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Viaduct lanes have
rider requirements

Question: Would you let us know the correct number of passengers required for vehicles to use the two left lanes on the H-1 Airport Viaduct during morning commutes? The farthest left lane is generally a shoulder lane. However, during the morning rush hour, it is an express lane that appears to exit to the Nimitz Express exit. The next lane is an HOV lane that either continues to the Middle Street merge or exits to the Nimitz Express exit. The posted signs do not seem to provide information on passenger requirements. Prior to the Zip Lane's opening, I believe the shoulder lane was used by vehicles with two passengers or more, then closed prior to the exit. Now the lane appears to continue all the way to the exit.

Answer: The shoulder lane on the eastbound viaduct becomes an extension of the Zipper Lane, which is a contraflow express lane, during the morning rush hour.

"It runs for approximately 2.5 miles and exits directly to the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane," explained Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

Passenger requirements for this shoulder lane are the same as for the Zipper Lane: Between 5:30 and 7 a.m., three or more occupants should be in a vehicle; between 7 and 8 a.m., two or more occupants are required.

At any time, motorcycles are allowed in the Zipper Lane/shoulder lane.

The HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane is marked with a diamond symbol. Two or more occupants are required for the HOV lane, as set forth in the Hawaii Revised Statutes 291C-221, Ishikawa said. Motorcycles also are allowed in the HOV lane.

"Both the Zip Lane and HOV lanes, in general, are designed to encourage carpooling and use of mass transit," Ishikawa said.

Q: Who is responsible for bus stop conditions? I want to bring attention to both bus stops at Queen and Cooke streets. There is no trash container at either stop. On the mauka side the bench is so close to the street that one's feet hang out over the street. The area looks deplorable with an abundance of cigarette butts and other trash. This is an area of urban renewal, and I think a good start would be with a good cleanup of this area. Neither stop has a shelter, which would be nice for the many seniors who use the stops. This might be too much to ask, but trash containers are essential.

A: The city Department of Facility Maintenance is responsible for maintenance and cleanup around city bus stops.

But it is the city Department of Transportation Services that determines whether a container is required at a bus stop, explained George Souza of the city Department of Customer Services.

If the answer is yes, then Facility Maintenance crews would be asked to post a trash can at the site, he said. Souza said he would pass your requests and observations on to the appropriate departments.

Next time, call Customer Services directly at 523-4381 with such concerns.

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