However, Brennan said the city still plans to eliminate two crosswalks in the area: one that crosses King Street between Honolulu Hale and Kawaiaha'o Church on the diamondhead side of King and Punchbowl streets; and the other at King and Bishop streets, also on the diamondhead side of the intersection.

City officials will consult with the community before making such changes, said Brennan.

City Transportation Services Director Ed Hirata will meet with the Downtown Neighborhood Board on April 7 to discuss the proposals, Brennan said.

Eliminating the one mauka-bound lane on Punchbowl between King and Beretania streets would have helped thousands of drivers who come off H-1 Freeway and use Punchbowl Street as a main feeder into downtown Honolulu and Kaka'ako, Hirata had said.

Former Mayor Jeremy Harris created the mauka-bound lane on Punchbowl between King and Beretania in 1998, in part to help drivers leave the downtown area for the freeway.

Earlier this month, the city abandoned a project to create two-way traffic on lower Punchbowl Street — between Ala Moana and King Street — despite having already spent $1.45 million. That meant contractors had to remove trees, concrete curbs and signs installed late last year.

City officials said the concrete planting rings — placed in the diamondhead lane of Punchbowl where parking spaces had been — would have created safety, maintenance and flooding problems.