Rush is on for Nimitz flyover
By Frank Oliveri
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Paperwork could be filed with Hawai'i's congressional delegation as soon as Friday seeking federal money for a $250 million highway project, state officials said. But it may be too late to include the money in a mammoth six-year transportation spending bill.
The project, announced by Gov. Linda Lingle more than 45 days ago, would alleviate traffic flow into and out of Honolulu's Kalihi-Palama business district. It's also an important part of a larger $2.6 billion light-rail transit plan that would connect Kapolei to Iwilei by 2018. Both would be key elements in Lingle's transportation solution for West O'ahu.
However, the longer the state waits to file its request, the tougher it will be to add the project — known as the Nimitz flyover — to the list of transportation priorities in the six-year Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Should House and Senate committees refuse to consider the state's proposal, Hawai'i lawmakers would have to ask Congress for money each year to support the flyover, a far tougher fight.
"We are at a critical juncture," said Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i. "It would take a lot of effort to even get the flyover entertained."
Many expect Congress to act on the transportation bill, a significant source of jobs, after New Year's in a bid to boost the economy.
March was the states' deadline for filing projects to be included in the bill. The last six-year plan ended in September, but Congress extended it until Feb. 29.
The House and Senate versions of the TEA-21 legislation do not yet include individual highway projects and neither chamber has voted on its bill. The House version seeks $298 billion and the Senate version seeks $255 billion, each over six years.
Hawai'i could get up to $1.12 billion for federal highways under TEA-21, which would create more than 12,000 jobs in the state and 2.8 million nationally over the next six years.
Rod Haraga, the state's transportation director, said he's pushing his staff to get the paperwork for the Nimitz flyover filed by the end of the week.
"We don't want to ask for too much nor do we want to shortchange ourselves," he said.
Haraga said the flyover plan is based on a 1997 proposal, but costs are being revised. He said the request has been delayed primarily because it is a new initiative separate from the statewide transportation program.
Lingle announced Oct. 26 that she would seek federal funding to cover up to 80 percent of the total cost for the Nimitz flyover. The elevated road could be completed in 2009. At the same time, she made an ambitious proposal for a 22-mile-long light-rail system. That plan would not be fully formulated for years.
The flyover would span the Nimitz Highway corridor from the Ke'ehi Interchange to Pacific Street. Drivers would use the flyover into Honolulu in the morning, and back to Central/Leeward O'ahu in the afternoon, according to state officials. Haraga said the roadway would reduce truck traffic in and out of the Kalihi-Palama business district.
Ultimately the flyover could be converted for use as part of the proposed light-rail system connecting Kapolei and Iwilei.
