Several bus changes go into effect Dec. 7

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Honolulu officials are planning changes on three bus routes between Kaimuki and Salt Lake, moves that will provide more frequent service for some riders but require others to transfer at least once.

The changes on Routes 3, 9 and 12 will begin Dec. 7. Cheryl Soon, city director of transportation services, said: "We think the changes will improve the service."

For most riders, it will mean buses arriving every 10 to 12 minutes at peak times and 20 minutes at midday. The previous intervals were 15 minutes and 25 minutes, Soon said.

The biggest change will be the elimination of Route 12 from Salt Lake to Ala Moana Center. Also, riders used to taking No. 3 from Kaimuki to Pearl Harbor will have to transfer to No. 9 along Kapi'olani Boulevard or in downtown Honolulu.

The changes were originally announced in August when city officials planned to cut service hours on TheBus because of budget concerns. Those plans were scrapped when the City Council approved a new fare structure following a strike by bus drivers and other workers.

However, the changes on Routes 3, 9 and 12 were meant to be improvements in service and should not be viewed as part of the reduction-in-hours package, Soon said.

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

Routes 3, 9, 12 will be affected

Here's a closer look at the changes:

Route 3

• Buses leaving Salt Lake will have signs reading "3 Ruger-Koko Head Avenue"; buses heading toward Salt Lake will be marked "3 Salt Lake."
• The route from downtown to Wai'alae Avenue will stay the same. West of Honolulu, the new Route 3 will be operating on Liliha, Vineyard, H-1 Freeway and through Mapunapuna to Salt Lake. It will no longer go to Pearl Harbor.
• The buses will not enter or circle Ala Moana Center; instead, the buses will travel past the shopping center on Kapi'olani Boulevard.
• Riders traveling from Kaimuki to Pearl Harbor will need to transfer to the new No. 9 Navy on Kapi'olani Boulevard or in downtown Honolulu.

Route 9

• Buses leaving Palolo Valley will be marked "9 Navy." Buses heading to Palolo Valley will be marked "9 Palolo Valley."
• The current routing east of downtown Honolulu to Palolo Valley will remain the same. West of downtown Honolulu, Route 9 will replace Route 3 on Dillingham Boulevard and Kamehameha and Nimitz highways to Pearl Harbor.

Route 12

• The route currently running from Salt Lake to Ala Moana will be eliminated.