Old ideas new again
to relieve traffic jamsBusy freeway ramps will be
examined from Kaimuki to Kalihi
The state and city are re-examining a proposal to change the directions of Piikoi and Pensacola streets to reduce traffic congestion.
Also being reconsidered is a proposal to cone off the Lunalilo Street onramp to the H-1 freeway during morning rush hour.
The ideas are part of a larger effort to look at all freeway onramps and offramps between Diamond Head and Kalihi and come up with an overall plan to improve the commute in Honolulu.
"Traffic flow on the H-1 artery is ridiculously slow in the morning, and we need to take action to do something," said Rodney Haraga, director of the state Department of Transportation.
Haraga also pointed to the University Avenue interchanges as an example.
"Something needs to be done there. What that something is I don't know at this point," he said.
Haraga is looking at recent studies on improving traffic flow to see what changes or further studies have to be done to come up with a comprehensive traffic plan for urban Honolulu.
"The state doesn't want to do a Band-Aid approach to the traffic problem," he said.
Haraga is reviewing a 1991 study that recommended a number of proposals to reduce traffic, including changing the directions of Pensacola and Piikoi streets and widening Ward Avenue.
Some of the recommendations in the study, like widening the Punahou Street offramp and improvements to Punchbowl Street, have already been done.
However, the plan to make Piikoi Street one way makai and Pensacola one way in the mauka direction faced strong opposition from residents who were afraid it would just move the congestion into their neighborhoods.
"We do not think it's positive for the area, and it will cause traffic problems around the school (Kaahumanu Elementary)," said John Breinich, the chairman of the Ala Moana Neighborhood Board. "It just did not seem to produce the benefits that everyone claimed it would."
Two years ago the cost of changing the directions of Piikoi and Pensacola streets was estimated at $3.6 million to move traffic signals, replace signs and for other construction costs.
At the Makiki Post Office yesterday, residents were divided over switching directions on Piikoi and Pensacola streets.
Some were opposed to changing decades of driving patterns. Others felt anything is better than the congestion that now exists.
"I think it's fine just the way it is," said Makiki resident Ray Wiley. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
"Change 'em," said truck driver Brad Fernandez. "Guarantee going be better."
Another study Haraga is reviewing looked at coning off the Lunalilo Street onramp to the H-1 freeway during the morning commute hours. Motorists would not be able to enter the freeway from Lunalilo Street, but would be able to continue on to Vineyard Boulevard and enter the freeway at Punchbowl Street.
By banning morning motorists from getting on the freeway at the Lunalilo onramp, state officials hope to reduce the backlog that forms as cars entering the freeway mix with cars exiting H-1 at the Vineyard offramp.
In 1997 the state conducted a demonstration project to see if the plan would work. Another demonstration project is possible, Haraga said.
Any permanent changes to freeway offramps, onramps and surface streets would not happen for a while, Haraga said.
After reviewing the studies, state transportation officials would discuss ideas with their city counterparts and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional transportation planning agency.
Haraga said he has not come up with a timetable yet to get a traffic plan out to the public.
"Implementation is important, but we don't want to rush any of our projects," he said.
