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Kokua Line
Question: What are the rules for using the express lane and HOV lanes on the H-1 viaduct near the airport? Every morning during rush hour, I see only one person, the driver, in cars using the express and HOV lanes. Sometimes I see single-occupant cars cutting over through the HOV lane and into the express lane just to get ahead of everybody before the traffic crunch at the end of the viaduct. It's just frustrating to think you're following the law and then you see all these people who aren't. HOV-lane violators
cause aggravationAnswer: We've received several "auwes" and questions lately regarding the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) and Zipper Lane, which indicates an increasing frustration over people trying to beat the rush-hour jams.
Police and state transportation officials say they are trying to crack down, but without causing further traffic tie-ups or endangering safety.
"We are very concerned about violators and are working with HPD to work out a way to cite them without causing more of a traffic jam than we have now, during rush hour," said Marilyn Kali, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.
Enforcement is difficult because "when police pull drivers over in the HOV lane, it brings traffic to a dead stop," she said.
To nail the scofflaws, legislators this session are being asked to pass a bill allowing police to go to "photo enforcement," she said.
The proposal is to install cameras to take photos of vehicles in the HOV lane, "and if there are not two people in it (during the designated hours), they would receive a ticket," Kali said.
Regarding the Zipper Lane, which requires a minimum of three people in a vehicle, "police do enforce it about once a week," and have issued a number of citations, she said. "We're trying to work with them to do it more often."
There is an area at the end of the Zipper Lane where police can pull violators over without hindering traffic, Kali said.
But Capt. Bryan Wauke, of HPD's Traffic Division, said even if officers can pull a car off to a safe area, the problem is getting the cars safely back into traffic.
Officers are trying not only to enforce the law, he said, but also "help with the efficient flow of traffic."
Q: Can someone explain why, on the Pali Highway, Kailua-bound, they have been coning off the right lane between Pauoa Road and the Wylie Street exit? The work being done doesn't start until after the Wylie exit. Meanwhile, all the traffic is choked down, forced to go into one lane between Pauoa and Wylie. It doesn't make sense and is clogging up traffic tremendously. There must be a better way to do it.
A: The placement of cones is determined by the sight distance required for motorists, said Martin Okabe, the state Department of Transportation's Oahu district engineer.
The cones originally were placed before the bridge, he said, "but numerous accidents occurred."
Okabe said the safest place to put the cones is just past Pauoa Road because that will give motorists sufficient sight distance to maneuver their vehicles.
The work to replace old light poles with new aluminum ones is expected to be completed this month.
Mahalo
To the kind woman who drove me to work on Feb. 1, saving me from a hot and time-consuming trek to the nearest bus stop. Your aloha was much appreciated. -- Lisa from Royal Summit
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com