Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Waialae cones to remain
through testsQuestion: I read that the coned-off lane on Waialae at 11th Avenue was going to be removed. It's still there and still causing a problem with traffic. Can't that be removed and used as a right-turn-only lane, moving the bus stop further back, to midblock, to alleviate the problem?
Answer: The temporary "traffic island" there was modified last month to allow buses to at least pull out of the travel lane at the bus stop.
But the portable devices used to create the island will remain there until the Department of Transportation Services completes its test of how a more permanent traffic-calming proposal would affect the area, explained DTS Director Cheryl Soon.
The island was installed to test improvements proposed in the Kaimuki Traffic Calming Master Plan, which was developed through a series of public meetings, she said.
One of the proposals was to widen the sidewalk on the makai side of Waialae Avenue, between 10th and 11th avenues, to create a promenade in front of Kaimuki Park.
The portable devices used to block off the area allow the department to test various configurations for the sidewalk extension, Soon said.
Eventually, a decision will be made to leave the temporary island in place, reconfigure it for further testing or remove it completely, she said.
There is no timetable as to when the park promenade will be designed or built, she added.
DTS plans to solicit more feedback from the public through the Kaimuki and Palolo neighborhood boards, and possibly through additional separate public meetings before building the promenade.
Soon encouraged residents to watch for notices about those meetings and to voice any concerns at that time.
Q: On Oahu, what representative districts are within the boundaries of the 2nd Congressional District? There must be many people who don't know.
A: The 2nd Congressional District encompasses all the neighbor islands, plus "rural Oahu," which covers Districts 1-16, 40, 44-51, and Representative Districts/Precincts 39: 1-4 and 6, and 41: 5-6, according to the state Elections Office.
Q: Last month, the Department of Transportation told "Kokua Line" it would take two to three weeks to replace broken lights under the Waialae viaduct. That was on Nov. 18. I just want to let you know the lights still are out. It's been more than a year. What's happening?
A: Fixtures that had to be specially ordered finally arrived, but it won't be until mid-January that they'll be installed, said Martin Okabe, Oahu District engineer for the Highways Division.
That's because their installation will require a lane closure, and "we are trying to avoid lane closures until after the holidays."
Mahalo
To the two guys who helped me push my stalled white station wagon on Ala Moana at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. These guys helped not only me, but all the other motorists who were being blocked by my car. Thank you, thank you and thank you. -- Very Grateful Person
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