DRIVE TIME

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

Think you have a better idea? O'ahu transportation planners are waiting to hear from you.

Sure, they're widening the H-1, contra-flowing Nimitz Highway, building (finally) the North-South Road, repaving Moanalua Freeway, synchronizing the traffic lights, talking about rail transit (again) and promising to get rid of the potholes, but maybe there is something they haven't thought about yet.

That's where you come in.

"While recommendations from our consultant and government agencies are important, it is equally important to give the public an opportunity to propose solutions to address our needs," said Gordon Lum, executive director of the O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is charged with coming up with long-term, viable solutions to the island's traffic mess.

The group has already conducted a telephone survey of island drivers and come up with some interesting ideas: a long bridge across Pearl Harbor, a monorail from La'ie to Pearl City, a Jetsons-like personal transport vehicle and a double-decked H-1 Freeway.

But just in case the survey-takers called while you were stuck in traffic somewhere, OMPO is offering a second chance to talk up your favorite traffic solution big or small.

Maybe you know which section of a highway could be turned into a contraflow project. Maybe you think we need more van pools. Maybe you think the state's entire transportation budget for the next 25 years should be spent on building the H-4 Freeway (and we're not talking ferries here).

Whatever it is, the planners are willing to listen. Your proposals need to be located on O'ahu, regional in nature (no local things like a new stop sign or traffic signal) and related to surface transportation (no helicopter ferries or jet packs).

Deadline for submitting ideas is March 1.

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