Posted on: Thursday, April 28, 2005

Two hour ban may fit crosswalk puzzle

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

The King Street crosswalk controversy took another turn yesterday with city officials proposing a new compromise — a morning rush-hour ban on pedestrians using the crosswalk between Honolulu Hale and Kawaiaha'o Church.

City Transportation Services Director Ed Hirata yesterday suggested to City Council members that his crews try out the weekday closing of the crosswalk — from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. — for one month as a demonstration project.

The council's Public Works and Economic Development Committee, under Chairman Rod Tam, approved the idea, although some thought the demonstration project should be extended to get a clearer idea of the impact.

Since March, a plan to eliminate the crosswalk directly in front of Honolulu Hale has drawn debate. Hirata was considering eliminating that crosswalk on the diamondhead side of the King-Punchbowl streets intersection and another one on the diamondhead side of the King-Bishop intersection.

But after downtown resident Dolores Mollring and about 20 Honolulu Waldorf School students gathered 1,300 signatures in a petition drive, Mayor Mufi Hannemann decided against closing the crosswalk near Bishop.

That left the crosswalk at Punchbowl still in question. Hirata said the demonstration of the morning rush-hour pedestrian ban could be done simply with a sign closing the crosswalk during the morning rush hour, some barricades to prevent people from crossing anyway and changing the light to prevent the walk signal from coming on during that two-hour period.

"This may be a good compromise solution," Hirata said.

Council member Gary Okino said he liked the idea because he's seen traffic back up onto H-1 Freeway in the morning because of the delay caused by the short left-turn signal. "You're inconveniencing hundreds of drivers," Okino said, because the crosswalk shortens the time allowed for cars to cross.

Honolulu resident Lois Bunin, who gets around in a motorized scooter, said she felt safer crossing the street by City Hall when Punchbowl was all one-way, before one lane was converted to run maukabound. "Often, it's very scary," Bunin said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.