Posted on: Thursday, February 3, 2005

EDITORIAL
Mayor must beware of micromanaging bus

On one level, it's expected that one of Mayor Mufi Hannemann's first acts would be to begin dismantling his predecessor's Bus Rapid Transit system.

Both Hannemann and his opponent in the November election, Duke Bainum, denounced Jeremy Harris' transit plan.

Indeed, it was a plan that this newspaper had remained cool to.

One of the first artifacts of that plan, the new E-transit line, began running from Kaka'ako to Waikiki about two months ago.

Now Hannemann has eliminated that route, shifting the city's 10 new hybrid electric-gas buses to a new loop from Waipahu to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Hannemann pointed out that the Kaka'ako route, along the new Ward Avenue extension, was operating at one-third capacity.

He's right, but not for long, with the new UH medical school opening in April.

This should bring a big increase in bus traffic, including considerable lunch-time movement between the medical school's cafe and the many eateries to be found at the Victoria Ward complex.

It was obvious that the Harris administration anticipated this activity in establishing the E-transit line.

Hannemann must be sure to consult with the professionals who run TheBus before he gets too involved in managing — or should we say micromanaging — where it goes.