Punchbowl stretch
to remain two-way

The mayor's office is still considering
the removal of a King Street crosswalk

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration has decided to keep one lane of Punchbowl Street between King and Beretania streets mauka-bound rather than change the section back to one-way.

"We intend to leave that intact," Transportation Services Director Ed Hirata told the City Council's Transportation Committee yesterday.

The decision was made partly because commuters were worried that the proposed reversion would take away a direct link to the freeway from King Street, Hirata said after the meeting.

He also said the administration's goal of relieving morning traffic congestion could be accomplished without changing that section of Punchbowl Street back to a one-way street.

"Our main concern was that we wanted to reduce the traffic congestion in the morning on the makai lane on Punchbowl, because Punchbowl is the outlet from the freeway and Vineyard (Boulevard). We needed to move that traffic," Hirata said.

The administration, however, is still considering a proposal to eliminate the Diamond Head side crosswalk at the intersection of Punchbowl and King streets.

Hirata said removing that crosswalk would allow cars turning left from Punchbowl onto King Street to proceed without having to stop for pedestrians crossing between the City Hall and Kawaiahao Church corners.

Councilman Gary Okino said he believes removing that crosswalk will improve traffic flow.

"I've waited two, three (traffic light) cycles to get through there. And it's because you have to wait for pedestrians to cross, it takes too much time off that left-turn movement," Okino said.

The mauka-bound lane on Punchbowl between King and Beretania streets was part of a four-phase, $3.5 million project by former Mayor Jeremy Harris to create better access to the freeway from Ala Moana.

Earlier this month, Hannemann canceled a $1.45 million plan to create mauka-bound lanes on Punchbowl between Ala Moana and King Street, and ordered the contractor to remove planters and trees that had been planted as part of a beautification project.

The city then considered returning the single mauka-bound lane between King and Beretania streets to the makai direction.

Five City Council members introduced a resolution asking that the mauka-bound lane remain, because of concerns raised by commuters who felt the change would increase congestion along Alapai and Beretania streets.

"We listened to that, and decided to focus on the elimination of the crosswalk," Hirata said.

"I think it's definitely a very positive step, with the administration open to not only the Council but the community concerns," said Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, who introduced the resolution.

Hirata plans to take the crosswalk elimination proposal to the Downtown Neighborhood Board next month before a final decision is made. The city also will present a plan to eliminate the Diamond Head crosswalk at Bishop and King streets for similar reasons.