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Electric-powered
buses proposed

The idea is geared to
speed commuters past the
traffic on major thoroughfares

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By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

Think of it as light rail without the rail.

Instead of trains, the city is proposing to use fast electric-powered buses to speed commuters past the traffic on major streets in Honolulu, Kakaako and Waikiki.

The buses will run on dedicated, restricted-use or regular traffic flow lanes. Portions of the center lane of Kapiolani Boulevard would be dedicated for the buses. In other areas, two lanes will be taken for transit stations.

The route will run along Kapiolani and Ala Moana Boulevards and Kalakaua, Kuhio and University Avenues.

Councilman Duke Bainum who heads the City Council's transportation committee, Sen. Les Ihara Jr., Sen. Carol Fukunaga and Rep. Ken Hiraki are sponsoring a briefing tonight at the Hawaii Convention Center so that residents can learn about the changes to major roads if the proposal is adopted. Another series of community meetings is planned throughout the month.

The proposed system will afford the flexibility of any future route changes, Bainum said. It doesn't require raising taxes, nor would it take any land away from anyone.

The system would cost $678 million in capital costs and $203 million in bus replacement costs. The federal government would fund about 50 percent of the project and the remainder would come from the state and city. It would cost an $181 million annually to run.

The council rejected a light-rail system several years ago which would have required a tax increase to fund it. Bainum said trains would have meant lots of construction using antiquated technology. "It was a prescription for disaster," he said.

The bus rapid transit plan came out of community Trans2K meetings, Bainum said.

Besides the high-speed buses and bus lanes, the city is proposing to build a Middle Street transit station where commuters would transfer from outlying communities to frequent in-town express buses.

Zipper lanes would be expanded to the Middle Street terminal and ramps would be built to allow buses to easily get on and off the freeway from the zipper lanes. An afternoon zipper lane would be added out to Kapolei.

Large transit stations with park-and-ride areas and snack bars would be provided in outlying areas.

Bainum said the in-town portion of the transit system would be completed within five years, and the entire system would take 10 years.

Meetings scheduled on bus system A meeting on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System and alternative plans will be held 7 p.m. tonight at the Hawaii Convention Center, Room 311. The City Council's transportation committee will also hold special meetings: Friday, 6:30 p.m., at the Hawaii Convention Center; Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m., at Waimalu Elementary School cafeteria; and Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., at City Hall in Council Chambers. The city will hold a public hearing Oct. 12 at the Neal Blaisdell Center at 7 p.m.; sign-in is at 6:30 p.m. The committee will meet Nov. 14 to determine the preferred alternative. Any legislation it passes will be heard by the full council on Nov. 29. Deadline for submitting comments is Nov. 6. For information, call 528-6821.