$70 million earmarked for Kapolei roadwork

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

State and city officials plan to spend more than $70 million on transportation projects in the rapidly growing Kapolei area in the next three years.

"It's only a start but still a tremendous leap forward," said Rep. Mark Moses. Advertiser library photo • July 8, 2003

The updated O'ahu Transportation Improvement Program approved last month by the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning

Organization shows an increasing concern for the residents of the area, one of the fastest-growing in the state.

"It's only a start but still a tremendous leap forward," said Rep. Mark Moses, R-40th (Makakilo, Kapolei, Royal Kunia). "We were ignored for a long time, so this will really help us to catch up."

Some of the projects have been talked about for years and are finally coming to the construction stage; others are only reaching the drawing board and won't help alleviate congestion for years.

However, all of the work being included on an approved list of projects for which money is available indicates that state and city officials finally are acknowledging that the area's residents need more traffic help, Moses said.

With developers planning thousands of homes in the next few years in an area once designated to become O'ahu's Second City, residents are becoming increasingly vocal about the urban problems, including traffic congestion, in their neighborhoods.

Several residents at a community forum last week suggested that the City Council put a moratorium on developments until infrastructure can catch up.

Makakilo resident Kioni Dudley said all the new work isn't enough.

"It's an insane situation," Dudley said. "You've got people trying to fight their way in or out of Kapolei. In the afternoon, it can take 20 minutes just to get through the shopping district. They've doubled the size of the shopping centers and didn't add any exits."

Dudley said one big problem not addressed in the new project list is the need for a secondary road out of Makakilo. "It's becoming more and more dangerous up there with each new home they build," he said.

Moses said transportation planners may never get fully ahead of the development curve, "but I think we can do these things and then see what we have to do next."

In addition to the large-scale projects, Moses said officials are working on more small-scale traffic solutions, including synchronizing traffic lights and extending a left-turn lane to the H-1 Freeway at Fort Barrette Road and Farrington Highway.

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

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