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Workshops seek
input on commuting

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

A four-lane underwater tunnel from Sand Island to Kakaako and a water taxi from Waikiki to downtown are among more than 100 Oahu projects being considered by the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

At a meeting last night to get input into Oahu's transportation future, Rep. K. Mark Takai (D-Pearl City) urged beautifying Kamehameha Highway and improving bike lanes and sidewalks along the highway between Waiawa and Pearl Harbor interchanges.

Takai told the about 30 people at Aiea Elementary School that if they agree with him, they could mark a survey accordingly.

Every five years OMPO, a city-state group that sets priorities for transportation projects, updates its 25-year list by adding, deleting or redefining projects. The organization is asking for the public's help in determining how to improve transportation on Oahu.

The "QuickPick Form" survey asks where the respondent lives and works, how far the respondent's commute is, what transportation mode is used and what time the respondent leaves for work.

Respondents also are asked what is most important -- more efficient travel, more ways to travel, increasing safety, improving quality of life or protecting community character. In turn, these priorities are broken down into a number of preferences.

Last night's meeting was one in a series of public workshops. Tonight, the focus will be Honolulu/East Honolulu and Waikiki/Kaimuki/Kapahulu/Waialae/Kahala, at Washington Middle School, 1633 S. King St. The workshops begin at 6 p.m. with an open house, followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Others are:

Monday, Mililani/Wahiawa/ North Shore, Mililani High School, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway.

Tuesday, Kapolei/Ewa/ Waipahu, Waipahu High School, 94-1211 Farrington Highway.

Wednesday, Windward/Ko-olau Loa, Castle High School, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive.

Nov. 16, Waianae, Waianae High School, 85-251 Farrington Highway.