By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. Can the Department of Transportation look into putting up a sign on the elevated ramp that carries Pali Highway townbound traffic onto the H-1 Freeway eastbound and also onto Punchbowl Street?

The ramp is only meant for one lane of traffic. Many drivers make it into two lanes, and it gets dangerous when vehicles heading onto Punchbowl try to pass vehicles queued up to enter the freeway. Cars are passing on the right side, and some blast their horns if they don't have room to pass.

There should be a sign that says, "One lane only, no passing."

A. Sorry, a sign will not be erected. But the Department of Transportation may look into easing morning congestion on the offramp, if money permits. One option could be allowing Punchbowl users to reach the street by another route.

"This concept may become part of our feasibility study for a morning contraflow on Pali Highway from Nu'uanu to downtown," said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

A sign might not alleviate the problem anyway. "I'm sure that drivers who use the ramp as a two-lane travelway are fully aware that it is only one lane," Ishikawa said.

The lane is 14 feet wide to address the curvature of the ramp and the need for shoulders for disabled vehicles, he pointed out.

Q. Why did the city tag but not tow away an abandoned red Camaro and a gray Nissan truck on Ala Nala Street in Salt Lake? What about that black Chevy or Pontiac near 5180 Likini St.? I've called the abandoned vehicles line, but nothing happened.

A. According to Gerry Silva, all three cars were moved after abandoned vehicle proceedings were initiated, so they were not towed. In response to your complaint, the abandoned vehicles section will start new investigations on all three vehicles.

According to Vicki Borges, Mayor Jeremy Harris' executive assistant, many abandoned vehicle complaints are really parking disputes between neighbors. In those cases, it is more effective to ask the neighbor to move the vehicle than to call the city or police. While the cars might be abandoned under strict interpretation of the law, if they are moved after being tagged the city cannot remove them.

"Investigating each and every parking complaint is an inefficient use of the city's resources," Borges said.

The Mediation Center of the Pacific, at 521-6767, might also be able to help resolve the dispute.

Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:

• E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com

• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.

Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.