Bus strike provides clues to traffic fix

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Honolulu's bus strike may end up reshaping the look of public transportation in Hawai'i.

The strike, coming at a time when several important transportation policy decisions are looming, is forcing the public, politicians and transportation planners to re-evaluate long-held perceptions about the best way to move large numbers of people.

"I think it's going to end up being a blessing in disguise," said state Sen. Fred Hemmings, whose constituency includes large numbers of suburban commuters.

As the public continues to adjust to the strike, debate about the city's emphasis on buses, and their $100 million-plus price tag, is likely to increase. Alternative transportation policies — ranging from low-cost jitneys to expensive new highways — are likely to come in for closer examination.

"At the least, the strike has kicked everybody out of the rut," said Cliff Slater, a frequent critic of the city's bus policies. "It's certainly providing fertile ground for people who have alternative ideas about public transportation to spread the word."

The bus strike has played out at a time when nearly every segment of government is facing important decisions about transportation:

• Congress this month must reauthorize legislation that sets financing levels for highway construction and other transportation programs for the next five years.

• A state task force is evaluating ways to solve O'ahu's traffic problems and hopes to come up with a recommended solution in time for the next legislative session.

• The Honolulu City Council will vote this week on how to raise fares to pay for existing bus service and must decide in coming years how much money to spend on the city's proposed Bus Rapid Transit plan.

"The philosophy of transportation planners has always been to give people as many different options as possible," said Gordon Lum, head of the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. "Sometimes it takes a negative event to make the public think about things in a new way. The bus strike has forced people to think about those options, and that's always a good thing."

To offset the loss of the buses, which normally provide about 240,000 rides a day, city officials have used car pools, taxis, shuttle vans, increased contra-flow times, private trolleys and buses, and even bike-riding groups. The success of some of those programs has not gone unnoticed by many former bus riders.

"The public is embracing the van concept more and more, especially as it allows flexibility to their individual needs," said Dr. Edward Gutteling, a former O'ahu resident now living in Hilo, where jitneys were once popular. Gutteling and others suggested that officials consider starting a jitneylike van program that offers flexible routes and pickup points once the strike is over.

"If the goals are to reduce congestion, provide transportation for those who can't afford it otherwise, and those things can be met by a smaller-scale approach, maybe we don't need a large bus system," he said.

State Transportation Director Rod Haraga said many callers have urged his department to maintain changes that allow more cars to use freeway zipper and high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Portlock), said the city's use of private vans, trolleys and buses should be continued after the strike.

"I've always maintained that there needs to be a free market alternative to the government monopoly on transportation," he said. "The strike proves it. If you spend more money on a broad spectrum of private transportation alternates in the future, we won't be held hostage by just one group."

Options and choice are key words being used as Gov. Linda Lingle's transportation task force tries to come up with recommendations, said Rep. Kirk Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa), vice chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

"Realistically, there is no one thing that's going to make things better, so we're looking at a bunch of different things," Caldwell said. "If we had a ferry running from 'Ewa during the strike, a whole lot of people would have used it. The strike shows there are things you can do that don't cost a lot of money, and politicians like that."

Among the big projects the task force is considering for the crowded H-1 Freeway commuter corridor are development of a light rail system, possibly being started without any federal financial help; construction of a new two-lane elevated, reversible tollway; and the use of dedicated bus lanes, like the ones proposed in the city's regional BRT plan.

"Everybody's got a very open mind, but the bottom line is how are we going to raise the money for what we want and what will the politicians support?" Caldwell said.

Bus ridership almost certainly will dip in the post-strike era. The longer the strike goes on, the more likely it is that some riders will find permanent alternatives, according to Randall Crane, associate director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California-Los Angeles.

An increase in most bus fares, expected to be passed by the City Council on Wednesday, also will cause a drop in bus ridership. City officials figured in the expected drop in ridership when calculating how much revenue the fare increase will generate

That could prompt some serious review of bus policies, Slater said.

"I always thought there would be a big outcry when our subsidies of the bus reached $100 million, but it never happened," he said. "Now maybe we'll get some different thinking."

Still, no one is suggesting that public bus transportation won't continue to play a prominent role in solving O'ahu's transportation problems.

"The bus is going to remain absolutely essential," Haraga said. Caldwell added that the city's BRT plan would fit well with any light rail or other system adopted to serve suburban commuters.

Hawai'i Kai bus rider Ann Hurwith agrees.

"I hope there are people who are going to stand up for the bus," she said. "It's a good system, and there are a lot of people who depend on it utterly. It's been ... inconvenient without it. We're going stir crazy."

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