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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Ramp plans will accommodate pedestrians
Question: Fort Ruger Park, better known as Triangle Park, is heavily used by walkers, joggers, children on tricycles and scooters, and senior citizens in wheelchairs or using walkers. Recently, I noticed wheelchair ramps will be installed at one corner. I fully support its installation. However, the city needs to maintain the continuous sidewalk around the park, otherwise, the ramp will create a very hazardous situation. Children and senior citizens will not be able to maintain control of their wheeled vehicles when negotiating the turn and will end up on the street and in the path of cars.
Can you please contact the proper authorities before construction commences and before someone is seriously injured? I believe that the problem can be alleviated if the sidewalk area is extended into the park.
Answer: Current plans already call for the ramp you cite to be built with a four-foot wide level area behind it, to provide pedestrians with a more level path of travel, said Eugene Lee, director of the Department of Design and Construction.
The ramp at the intersection of Paikau Street and Kahala Avenue is being constructed as part of the city's ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) Curb Ramp Transition Program.
"The purpose of the area behind the down slope of the ramp is to provide someone traversing across the ramp with a flatter area to do so," Lee said.
"Such considerations are already provided for in the ADA guidelines."
If you or any one else would like to review the construction plans, contact the department's Civil Division at 523-6381.
Auwe
To Chaminade University for their van taking up a handicap stall and access aisle at Waimea Bay about 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. I saw no handicap parking placard on your vehicle! You were not there for "just a moment" to unload either because we were there for at least 30 minutes. Auwe also to two teenage girls in a compact pickup truck taking up another handicapped stall there. You acted like party girls drying off with your towels, never thinking you were denying a handicapped person a parking stall. Shame, shame, shame. -- Master Sgt. N. Sullivan
With additional information you provided, Chaminade officials were able to track down the student club that was responsible for the van that day.
The students admitted that the van was parked in the handicap stall, according to a Chaminade official.
"Proper procedures have been taken on van usage violations," she said. "The students were given a warning on their van privilege, and were informed that three warnings would automatically suspend their van driving privileges."
Mahalo
To a stranger named Ruby. I recently lost my driver's license and had no clue where I lost it. But I recently received a letter from Ruby, who was kind enough to return it to me. There was no return address. Thanks, Ruby! -- Ryan Clinger
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
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