Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: After the widening of Kalanianaole Highway was finished several years go, it was discovered that many bus stop signs were installed smack in the middle of the narrow sidewalk, which prohibited wheelchairs from getting around them unless they entered the highway or which an inattentive person faced walking into it at night. Many of the other signs are mounted on street light standards or on the tile or rock walls fronting the highway. A rough count indicates there are at least a dozen of those "centered blocking signposts" located toward the Hawaii Kai end. Why hasn't the state highway department relocated these signs? I don't believe it would be very expensive and probably could be done in less than a week. Wider Kalanianaole is
wheelchair-friendlyAnswer: Unless you can show otherwise, the area in question is believed to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, therefore, there are no plans to relocate any signs, regardless of cost.
Shortly after Kalanianaole Highway was widened in the early 1990s, there were ADA complaints regarding the sidewalks, so a separate project was created to resolve those issues, said Vincent Llorin, ADA coordinator with the state Highways Division.
According to ADA Accessibility Guidelines, "the minimum clear width for single wheelchair passage shall be 32 inches at a point and 36 inches continuously," he said. So the minimum passage width required at the bus stop signs is 32 inches.
If you find that the 32-inch standard is not being met, call Kokua Line with a specific location(s) and Llorin said he will personally make a field check to verify your findings. If necessary, he will then put in a work order to correct the problem. Otherwise, he said, it wouldn't be efficient for him to do a random survey of an area that is already believed to be in ADA compliance.
Q: Along Kalakaua Avenue, there are many signs prohibiting parked vehicles. However, in the mornings, I continue to see parked trucks along the side lanes. I have even seen some vehicles parked way after 10 a.m. Police just drive by. Why don't police enforce this ban of parked vehicles? I wonder if this is a waste of our tax money for these signs.
A: If a police officer is passing by and sees the infraction, "we do cite them," said police Lt. David Eber, day-watch commander of the Waikiki station. But often, the drivers are in and out before an officer can respond, he said
This is the situation: There is a freight loading zone from 11 p.m. to 10 a.m. on the mauka side of Kalakaua, near the International Marketplace.
Delivery drivers know they're not supposed to stop there after 10 a.m., so they try to "run in and run out," Eber said. "Sometimes they get in and out before we get there. If somebody does call, we will be happy to respond. But a parking complaint is not a high priority. If there are officers, we will send them, but if they are on a different kind of case, then that's going to have to wait."
In those cases, by the time an officer is free to respond, the violator is long gone.
The makai side of Kalakaua, meanwhile, is a commercial passenger loading zone almost the entire day. While there shouldn't be any freight trucks unloading, there will be tour buses loading and unloading passengers, Eber said.
Mahalo
To the gentleman who helped us in front of Longs Ewa Beach with his nice new cable jumper. You made the day for us senior citizens. -- No Name
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.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com