City compromises on BRT
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
In a compromise on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit system, the city is dropping its plans to take existing traffic lanes out of service for the first line of the project between Iwilei and Waikiki through Kaka'ako.
Instead, the system will rely on existing lanes with mixed traffic, newly widened streets and other physical improvements, such as new bus turnouts, to keep the buses moving, city officials said yesterday.
BRT critics had complained that taking lanes of traffic off several major roadways to make room for the buses would inconvenience thousands of motorists and create more problems than it solved.
"There will be no lane taking," said Cheryl Soon, director of the city's Transportation Services Department. "It takes a major brouhaha off the table and allows us to proceed quickly."
However, planned conversion of traffic lanes on other future routes, including Kapi'olani and Dillingham boulevards, remain possible when those lines are developed. The city is not seeking approval to proceed on those lines at this time, Soon said.
Although the change on the initial segment of the system removes a major advantage the buses would have in competing with other vehicles, officials still think the BRT will be able to cut eight to 10 minutes off the time it takes a city bus to travel the same area, Soon said.
Others said the changes could affect the success of the BRT.
"If that's the case what's the advantage?" said City Council Chairman Gary Okino. "I thought this was supposed to be a rapid transit. Instead, it's just like enhancing the existing system."
Soon said the changes improve the existing system by combining new physical changes with operational ones being undertaken throughout the island, such as a conversion to a hub-and-spoke system and the start of CityExpress! routes.
"My concern is they might be compromising too much," Okino said. "When a BRT works well in other places, it's done with dedicated bus lanes. Now, it sounds like they're going to cut down on those here. If you are going to try to do something different, go for it."
The changes are contained in the final environmental impact statement for the system, known officially as the Primary Corridor Transportation Project.
Release of the final EIS brings the first project a step closer to final approval from the federal government, which will pay for much of the work.
The new EIS differs significantly from two previous versions by emphasizing the initial segment of the project running between Iwilei and Waikiki and serving the rapidly growing makai area of Kaka'ako, where a new University of Hawai'i medical school complex is being built.
Later phases of the project would run along different routes in town and extend to Middle Street and Kapolei. Those have been sidetracked while a governor's task force investigates alternatives, including creation of a light rail line.
The new EIS calls for moving buses from planned dedicated center lanes in some high-traffic area to the far right lanes, where they will run with regular city buses. Some roads, including a part of Ala Moana and Kalia Road in Waikiki will be widened to create new semi-exclusive lanes for the BRT.
On Kuhio Avenue, the planned taking of two traffic lanes has been replaced with a series of bus pullouts, so that other vehicles can keep moving when the bus stops.
"This is another in a series of adjustments we've made as the system has developed," Soon said. "When these are married up with other long-term operational changes, there will be a significant improvement in the service and give riders a significant time savings."
Construction on the $50.9 million Iwilei-to-Waikiki segment is expected to begin later this year. The line should be in operation by 2005, Soon said.
The 5.6-mile segment will be served by hybrid diesel-electric vehicles, according to the EIS. The service will run every six minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
The capital costs of the project are fully covered with $31 million from the city and $20 million from federal money.
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