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STREETWISE

State, city hope
to ease school
traffic jam

Several choices have been
proposed as officials work
with firms to beat the jams

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By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Picture yourself cruising to work behind the tinted windows of an air-conditioned black sports utility vehicle, largest in its class.

That's "Vanpool with Attitude" to be introduced today as the state, city and private transportation companies make their annual pitch to commuters to "Beat the School Jam."

New vehicles, the Dodge Durango and Dodge Grand Caravan, offered by Vanpool Hawaii was one of several ideas being unveiled in an effort to lure commuters into leaving their vehicles at home.

Some 150,000 students will start classes during August, with the brunt of the islandwide traffic jam expected in the week of Aug. 21. Their numbers will add to the already escalated congestion caused by construction projects under way on major thoroughfares.

The Ice Palace skating rink was to be the stage today for state Department of Transportation, city Department of Transportation Services, TheBus and other agencies whose message is that "it's cool" to choose a commuting scheme that keeps vehicles off the road.

Some choices they propose:

"It's Cool to SchoolPool" is a state Department of Transportation initiative. It offers computer matchmaking of students' home and school areas to link parents for compatible car pools. It is available to private as well as public school students in the Honolulu area. Call the department's Rideshare office, 587-7433.

Roberts Hawaii School Bus division is offering two weeks of free rides as an introduction to its service between Mililani, Wahiawa, Waipahu and Waipio Gentry and all major private schools. Information on the service is available at 832-4886 during business hours.

Waipio and Mililani residents may get free rides to downtown Honolulu or Waikiki for one week between Aug. 21 and Sept. 29. It's the Commuter Express of the Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association.

LOTMA and the state Transportation Department will help other Central Oahu and Leeward commuters find each other for car-pooling. Call 677-7433 about Commuter Express or car-pooling.

The city bus system has added 30 new stretch buses for its CityExpress and CountryExpress services. On Aug. 20, the new CityExpress Route B begins service between TheBus Middle Street Transit Center and Waikiki by way of School Street, King Street/Beretania Street, Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues. Information on all bus routes is available at www.thebus.org or by calling 848-5555.

Back to the cool new Vanpool vehicles: The driver gets personal use of the vehicles after the daily commute. Each rider pays $65 a month and shares fuel and parking costs. Call Vanpool 596-8267.

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Streetwise

Roadwork planned this week on Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach
Old Fort Weaver and North roads; Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street; Farrington Highway from Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe Power Plant in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park; and Fort Weaver Road at Renton Road and near Kahua Ranch Nursery.

Makakilo
H-1 from Palehua Separation to Waikele Bridge.

Maili
Mynah Street and Place; Monilial Place; and Heleuma, Okokomo and Okohola streets.

Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia
Vicinity of Kunia Interchange to Waikele Stream Bridge; and Kunia Road from Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop.

Pupukea
Kamehameha Improvements at Pupukea Road; and Pahoe Road to Kapuhi Street.

Waialua
Intersection of Wilikina Drive and Kamananui Road.

Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.

Mililani
Lanikuhana Avenue.

Waipahu
Lumiaina Street from the Board of Water Supply Waipahu Wells II facility on Kukula Street to its facility on Lumiaina Street; Kahuanui Street between Kahuanani and Kahuahale streets; Kahuanani Street between Kahuanui and Kahu streets; Kahuanui Street from Paiwa to Kahuanani streets; Waipahu Depot Road from Haakoa Place to the Waipahu Incinerator; Pupuole Place; and Awaia, Awanei, Awanui, Paiwa and Pupuole streets.

Aiea
Kaonohi Street between Alania and Kahapili streets; Kahapili Street between Kaonohi and Kaonohi streets; Moanalua Road from the channel to Pali Momi Street; Maohu Place; and Akaaka, Ilee, Kulawai, Neki, Ulune and Kaamilo streets.

Pearl City
Kamehameha Highway from Acacia Road to Honomanu Street; and Spine Road.

HONOLULU

Pearl Harbor
Vicinity of Arizona Memorial.

Waiawa
H-1 from the Waiawa to Keehi interchanges; and the Airport Interchange.

Kalihi
Skyline Drive; and Ashford, Lima, Kamalii and Hillcrest streets.

Nuuanu
Pali Highway at Jack Lane; and Ahi to Niolopa places.

Kakaako
Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Rycroft Street from Birch to Piikoi streets.

Kapiolani
Kapiolani Interchange; Kapiolani Boulevard between OldWaialae Road and King Street; and S. King Street at the Kapiolani Intersection.

Moiliili
Date Street between Isenberg Street and University Avenue.

Punahou/University
The University On-ramp and the Wilder Offramp of the Ewa-bound H-1 freeway and Wilder Avenue between these ramps will be closed for water-line work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 12.

H-1 from vicinity of Punchbowl Offramp to Kapiolani Interchange; Bingham from Punahou to Isenberg streets; and Lunalilo Street from Liholiho to Kaihee and Ernest to Pensacola streets.

Manoa
Kahiwa Place.

Waialae
Kaimoku Place and Way.

Kaimuki
Narcissus Place.

Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard from Ala Moana to Kalakaua Avenue; and Kalakaua Avenue from Kaiulani to Kapahulu Avenue.

Niu Valley
Paiko Drive and Niuiki Circle.

Kuliouou
Kuliouou Road, and Keoki, Pahukula and Wakine places.

Makapuu
Kalanianaole Highway from Makapuu Lookout to Kealahou Street.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaneohe
Likelike Highway, through Friday, one Kaneohe-bound lane will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and one Honolulu-bound lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for median barrier work.

Kahekili, Kamehameha and Likelike highways from Waihee Road to Kaneohe Bay Drive; Lihika and Laenani drives and the section of Kamehameha Highway connecting the two streets; Mapele Place and Road; Ahilani, Ahuimanu and Pulama roads; and 45-637 Uhilehua Streets.

Kahaluu
Ahuimanu, Ahilama and Pulama roads; Kialua, Hoopai and Poomau streets; Mapele Place and Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Lihikai to Laenani drives.

Kaaawa
Kamehameha Highway in the vicinity of Polinalina Road; and vicinity of Kaaawa Elementary School to Polinalina Road.

Kailua
Auloa Road from Castle Junction to near Lunaai Street; Halekou to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base interchanges; Kalaheo Avenue between Wilikoki and Kaiholu places; and Aumoe Street.

Waimanalo
Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets; Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road; and Humuniki Street.