Bus compromise satisfies few

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

The city's decision to not take away any existing traffic lanes for the first leg of its Bus Rapid Transit system is drawing criticism from longtime supporters and opponents of the plan.

BRT backers say the change could compromise the quality and jeopardize the success of the mass-transit proposal; opponents say it doesn't do enough to satisfy their concerns about traffic problems that the buses will cause.

The Sierra Club, which has consistently supported the BRT plan, said it was disappointed in the decision to cut back on dedicated transit lanes for the first BRT line, which will run from Iwilei to Waikiki through Kaka'ako.

"The city is derailing what was once a strong transit plan. The idea was to get private cars out of the way of public transit," said Naomi Arcand, vice chairwoman of the Sierra Club's O'ahu group. "Now we question whether the Bus Rapid Transit, once mixed with traffic, will remain rapid."

The city's original plans for the BRT called for converting some existing traffic lanes to dedicated bus lanes to speed buses through traffic for at least part of the Kaka'ako route. In the final environmental impact statement released this month, however, the city said it was dropping that idea, at least for the initial line, which is scheduled to be operational by 2005.

In at least part of the route, buses will run on their own, newly built lanes. Overall, the 5.6-mile route will use a mix of exclusive, semiexclusive (shared with other buses and right-turning vehicles) and mixed traffic lanes, said Cheryl Soon, city director of transportation services.

While there will be no taking of existing lanes, the initial line requires several major construction projects, according to the final environmental impact statement.

• Parts of Ala Moana Boulevard from the Ala Wai Canal to Kalia Road will be widened an additional 5 to 10 feet to create two new semiexclusive bus lanes. The extra space will be created by reducing the width of the existing median and narrowing existing traffic lanes.

• Kalia Road will be widened by one lane in each direction to create semiexclusive lanes for BRT vehicles, local buses, private buses and vehicles turning right.

• Sidewalks will be widened in the Kuhio area, leaving the road wide enough for two traffic lanes in the 'ewa direction, one traffic lane in the other direction and left turn lanes at selected locations. One of the 'ewa-bound lanes would be used semiexclusively by BRT buses and tour vehicles. There would also be new turnout spaces for commercial trucks, tour buses and local buses.

The final EIS says there are plans to convert some existing traffic lanes to exclusive bus lanes in BRT routes, including those along Kapi'olani and Dillingham boulevards. The start of construction on those routes has not been set.

BRT opponents say that decision shows that the city is not serious about responding to complaints from affected motorists.

"The city's plans for the completed BRT project are unchanged: same exclusive lanes, same ridership and financial projections," said The Alliance for Traffic Improvement, an organization that includes tour-bus and trucking companies. "Only the initial operating segment for 2005-06 has been changed slightly — to make it more palatable."

A new national report suggests that dedicated lanes are crucial to the success of Bus Rapid Transit programs, but the city may be on the right path by starting its BRT on a small scale. The report surveyed more than two dozen Bus Rapid Transit programs in operation and design, including Honolulu. Among the findings and recommendations:

• Use exclusive lanes whenever possible. "Over 80 percent of the systems studied have some type of exclusive running way, either a bus-only road or bus lane," the report said. "BRT should be rapid. This is best achieved by operating on exclusive rights-of-way wherever possible." Travel time savings double when exclusive lanes are used, the report said.

• Start small. "Incremental development may provide an early opportunity to demonstrate BRT's potential benefits to riders, decision makers and the general public."

The report was released last week by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-5460.