By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

There's a lot more to solving O'ahu's transportation problems than just building more highways and choosing between buses and light rail.

Although big projects like Honolulu's Bus Rapid Transit proposal and building new lanes on H-1 Freeway get all the glamour, if that's the right word, work is continuing on hundreds of smaller projects.

Each year the federal government mandates that 10 percent of all its transportation money given to states be spent on "hidden" projects, known as transportation enhancement. In the next three years, Hawai'i's allotment for such programs comes to about $4 million annually.

What should O'ahu do with its share of the money? That's the question the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking. OMPO is the group that has to approve all transportation projects using federal money.

Here are the details of some projects being considered:

• Kawainui pedestrian bridge and walkway. A pedestrian bridge would be built over the Oneawa Canal to link Gateway Park in Kailua to Kawainui Community Park and the popular walkway along the flood control levee. The plan also calls for more pedestrian paths at the southern perimeter of Kawainui Marsh. Cost: $1 million.
• Railroad improvements. These projects call for safety crossing gates where the historic 'Ewa railroad meets city roads in Kapolei and Kalaeloa. The money also would be used to replace 3,000 defective crossties in the railroad track from Fort Weaver Road in 'Ewa to Kahe Point. Cost: $790,000.
• Beautifying Kunia Road. The work includes landscaping the Kunia Road exit on H-1 Freeway and planting trees and other landscaping along Kunia Road. Cost: $350,000.
• Fort Weaver Road underpass. The state wants to build an underpass or bridge across Fort Weaver Road near Mango Road and the Child and Family Services offices and Hale 'O Ulu School. Cost: $1.6 million.
• Airport Water Fountain restoration. This project would create a water fountain and landscaping at the intersection of Rodgers Boulevard and Aolele Street near the entrance to Honolulu International Airport. Cost: $240,000.
• Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline project. The most expensive of the proposals calls for creating a new scenic highway pullout, parking area and beautification of the area along Kalaniana'ole Highway near Makapu'u Point. Cost: $4 million.
• O'ahu Elder Pedestrian Safety Program. This would develop a safety program targeted specifically at older pedestrians, who often are at high risk when they walk across streets and highways. Cost: $120,000.

OMPO's Citizen Advisory Committee is seeking public input on these proposals and several others. For more information on O'ahu's transportation enhancement project proposals, contact OMPO at 587-2015 or by e-mail at ompo001@hawaii.rr.com. A complete list of projects and other information about the enhancement program can be found at the group's Web site: oahumpo.org.

Comments should be sent to the Citizen Advisory Committee before or during the group's next meeting at the Laniakea YWCA at 4 p.m. Feb. 19.

Mike Leidemann's Drive Time column runs Tuesdays. Reach him at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.