Posted on: Thursday, June 10, 2004
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BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
Pedestrian finds light too hasty
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Q. To get to the bus stop on Farrington Highway at Helelua Street in Nanakuli, we have to dodge traffic on Farrington. Waiting for the light to change is a waste of time because the light goes green-yellow-red about as fast as you can say it.
A. City Department of Transportation Services Director Cheryl Soon said crews checked the traffic signal there and found it to be operating normally. She reminds people to activate the pedestrian button and wait for the "Walk" signal before crossing the street, which will provide enough time to cross the road safely.
• • • Q. The bus stop on Nehoa Street, which is two houses 'ewa of Ke'eaumoku, causes a traffic hazard. The bus traveling in the 'ewa direction stops about two houses 'ewa of the stop light. When it stops, the cars behind cannot pass it because the street is too narrow at that point, thereby causing a jam. I have suggested that the bus stop be moved about 30 yards 'ewa.
A. The stop in question is an improved bus stop with a concrete pad to prevent damage to the street pavement, Soon said. She said it's there to serve bus patrons who live on and visit places along Nehoa Street.
Soon said this stop serves just one route, TheBus Route No. 17. Since a bus stop relocation request affects the entire community, she suggests that a request be made through the Makiki/ Lower Punchbowl/ Tantalus Neighborhood Board No. 10.
• • • Q. There are two large banners saying "Vote for Mufi Hannemann" along the side of Kalaniana'ole Highway just past the end of H-1 Freeway eastbound in Kahala. The banners are very large and prominent, and prompt me to wonder whether they violate the billboard prohibition. If they don't violate the letter of the law, in my opinion they violate the spirit of aloha. What's the situation there?
A. City inspectors from the Department of Planning and Permitting found that the signs fell under state jurisdiction so they referred the complaint to the state Department of Transportation. DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said: "If it's on a state right of way, we will either find the owners of the signs and ask them to take them down or we could take them down ourselves. Obviously, we have to be politically neutral during election season."
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