Star-Adv: ‘Input Sought on Nanakuli Transit Projects’ – Meeting 4/5/16

The following excerpts are from Jayna Omaye’s “Input sought on Nanakuli transit projects,” Star-Advertiser, 4/3/16.

Ed Sniffen, deputy director of DOT [Department of Transportation] in charge of the Highways Division, is scheduled to discuss the contraflow lane project at the Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday [April 5, 2016] at Waianae District Park [Multi-Purpose Room, 85-601 Farrington Highway]. Residents can email feedback and comments to dotpao@hawaii.gov or call 587-2160.

DTS [Department of Transportation Services] wants to make the changes in the summer but still needs to coordinate with DOT. The department is scheduled to make a presentation on the bus stop changes at Tuesday’s Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board meeting. The Honolulu Police Department, the city Department of Emergency Management and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization are also expected to present updates on Waianae traffic improvements at the meeting.

Several residents voiced their support for the project, while recognizing that the contraflow would be an inconvenience to some traveling eastbound. Honolulu police Maj. Kurt Kendro said the contraflow is “a great solution.” State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Kalaeloa-Waianae-Makaha) called the proposal “fantastic.”

Some residents expressed concern with the inconvenience to eastbound drivers, the safety of those living on the streets where cars will be detoured and how bus operations would be affected.

“We no can get the genie in the bottle for just make everything perfect for us,” said resident DeMont Conner. “If we looking to solutions sometimes we got to bite something so that something else can be alleviated.”

Read the full article on the Star-Advertiser site.