods in the sun or rain? In fact, an islandwide lack of bus shelters seems to be a major weakness of our highly rated bus system, especially outside the city. See answer above.
Basically, the same answer holds for the Kahekili area you cite, said Public Transit Division spokesman Glenn Moir. The stops along the widened highway are for express buses 86A, 88 and 88a on the mauka side and 85A on the makai side. They are in limited use; shelters are put first in "more needy locations," Moir said.
There are 360 bus shelters throughout the island, not just in town, Moir said. Currently, 55 shelters are being planned throughout Oahu, while another 117 locations are being considered.
The city is using 50 boardings a day as a minimum requirement for shelter consideration. Beyond that and the amount of money budgeted, considerations include available space, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and negotiations with affected property owners -- business or residential, etc., Moir said.
To suggest a shelter at a specific location, call Moir at 527-6397 or write to the Department of Transportation Services at 711 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1200, Honolulu 96813.
He also suggested going to your neighborhood board or community association.
Does Ala Moana Center plan to publish the winners' names in its recent contest to boost sales? The contest lasted four weeks and about 50 stores participated. A spokeswoman for the management office said the names of winners will be published in an ad in Sunday's newspaper.
To the Queen's Medical Center staff. Recently, I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital critically ill. Thanks to the excellent care, skill and persistent efforts of specialists spearheaded by Dr. Carlos Lam and the center's Intensive Care Unit and Trauma Ward staff, I experienced a remarkably successful recovery. -- K. Sasaki Mahalo
To police officer G. Gomes. On July 31, my car had a flat tire on Kahekili Highway near the Windward Community College. He stopped and offered to help, despite the heat and soiling his uniform. I was able to continue to the service station without any problem. -- K.K. Mahalo
To Mr. Yamashita, who lives near Tripler Hospital. He found my wallet on Aug. 5 and went out of his way to return it. -- Ben Mahalo
